Faith healer André Bessette (1845–1937), who was later known as Brother André or Saint André of Montréal, was a frequent visitor to Plattsburgh, NY, especially after Clinton County residents, many of whom were distant cousins, told people about their cures. His special friends were Andrew Wilson and his wife, Mary Picotte, who lived at 33 Broad Street. Brother André would often take the train down from Montreal or friends would drive him down to spend a few days with them.
While he was in the area, he would visit relatives and people who were ill, and the Wilsons would open their home to people who wanted to see their friend.
In September, 1919 it was said that Mrs. Albert Sharron of Plattsburgh was cured of throat cancer after many visits to Brother André. On her last visit, Brother André stood before her in his office in Montreal and said, “There is nothing wrong with your throat. You are well.”
In October, 1919 Lawrence Parker, the nine-year-old son of Wesley Parker and Eva Clukey, was allegedly cured of the asthma he had had for six years by Brother André. He looked at the boy and asked the mother about him and finally told her not to worry that her son was all right. Almost at that instant, his respiration became normal, observers said.
In June, 1920 Seth Baker, a well-known taxicab driver from Plattsburgh was said to have been cured of his paralysis after talking with Brother André for a few minutes. He supposedly left his crutches at the chapel in Montreal, was able to resume his business.
In September, 1920 – Miss K. Claire McCann of Plattsburgh was said to have been cured of an ailment of three year’s standing which prominent physicians had pronounced incurable. She said she believed she was completely cured and gone back to work in the Elm Street School.
In March, 1930 – John E. Judge of Plattsburgh, who was seriously ill for a few months, visited Brother André in Montreal. Before leaving, he claimed that he had had a change for the better in his condition.
For years, between 1920 and the time he died in 1937, Clinton County newspapers would have articles celebrating Brother André’s birthday, noting the condition of his health, or telling people he was in the area.
Taxi drivers would take out ads to say they were willing to go to Montreal to see the Brother and one article even mentioned the best times for visits – early in the morning or after 7 o’clock at night. Bus tours and school tours were arranged to go to see him and people would bring back medals with Brother André’s image to wear pinned to their undergarments.
His own health began to decline after he was 80 years old, and he died in January 1937 at 91. He is buried in a tomb below the Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal’s Main Chapel in Montreal, a chapel founded by Brother Andre as a shrine to Saint Joseph.
A million people were said to have filed past his coffin before he was entombed – we suppose there were many people from Clinton County in that number.
A path for Brother André’s beatification was opened in 1950 under Pope Pius XII. He was finally declared a saint on October 17, 2010, which made many people in the county, some of whom had actually met him, very happy. The ceremony was televised in Rome and broadcast to Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal.
On October 30th, Mgr. Jean-Claude Turcotte presided at a Thanksgiving Mass in the Olympic Stadium in Montreal in honor of the new saint; close to 48,000 people, including scores of Clinton County Catholics, attended the event.
Julie Dowd is Trustee Emeritus of the Clinton County Historical Association.
Illustration: A portrait of Brother Andre.
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