January 6, 1937 saw the death of Brother André Bessette, C.S.C. (now Saint André Bessette) in Montreal, Canada. Born in 1845, Andre Bessette entered the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1870 and served for many years as doorkeeper of the College de Notre Dame on Mount Royal. He was instrumental in the establishment and building of the Oratory of Saint Joseph, now the largest church in North America. He was known as “the miracle worker of Montreal” and many cures and other favors have been attributed to his prayer and intercession. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1982 and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. The Church in Canada and the United States now observe the feast of Saint André Bessette on this date.
For more information on University history for the month of January, go to www.up.edu/almanac.