Saint Andre Bessette was born on August 9, 1845, with the name of Alfred Bessette. He was the eighth son to his mother and father Isaac and Clothilde Bessette. They were a poor family who lived in the village of St. Gregoire, Quebec. He was born a very sick baby, and his parents had a great fear of him not surviving. His lack of physical health continued to effect him, but greatly was able to live to the age of 91. Although he and his parents had great affection for each other tragedy soon struck the family. Sadly, at the age of six, his father had been killed in a lumbering accident near the town of Farnham. Four years after this, at the age of ten, Andre's mother received tuberculosis and had to put up her twelve children up for adoption, but managed to keep Andre due to his weak health. They went to live with his aunt Mrs. Timothée Nadeau, but then Clothilde died two years after. Andre was sadly left as an orphan at the age of twelve. He continued to live with his aunt, receiving work on the family farm, but could not because he was too weak, and his physical health wasn't fit for the job. His uncle also offered him the job as a shoe-maker but that didn't work out either. Later on in life, Andre wanted to become a priest, but did not because he was not properly educated and did not have qualities of a priest. Although this happened, they had let him become the doorman to the church as he greeted the people in and held the door for them. This was when miracles began to occur. As he held the door for the people, they would come to ask him if there was a priest available. If the priest was occupied or was not there, Andre was willing to talk and listen to their prayers and pray for them or their ill loved ones. Amazingly, the people who had prayed with Andre had come to tell people their loved ones were cured and healed. More and more people came to the church to ask Andre to pray with them to St. Joseph. Praying to the Lord had helped many people, and although Saint Andre had a rough past, he soon became a miracle worker for many many people. On October 17^th 2010, he was declared of being a Saint and many people know his story. He had a very humble life and was devoted to God, and many people look up to him for his personality of never losing hope, which had helped people and made so many miracles.

-Christine