Alfred Bessette (1845 - 1937)

Born 9 Aug 1845 in Mont-Saint-Grégoire, Bas-Canada

Ancestors

Died 6 Jan 1937 at age 91 in Montréal, Québec, Canada

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Biography

Frère André Bessette is Notable.

Frère André Bessette is a person of National Historic Significance. See the Canada Project.

André Bessette, C.S.C. more commonly known as Brother André (French: Frère André), and since his canonization as Saint André of Montreal, was a lay brother of the Congregation of Holy Cross and a significant figure of the Roman Catholic Church among French-Canadians, credited with thousands of reported miraculous oil healings associated with his pious devotion to Saint Joseph. He was declared venerable in 1978 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1982. Pope Benedict XVI approved the decree of sainthood for Blessed André on 19 February 2010, with the formal canonization taking place on 17 October 2010. He is the first Canadian living after Confederation to be canonized.^[1]

He was born Alfred on 9 August 1845, and was baptized the following day in Mont-Saint-Grégoire. He was the son of Isaac Besset and Clautilde Foisy. His godparents were his uncle, Edouard Besset, and his aunt, Josephte Foisy.^[2][3]

The following story comes from the Clinton County Historical Association Facebook page:

BROTHER ANDRÉ’S CLINTON COUNTY, NY CONNECTIONS

André Bessette, who was later known as Brother André or Saint André of Montréal, was a frequent visitor to Plattsburgh, especially after Clinton County residents told people about their cures. His special friends were Andrew Wilson and his wife, Mary Picotte, who lived at 33 Broad Street. Brother André would often take the train down from Montreal or friends would drive him down to spend a few days with them. While he was in the area, he would visit relatives and people who were ill, and the Wilson’s would open their home to people who wanted to see their friend.

- September 1919 – Mrs. Albert Sharron of Plattsburgh was cured of throat cancer after many visits to Brother André. On her last visit, Brother André stood before her in his office in Montreal and said, “There is nothing wrong with your throat. You are well.”

- October 1919 – Lawrence Parker, the nine-year-old son of Wesley Parker and Eva Clukey, was cured of the asthma he had had for six years by Brother André. He looked at the boy and asked the mother about him, and finally told her not to worry, that her son was all right. Almost at that instant, his respiration became normal.

- June 1920 – Seth Baker, a well-known taxicab driver from Plattsburgh was cured of his paralysis after talking with Brother André for a few minutes. He left his crutches at the chapel in Montreal and has been able to resume his business and is out in his automobile each day.

- September 1920 – Miss K. Claire McCann, 51 Clinton Street in Plattsburgh was cured of an ailment of three year’s standing which prominent physicians had pronounced incurable. Yesterday afternoon she stated she believed she was completely cured and had taken up her duties in the Elm Street School.

- March 1930 – John E. Judge of Court Street in Plattsburgh, who has been seriously ill for a few months, visited Brother André in Montreal. Before leaving Montreal, Mr. Judge noted a change for the better in his condition.

For years, between 1920 and the time he died in 1937, local newspapers would have articles celebrating Brother André’s birthday, noting the condition of his health, or telling people he was in the area. Taxi drivers would take out ads to say they were willing to go to Montreal to see the Brother and one article even mentioned the best times for visits – early in the morning or after 7 o’clock at night. Bus tours and school tours were arranged to go to see him.

His health began to decline after he was 80 years old, and he died in January 1937 at 91. He is buried in a tomb below the Oratory’s Main Chapel. A million people filed past his coffin before he was entombed – we suppose there were many people from Clinton County in that number.

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia: André Bessette
2. ↑ "Canada, Québec, registres paroissiaux catholiques, 1621-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-899Q-HNY7?cc=1321742&wc=HC57-6TL%3A16309601%2C16309602%2C16309603 : 16 July 2014), Mont-Saint-Grégoire > Saint-Grégoire-le-Grand > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1841-1869 > image 139 of 748; Archives Nationales du Quebec (National Archives of Quebec), Montreal.
3. ↑ Drouin Genealogical Institute (requires subscription) Baptism

See also:

• Denise Robillard, “BESSETTE, ALFRED, named Brother André,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 16, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed March 9, 2022, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/bessette_alfred_16E.html.