Vatican declares Canadian brother a saint

MONTREAL, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- A Canadian Roman Catholic brother from Montreal said to have healing powers for the disabled was confirmed to be elevated to sainthood by the Vatican Friday.

Pope Benedict XVI and a council of cardinals said Brother Andre, born Alfred Bessette, would be installed as Canada's 11th saint Oct. 17, The (Montreal) Gazette reported.

He was born Aug. 9, 1845, southeast of Montreal, became an orphan at age 10 and then a lay brother in 1874. He worked as a janitor at College Notre Dame and over time became well known in the city for his ability to heal the disabled through prayer to St. Joseph.

He was instrumental in the founding of the St. Joseph's Oratory, Canada's largest Catholic church, on Mount Royal in Montreal in 1904.

His body is entombed there and his heart is stored separately in a reliquary. Modern pilgrims still climb the dozens of stairs to the entrance on their hands and knees acknowledging the disabled who did the same to seek out Brother Andre. The basilica has a display of discarded canes, crutches and braces.

Andre died at age 91 in 1937.