To speak of St. André Bessette is to speak of an authentic companion in the following of Jesus. His life profoundly marked my vocational journey and had a decisive influence on my desire to embrace religious life as a brother in the Congregation of the Holy Cross.

When I learned about his story, I was surprised to discover how God acts from the simplest and most everyday things. The life of Brother André clearly reveals that the greatness of God is manifested in humility and daily fidelity through prayer. This experience resonates deeply with my own history, as I have also been able to recognize the presence of God in everyday life, especially through the simple and constant witness of my grandmother, who, with her faith, taught me to discover God in the little things.

Br. André's life has deep spiritual meaning and exemplary value. A silent and humble man, like St. Joseph, he knew how to accompany, listen, and remain faithful in the midst of difficulties. His simple faith, coupled with a constant willingness to serve, made him a true witness to God's love.

Last year, during my service as director of the Pastoral of the Fe y Alegría 25 School, I considered it important and necessary to allocate a special space in the chapel to place the image of Br. André. From there, the educational community was able to pay tribute to him and ask for his intercession, especially for the needs that the children carried in their hearts.

Read more about the life of Holy Cross's first saint

Speaking to the students about the life of Br. André was not only to introduce them to the first saint recognized by the Church within the Congregation of the Holy Cross, but to help them discover that God is still at work in their own lives today. As Br. André himself said, “God uses the smallest brushes to paint great works.” It is deeply inspiring to remember that God, through St. Joseph, used Br. André to accomplish wonderful works, including the beginning of the construction of Saint Joseph's Oratory in Montreal.

For me, as a brother of Holy Cross, Br. André has been and continues to be a constant source of inspiration in the service of others. He invites us to follow his example and to be, like him, men of hope, ready to share God’s tenderness and love, especially among those most in need. We want to be prophetic signs of Jesus, our Brother in the midst of the world.

I want to invite you to trust in the intercession of Br. André, to trust that he will always be praying for you. May St. André Bessette continue to inspire us in the following of Jesus and make us more docile to God’s will, to live our vocations, whatever they might be, with hope and fidelity.

Br. Anthony Terrones, C.S.C., a member of the District of Chile-Perú, wrote this reflection for the Feast of St. André Bessette, the first canonized saint of the Congregation of Holy Cross. Br. Anthony professed his Final Vows on 25 February 2023. After working both in St. George’s College in Santiago, Chile, and Colegio Fe y Alegría 25 in San Juan de Lurigancho, Perú, he now serves as the Director of Vocations in Peru.