by Sabrina Di Matteo, editor of Haute Fidélité MONTREAL — Tens of thousands of pilgrims, among them 1,500 Quebecers, filled St. Peter’s Square in Rome Oct. 17 for the canonization mass of Br. André, humble porter of Montreal. At 4 a.m., Montreal time, 1,500 people squeezed into the crypt church of St. Joseph’s Oratory to ...read more

On the eve of the canonization of Blessed Brother André Bessette, Salt + Light premiered the documentary God’s Doorkeeper: St. André of Montreal in Rome.  Father Thomas Rosica, CEO of Salt + Light welcomed an attentive audience of more than 150 people to the Maria Bambina Theatre for the screening.  There was an atmosphere of ...read more

by François Gloutnay, editor of the Catholic media blog Nouvelles de l’ACPC Would Brother André, an humble man, be shy to learn he made the front page of many Canadian dailies? See here. The Calgary Herald carries a picture and this headline: “Brother André first Canadian-born man to become saint”.“From orphan to sainthood: Brother André ...read more

Intimacy with God. That’s how Brother André became a saint, according to the Archbishop of Montreal, Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte. Those words came as part of his homily during a Mass of Thanksgiving this morning at Sant’Andrea delle Valle in Rome. It was also during the homily that the congregation erupted in an extended applause for ...read more

By François Gloutnay, editor of Catholic media blog Nouvelles de l’ACPC.Many articles in the Canadian and international press on the canonization of Brother André. Here are some excerpts.The Toronto Star columnist Rosie DiManno writes: “Alfred Bessette is now St. André. With upwards of 5,000 Canadians in St. Peter’s Square to witness the event, the Holy ...read more

This blog was submitted by Fr. Andrew Gawrych, CSC, of the Indiana Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross. It is still sinking in. Brother André Bessette is now a canonized saint! Perhaps like many of you, I watched with great devotion, pride, and joy the canonization Mass early this morning. One of my own, ...read more

The sun was slowly beginning peek through the clouds and a cool breeze floated through the silent streets of Rome. It seemed like any other Sunday, until I turned the corner and arrived at St. Peter’s Square. The line of pilgrims started at each entrance and wrapped around the fence the separates Roman territory from ...read more

MONTREAL — The live broadcast of the canonization Mass for Br. André October 17 and the vigil held the night before drew several thousand people to St. Joseph’s Oratory. Some came to participate in a major historic event; others came to pay tribute to their close ties to the saint. Judith Boyce arrived at the ...read more

MONTREAL — Quebecers have been rejoicing for months, ever since the Vatican announced February 19 that their beloved Br. André would be made a saint. Now that Pope Benedict XVI formally canonized St. André Bessette, or St. Brother André (a more intimate title approved for him for local use), the celebrations can officially begin. In ...read more

Canada has its first male Canadian-born Saint! Today’s Canonization marks a momentous occasion for Canadian Catholics and surely one that will go down in history. The Canonization of six new Saints took place this morning at the Vatican. Tens of thousands gathered for the Mass in St. Peter’s Square. Among those gathered were over 5,000 ...read more