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Saint Brother André Bessette had an extraordinary devotion to Saint Joseph.
The eighth of 12 children, Brother André was adopted at 12. According to Franciscan Media, he had various trades: farmhand, shoemaker, baker, blacksmith. He was also a factory worker in the United States.
At 25, André applied for entrance into the Congregation of Holy Cross — and the rest, as they say, is history.
John Paul II participated in the solemn rite of beatification for Brother André on May 23, 1982 in St. Peter’s Square. On October 17, 2010, Brother André was canonized in Rome by Pope Benedict XVI. [1]
My first visit to Brother André’s St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal was life changing.
Built in the Italian Renaissance style, the basilica is set on top of Mount Royal as a model of Christian charity. It’s shining copper dome — second-largest of its kind in the world, smaller only than St. Peter’s in Rome — cannot be hidden from the eyes of all people below. In the nave of L’Oratoire Saint-Joseph, one entire wall is dedicated to crutches miraculously left behind by cured pilgrims for all to see.
However life-changing that experience was, nothing changed my life more than a simple prayer that I found on Pinterest attributed to Brother André.
“When you invoke St. Joseph,” Brother André said, “you don’t have to say much. Say…
If you were in my place, Saint Joseph
What would you do?
Well, pray for this on my behalf.”
It’s a prayer I recite often throughout my day. I have never felt such inner peace since giving this simple prayer a try.
Try it! Ite ad Joseph. Your life may change as well.
James Henry is the author of Corporation YOU: A Business Plan for the Soul, Kwanzaa Klaus, Hail Mary series, and two children’s books: The Second Prince and Klaus: The Gift-giver to ALL! As a writer, James has been widely featured on Bob Salter (CBS Radio), Mike Siegel, Mancow, and more.
Today, James lives in New York where he continues to teach — and write.
To contact James or book an interview, please contact Mark of Goldman/McCormick PR at (516) 639-0988 or Mark@goldmanmccormick.com.
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