The Little Man and the Mountain

St. Andre

St Andre lived August 9, 1845 – January 6, 1937 and was officially named a saint on October 17, 2010 Pope Benedict XVI.  He was born in  Mont-Saint-Grégoire, Quebec and his original name was Alfred Bessette.  From the moment he was born he had to be specially looked after because of his frail body.  St Andre's father worked in the lumber industry, his father tragically lost his life in an accident with a tree falling on him when Andre was only nine years old.  Three years later his mother had died of tuberculosis, that left Andre and his ten siblings orphaned and on their own.  Andre was then sent to live with his aunt and uncle, he was searching for a job that would suit his fragile health.  That left St Andre wandering in search for a job with little education and barley the ability to read.  He sampled jobs such as a blacksmith, baker, shoemaker and wagon driver.  A pastor noticed the gentle, spiritual Andre and pursued for him to become part of the church system but he was denied because of his poor health.  But in 1874 he was finally accepted as Brother Andre. Bessette died in 1937, at the age of 91.  Millions of people remembered Andre and all the miracles he had performed with praying to St Joseph.  His body forever lies in the church that Andre helped build. 
  St Andre grew up as an average, humble man that today is known as one of the greatest servants of the Lord.  St Andre was not somebody who got everything handed to him like our current generation.  St Andre had a life of countless challenges and obstacles that he miraculously overcame.  Regardless of St Andre's deprived, destitute and ill-educated life, St Andre lived it to the fullest. He lived a modest and humble life through the light of the Lord and performed unfathomable miracles. Wealth or possessions were never a priority in his life, the significant goal that this feeble man achieved was the reward of assisting others.  Due to his weak physical state, St Andre became incapable of doing activities in life, but he never complained to the Lord.  The Lord had a plan for St Andre in the earliest times.  The Lord has prepared a plan for each of us that are waiting to be fulfilled.   Even in the most terrible times, we have to remember the Lord has included unfortunate events to test our faith in Him.  St Andre was faced with many tests from the Lord in his life.  Instead of becoming discouraged or upset with God, St Andre embraced the circumstances and tried to make the best of them.  In fact he was happy and content with his life because St Andre had the important things in his life, a personal relationship with the Lord and a place in heaven. 
Figuring that he was too unintelligent to become anything else, St Andre became a doorman at Notre Dame College in Montreal.  The only job for him each day was opening and closing the doors.  But he didn't frown on being a doorman; he enjoyed listening to people's situations and praying to St Joseph.  With St Andre's sincere prayers, problems were cured!  Andre was aware that he couldn't help the situations himself, so he prayed to the Lord which assisted many.  St Andre truly was the miracle worker of Montreal.  He was also able to build an astonishing oratory. This miniscule man is an example to all of us that when our situation becomes difficult the strong hearted will work harder, just like St Andre.  He trusted in the Lord and the Lord directed his meek, humble, holy and spiritual life. 

 Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path."

~Christina Z