Montreal's Brother André nears sainthood

A beloved man whose faith led to the creation of Montreal's famous St. Joseph shrine is one step closer to sainthood. 

The late Brother André is on a six-person short list for canonization, the Vatican Information Service reported late last week. 

Cardinals will confer over Brother André's case, as well as the five others, at a Vatican meeting on Feb. 19.

Brother André was born Alfred Bessette on Aug. 9, 1845, in St-Gregoire-d'Iberville to a large Catholic family.

After joining the Holy Cross Congregation in 1874, he worked as a porter and barber at a boys' school run by the order, and it was there that his reputation as a healer — even a miracle-worker — took hold.

In 1904, Brother André founded St. Joseph's Oratory, a giant landmark church on the slopes of Mount Royal, which towers over the city. He was laid to rest there when he died in 1937 at age 91.

He was declared as venerable by the church in 1978, and beatified in 1982. Last December, Pope Benedict XVI attributed to him a second miracle healing described as scientifically inexplicable, a necessary step before sainthood. Details of the miracle have not been disclosed to the public.

Officials at both the Montreal archdiocese and St. Joseph's Oratory have declined to comment on the short list.