Monument Frère André

Montreal ( Montréal )

This is a replica of the sculpture of Brother André that is situated beside the eponymous chapel on the land belonging to St. Joseph’s Oratory; it was inaugurated on 2 November 1986 in the presence of mayor Jean Drapeau. Cast in London by Morris Singer Art Founders, from the plaster original conserved in the oratory’s museum, this posthumous copy sits at the centre of the former Beaver Hall Hill Square, now Place du Frère-André. The figure of Brother André, known during his lifetime for his closeness to the common people and his great accessibility, wears the habit of the priests of the Congrégation de Sainte-Croix. The posture and physiognomy portrayed transmit the humility and kindness of this priest, known for his many miracles as a healer. This artwork is typical of the academic production of the Canadian sculptor Émile Brunet.

Born Alfred Bessette in Mont-Saint-Grégoire, Brother André was the founder of St. Joseph’s Oratory. A member of the Sainte-Croix congregation, he was considered during his lifetime to be a great healer and a saint. His many “miraculous” healings, attributed to his intercession with St. Joseph, led to the construction of the oratory bearing the saint’s name (1924–55), a major urban pilgrimage site that receives thousands of visitors every year. Brother André, a man of the people to the end of his days, died at age 91 in Montréal. A religious figure forever inscribed on the collective imagination, Brother André was beatified on 23 May 1982.


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Categories: Attractions, Public art

Card created: 09/2015 (last modified: 09/2015)

GPS coordinates: 45°30'12.21"N, 73°34'0.69"W

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(last modified: 09/2015)