Saint Andre and the Basilica

January 6 is the feast day of Saint Andre Bessette. I wrote about our cousin Saint Andre and his life in an earlier post. I was fortunate to see the Oratory of Saint Joseph on a recent visit to Montreal. This large, modern church is located on Mount Royal. It is built on three levels. We began on the lower floor at the crypt of Saint Andre.

Basilica of St. Joseph completed in 1967

Crypt of Saint Andre

We spent time on each level of this enormous church moving by escalator to each floor. When we left the building, we found the small chapel that was built years before the Basilica. Saint Andre lived very simply here in a room above the altar. This was my favorite place.

Chapel of St. Joseph built in 1904

St. Joseph statue in Brother Andre's Room

There were hundreds of crutches and placques on the walls witnessing his intercessory healings.

"It's not my work; it's St. Joseph's."

We found devotion and statutes to Saint Andre all over Canada. His deep and amazing faith is truly inspiring. In fact, he is the Saint of the Week here at home at St. Denis Church in Menlo Park.  More Photos