Holy Cross sister witnesses canonization of congregation's first saint

Courtesy photo Sr. Celine Dounies

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Holy Cross Sister Celine Dounies (right) is accompanied by Holy Cross Sisters Elita (left) and Maria Regina for the canonization of the first Holy Cross saint. Blessed Brother André Bessette was a humble man with a devotion to Saint Joseph.

DRAPER — Although Holy Cross Sister Celine Dounies went to the Vatican for the canonization of six saints on Oct. 17, she was there with great anticipation for the canonization of André Bessette, a Holy Cross brother.

“We (the Holy Cross Congregation) now have a saint,” said Sr. Celine, whose name was selected from many within her congregation to attend.

She attended a vigil service at Saint Andrew’s Church in Rome on Oct. 16 with about 900 pilgrims from Canada, the United States and all over the world. “We had 12 representatives from our Holy Cross motherhouse in Notre Dame, Ind.,” she said. “There were other Holy Cross sisters from France and Canada and also priests and brothers among the many pilgrims in Rome who totaled about 2,000 in attendance for the canonization in Rome.”

Those canonized included Stanislaw Soltys, Candida Maria of Jesus, Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Giulia Salzano and Camilla Battista da Barano.

Saint Andre Bessette, born Alfred, was a brother in the Congregation of the Holy Cross. He was born in Saint Grégoire d’lberville, Canada on Aug. 9, 1845, and died at age 91, in Montreal, Canada, Jan. 6, 1937.

“He touched many people in his lifetime because they came to him for spiritual and psychological healing as well as physical healing,” said Sr. Celine.

Brother André’s early life was filled with tribulation. His father died when Brother André was 9 years old, followed three years later by the death of his mother. The 10 Bessette children were split up among relatives and friends. At age 12, Brother André was forced to go to work and learn a trade. He had no possessions, no education, and barely knew how to write his own name or read from a prayer book.

A frail child, tossed around from place to place, he always maintained his faith, said Sr. Celine. “In 1870, he went to the novitiate of the Congregation of the Holy Cross in Montreal,” she said. “They did not want to accept him, but finally they did and assigned him to the position of being the gatekeeper at College Notre-Dame.

Brother André burned vegetable oil in front of the statue of Saint Joseph, then suggested the person put it on their ailment and pray to St. Joseph for healing as well, said Sr. Celine. “Despite his growing reputation and his successful healings, he denied having any natural gifts as a healer. He suggested his followers pray a novena to Saint Joseph and rub their ailment with the oil from the lamp of St. Joseph or a medal of the saint. He had a great devotion to St. Joseph and built a little chapel to honor him and later collected donations for the Oratory, which he never saw completed.”

Sr. Celine toured the Oratory in Montreal, Canada, for her Silver Jubilee in 2006 with her mother.

“It was a thrill to be in Rome for the canonizations,” said Sr. Celine. “We kept reminding ourselves we were pilgrims and not tourists. We were there for all six of the saints and for this special event in history, and especially for this being the first saint for our congregation; it was real exciting. For each saint, they brought up flowers and relics to the outdoor altar in Saint Peter’s. They had huge tapestries of each of the saints that hung in front of the Vatican.”