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| Saint André Bessette Artist and date not cited |
From the Common of Holy Men and Women: For Religious (Texts selected by the author.)
Biographical information about St. Andre Bessette
6. For Religious
1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21
The LORD said
to Elijah:
“You shall anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah,
as prophet to succeed you.”
Elijah set out and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat,
as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen;
he was following the twelfth.
Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him.
Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said,
“Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,
and I will follow you.”
Elijah answered, “Go back!
Have I done anything to you?”
Elisha left him, and taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered
them;
he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh,
and gave it to his people to eat.
Then Elisha left and followed Elijah as his attendant.
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Commentary on 1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21
Elijah’s time is coming to an end, and God
instructs him to select his successor, Elisha. In response to God’s
instruction, Elijah travels to a region near Damascus, and finds Elisha plowing
a field using the symbolic twelve oxen (for the twelve tribes of Israel).
“Elijah's act of throwing his mantle over the shoulders of Elisha expressed the
divine call to share the prophetic mission. Elisha's prompt response through
destruction of his plow and the oxen is an example of total obedience and
detachment from his former manner of living in order to promote the glory of
God.” [1]
"Elisha's response to Elijah's call is quite
exemplary: he leaves everything behind and puts himself at the disposal of the
prophet. That will be how the apostles respond to Christ (cf. Matthew 4:20, 22; etc.),
and it should be how anyone responds when the Lord calls him or her to a
mission which involves leaving everything. But the call issued by Jesus is more
pressing than Elijah's, as can be seen from the Gospel passage where Jesus, in
response to someone who says, 'I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say
farewell to those at my home,' replies, 'No one who puts his hand to the plough
and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God' (Luke 9:61-62)." [2]
CCC: 1 Kgs 19:16 436
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4. Psalm 23:1-3, 4, 5, 6
R.
(1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is
my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is
my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is
my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is
my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord
is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
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Commentary on Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
Psalm 23 is one of the most familiar songs in
the entire psalter. “God's loving care for the psalmist is portrayed under the figures
of a shepherd for the flock (Psalm 23:1-4) and a host's generosity toward a guest (Psalm 23:5-6). The imagery of both sections is drawn from traditions of
the exodus (Isaiah 40:11; 49:10; Jeremiah 31:10).” [3] While
the theme of shepherd is mentioned in the first strophe, the psalm really
speaks to the peace given to those who follow the Lord and place their trust in
him, even into the “dark valley.”
The reference in the third strophe above: “'You
spread the table before me in the sight of my foes' occurs in an
exodus context in Psalm 78:19. As my enemies watch: my enemies see that I am God's friend
and guest. Oil: a perfumed ointment made from olive oil, used especially at
banquets (Psalm 104:15; Matthew 26:7; Luke 7:37, 46; John 12:2).” [4]
CCC: Ps 23:5 1293
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23. For Religious
Luke 14:25-33
Great crowds
were traveling with Jesus,
and he turned and addressed them,
"If anyone comes to me without hating his father and
mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters,
and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion?
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
This one began to build but did not have the resources to
finish.'
Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down
and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?
But if not, while he is still far away,
he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.
In the same way,
every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 14:25-33
The Lord, perhaps in an action intended to identify those who had
the zeal to be true disciples, tells the crowd of the necessity of total
dedication to the call to discipleship. They had seen his recent miracles of
healing, and were, no doubt, hoping to learn wisdom from him.
He tells them that they must place their love of God first, before family and
even their own lives. He tells them, through two examples – the construction of
the tower and the evaluation of the battle – that they must measure the
sacrifice needed to be his follower. He punctuates his statement by telling
them they must “renounce” all their possessions to follow him.
CCC: Lk 14:26 1618; Lk 14:33 2544
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Reflection:
St. André is a wonderful example of what God will do to accomplish his mission of mercy. Alfred Bessette (1845-1937) was born in Quebec and struggled to find work, primarily because of his poor health. He was encouraged by his pastor to pursue a religious vocation and was sent to the Congregation of the Holy Cross with a note that read in part, “I am sending you a saint.” He was initially rejected, again for concerns over his health, but with the support of the Bishop of Montreal, he was accepted. What can God do with a person who suffers from poor health, even though his faith is vast?
Because of his health and lack of formal education, Brother André was assigned as doorkeeper of Notre Dame College in Montreal. Perhaps it is the humility of such a post (we see the same heroic virtue occurring in Blessed Solanus Casey in a similar circumstance), and undoubtedly in the case of Brother André, because of the intercession of St. Joseph, to whom he was devoted, those who came and prayed with him began to experience miraculous healings.
We see what happens with miraculous healings in Sacred Scripture, Jesus attracted huge crowds and even when attempting solitude he was brought those who were sick and infirm (healing the mother of Peter's wife; healing the deaf mute of Decapolis; healing the blind at birth; healing the paralytic at Bethesda; the blind man of Bethsaida; the blind man Bartimaeus in Jericho; healing the centurion's servant; Christ healing an infirm woman). In one case in particular (Luke 5:17-20) the paralytic was lowered through the roof of the place in which he was teaching.
It should come as no surprise then that those of faith would flock to a person so gifted by God. And just as the paralytic at Bethesda, many were healed through their faith. God does great things with poor tools. Though of frail health, Brother André, always humble and even confused by the adulation of the throngs who came to him, saved his meager earnings and purchased a small site across from the college and built an oratory over which he was given charge. A basilica was later erected and receives over a million visitors a year, with side alcoves filled with crutches and other implements left by those who experienced healing through Brother André (now St. André)
This saint whose health was such a concern at birth and which relegated him to light duty throughout his life lived to see his ninety-first birthday! God does amazing work with poor tools.
On this his feast day, we ask for the intercession of St. André and his patron, St. Joseph. May the Lord give us the strength to be used as tools for the greater glory of God as well.
Pax
[1] NAB footnote on 1 Kings 19:16ff.
[2] The Navarre Bible, Joshua-Kings (Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2003), 500.
[3] NAB footnote on Psalm 23.
[4] Ibid.
[5] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
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