Liturgical Calendar

Saint of the day

Saint André Bessette (1845-1937)

Saint André Bessette was one of 12 children born to a French Canadian couple who lived near Montreal. He was adopted at the age of 12 after both of his parents passed away. He held odd jobs to contribute to the family, including working as a farmhand, shoemaker, baker, blacksmith, and a factory worker. Even though André had a strong will and desire to work, he had a stomach ailment that prevented him from holding a job for very long. André wanted to join the Holy Cross Brothers, but was denied because of his stomach affliction and his inability to read and write. However, after André prayed to Saint Joseph and implored Bishop Bourget's help, he was admitted into the order as a brother. He was given the primary duty of being a doorkeeper at Notre Dame College in Montreal, along with other smaller tasks. Even though he held humble positions, André performed his duties well and with love. He was very devoted to Saint Joseph and knew that one day the saint would be honored on Mount Royal. When someone was ill, André would rub the afflicted person with oil from a lamp in the college chapel, and bring joy and healing. When an epidemic broke out at a neighboring college, André volunteered to go and minister to the sick. Miraculously, nobody died, and more and more people began to seek out André for healing. He gave all of the credit for his healing abilities to Saint Joseph. For a number of years, the Holy Cross Brothers had tried to buy land to build a church on Mount Royal, but were unsuccessful. One day, Brother André and several other brothers climbed the hill and put medals of Saint Joseph in the ground. Suddenly, the landowners relented and allowed the Holy Cross Brothers to purchase their land. A small chapel was constructed, where André welcomed visitors. Soon, money began to run out to complete the church. André told the brothers to put a statue of Saint Joseph in the middle of the chapel, saying, "If he wants a roof over his head, he'll get it." Eventually, the spectacular Oratory on Mount Royal was completed. Saint André passed away in 1937 and was canonized in 2010.

Reflection

Saint André Bessette performed every task, no matter how small, with love. He wished to bring joy and healing to the ill, and gave all of the credit for his healing abilities to Saint Joseph. He let the Holy Spirit and his faith guide his actions each day. Spend a few quiet minutes with the Lord. Ask him to send the Holy Spirit into your heart so you can live out your faith every day.

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who brings our faith to life. Send the Spirit into my heart so that I may have the courage to truly live my faith in my everyday world. (Taken from “Good News Day by Day: Bible Reflections for Teens.”)

Meditations

Meditation for Gospel

Matthew gives us a couple wonderful insights in this passage. The wise men from the East are well educated; their knowledge takes them on a journey to seek Jesus, but ultimately they have to rely on the wisdom of the Sacred Scriptures to find their way to Jesus. Knowledge is important, but the wisdom found in the Scriptures is essential in coming to know and experience God. Once the wise men came upon Jesus, they opened their treasures to assist Jesus in his work in the world. Though we often think of the fragrant qualities of the frankincense and the myrrh, we should also remember that both have medicinal qualities--fine gifts for the healer Jesus was to become. Are we willing to give the best of our personal treasures to develop Jesus's Kingdom on earth? This Sunday's Gospel is also a story of the different paths to faith. :et's compare the wise men with the shepherds in the Gospel of Luke. The wise men dedicate their entire lives to studying and acquiring knowledge so that when the star appears, they know to follow this significant sign, even though the journey is hard and challenging. When they lose sight of the star near their journey's end, they have to seek further knowledge to finally find Jesus. On the other hand, the shepherds are not educated, but they are faithful to their work and their flocks. They know what their senses tell them, in the way people close to the earth know. So, when the angels appear to them and reveal that the Savior is a short distance away in Bethlehem, the shepherds accept what they hear and go to see for themselves. For some people, coming to faith in Jesus is a process that includes studying and a long, challenging journey. For others, the journey is short and direct. Both paths are valid ways to come to know and believe in Jesus the Christ. (Taken from "Youth Engaging Scripture: Diving into the Sunday Gospels")