Just finished a little book a little book, St Andre Bessette-Miracles in Montreal (Encounter the Saints series). I was a little miffed to discover after I bought it that it was written for teens and children, with accompanying drawings. Also it is a very small book. I could have read the whole thing in an hour or two. Still I wound up glad I did buy it as for what it is it is really excellent for anyone wanting books for the children to read this saints series seems wonderful. I has no idea St Andre was such a wonder worker. There was even one occasion when he brought a lady back to life from the dead. Stupendous.
I watched the film on him on tube a couple of times , I must watch it again. One thing not mentioned in the little book was the heavy moves against him from his own order. Today we would talk of them trying to cancel him. But there is one scene that lingers on my mind. A poor. Saintly priest who is in I'll health and is being sent to the back of beyond to cancel him talks to the young saint about the nature of holiness and how it winds up in being crucified. He also describes the Dark Night of the Soul. He saw the future saint inSt Andre and warns him about what lies in store in the future for him. So touching. But St Andre's miracles are breath taking.
St Andre said that the reason some people had miraculous healing and some did not was this. Some people needed healing to bolster their Faith, whilst others had a strong enough Faith to bear their Cross.
A wonderful thing about St Andree was that he was totally illiterate and could not read or write at all. Yet he had a perfect understanding of the Faith. Flawless. He learnt from prayer and life itself and learnt perfectly. I think this is a great source of hope for us all. Look at the great German Cardinals and Bishops who have higher University Degrees in Theology and Philosophy coming out their ears and are still arrant heretics. Little St Andre with no learning at all and understanding perfectly. I think this should be a great source of hope for us all.
Thank you Padraig, I've never seen it. I became hooked on him when I read about his life and miracles!!!
It is an old film but it is very, very good. I watched it once again for the umpteenth time last night If you do watch it look out for the Holy old priest giving him advise at the start of the film. He us wonderful.
