How a Humble Man’s Dream Produced One of the Most Beautiful Basilicas in the World
An unexpected saint and a breathtaking church
The English missionary William Carey famously urged people to “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” It’s an admirable admonition, though one many of us have trouble putting into practice beyond attempting to get up for church on Sunday mornings. However, in the late 19th and early 20th century one Canadian man took this idea farther than anyone could have imagined.
During his lifetime, few outside Canada had ever heard of Andre Bessette. Even those who knew him would never have predicted that one day he would not only be recognized as a saint, but would have constructed a church in Montreal dedicated to Saint Joseph that attracts more than two million visitors each year. Both are true; he is now Saint Andre Bessette, the Miracle Man of Montreal who built Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal from nothing but a dedication to Saint Joseph and a dream.
Brother Andre was born in Quebec on August 9, 1845, leaving school at 12 years old after the deaths of both of his parents. In his mid-20s, he…
