"'I am the door,' says the Lord. 'If anyone enters by me, he will be saved.'"

Just prior to the Holy Father’s opening of the Holy Door on Christmas Eve, this was the gospel verse gloriously sung by the Vatican choir inaugurating this holy Year of Jubilee.

For 40 years, St. André Bessette stood at the doors as porter of Collège Notre-Dame de Montréal, where people would flock to him, seeking his prayers, words of encouragement, and healing touch. As they entered these "holy" doors, they were accompanied across the threshold in faith by this holy, humble brother who became their portal, through the intercession of Saint Joseph, to the saving power of God’s mercy, compassion, and healing.

Brother André once said, “The door to heaven is the heart of Jesus. The key to this door is prayer and love.”

Learn more about Holy Cross and the Jubilee Year

The Holy Father has given the theme of this Jubilee, Pilgrims of Hope. In his Christmas Eve homily, Pope Francis said, “As disciples of the Lord, we are called to find our greater hope in him, and then, without delay, carry that hope with us, as pilgrims of light amid the darkness of this world… The Jubilee has now opened so that all people may receive hope, the hope of the Gospel, the hope of love and hope of forgiveness.”

As we celebrate in this special year in which we strive to be pilgrims bringing hope to others, let us take St. André as our guide and intercessor. Just as he did, let us pray for the grace to open the doors of our own hearts to Jesus, so that with prayer and love, our hearts would conform more to His. Then, like St. André, we too will be able to accompany others into His heart as well with holiness and humility.

Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., is the 14th Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross, having been elected at the 2022 General Chapter. Prior to his election, Br. Bednarczyk had served for six years as the Vicar General and First Assistant of the Congregation. He is a member of the Moreau Province. He wrote this reflection to celebrate the feast of the Congregation's first canonized saint, Br. André Bessette.