André, Brother

André, Brother äNdrāˈ, änˈ– [key], 1845–1937, Canadian Roman Catholic mystic, b. St. Grégoire d'Iberville, Que. His secular name was Alfred Bissette, Bassette, or Bessette. For about 40 years he was a porter at a school in Montreal. His simple, devout life began (c.1900) to attract attention. Many miraculous cures were attributed to him. Through his efforts the Oratory of St. Joseph was built in Montreal.

See biographies by H. P. Bergeron (1938), K. K. Burton (1952), and A. Hatch (1959).

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