The Precious Letters of Saint Brother André

Those familiar with Saint-Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal typically know that its foundation was initiated by Alfred Bessette, known in religion as Brother André, a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross. However, it would be a mistake to assume that all pilgrims who visit the sanctuary are aware of this.

Portrait of the young Brother André, novice. Around 1871? OSJ Archives (4-1).

This ignorance can be explained by a particular detail in the life of Saint Brother André, although not unique in the history of the Church: he left very few written records during his lifetime. His reputation for holiness was primarily established through testimonials about him. Nevertheless, a thorough search was conducted by the Archdiocese of Montreal to find “the writings of Reverend Brother André” [1].

Having passed away in January 1937, the authorities of the Archdiocese of Montreal announced on October 15, 1940, to the Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross, Father Albert Cousineau, C.S.C., their intention to begin the preliminary process for canonization. This first important step is called the diocesan process. To properly initiate the diocesan process, it is necessary to examine the writings of the religious figure.

In Brother André’s case, this task is easy. Despite a call to all the faithful of the Archdiocese of Montreal to search for and report his writings (autographs, written or dictated texts, printed or not), only a few signatures and very rare letters were gathered.

“Dear Uncle and Dear Aunt…”

Letter attributed to Brother André, August 13, 1874. OSJ Archives.

The oldest letters are written on two small sheets addressed to his aunt Marie-Rosalie Foisy, his mother’s sister, and her husband Timothée Nadeau. They were the ones who took in young Alfred Bessette when he was orphaned.

The first letter is dated August 13, 1874. A few months earlier, Alfred had made his perpetual vows and became Brother André. In this letter, he shares with them the joy of his religious life and the happiness he feels in the house of the Lord. The second letter, dated January 22, 1875, is somewhat longer. It is full of thanks for the love the couple showed him when he was orphaned. Brother André also opens up about their positive influence on his spiritual life.

Out of Sight, Near to the Heart

Two letters are addressed to his elder sister Léocadie.

One is dated February 25, 1879, and is simply addressed to his “Dearest Sister.” Brother André apologizes for his long silence, explaining that his many obligations prevented him from writing sooner. He includes pious images for Clothilde, “Joseph and his lady” [2]. There is a palpable sense of Brother André’s sincere fraternal love for his family living in the United States. He notes that he will pray for them as they request, and even more fervently as the “beautiful month of March” approaches, “dedicated to good Saint Joseph.”

Another, much shorter letter provides Brother André with the opportunity to inquire about his family members’ situation while urging her to send their addresses. Full of enthusiasm, it is dated January 31, 1882.

Letter from Brother André to his sister Léocadie, January 31, 1882. OSJ Archives.

Conclusion

Are these letters authentic? It must be acknowledged that the striking differences in handwriting suggest that they may have been dictated by Brother André to a scribe. Perhaps this was the common practice of the time, especially for religious figures who were not skilled in the art of letter writing. Another possibility is that the original was kept by the recipient. In this case, the letters we possess could be copies. However, it is important to note that the examination of the writings concluded they were indeed from him.

Are they therefore less interesting? We do not think so. In reading them, the contours of the familial love and faith that animated Brother André become apparent. This is where the true value of these unique documents lies.

Footnotes

[1] Letter from Mgr Joseph Charbonneau, November 13, 1940, reproduced in Annales de Saint-Joseph, January 1941, p. 26.
[2] Brother André had an elder sister named Clothilde, who died in early childhood, nearly 9 years before him. The Clothilde mentioned in the 1879 letter might be Léocadie’s daughter. Joseph is their elder brother.