Brother Andre to be a Saint

Pope Benedict XVI announced on Friday that Blessed Brother André Bessette, C.S.C., will be canonized in a ceremony to be held October 17, 2010.  Blessed Brother André was a brother of the Congregation of Holy Cross, the religious order which founded the University of Notre Dame.  He is the first member of the Holy Cross Order to be named a saint.

Brother André served as a porter, or doorman, at Montreal’s College of Notre Dame, an assignment in which he continued for the next 40 years.  In addition to welcoming visitors, he served as janitor, launderer, and sacristan, ran errands, and provided the students with cheap haircuts.  More and more people began to visit him, seeking his advice, counsel, and healing.

Brother André is routinely mentioned in campus liturgies, and there are two statues of him on campus, one in the Basilica and one at the Eck Visitors Center.  For the full story, see this press release by the University.  The University's site, http://www.nd.edu/, has a good introduction to Brother André.  The video found below is also very good.