The Montreal Saint-Joseph Oratory, Canada Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal is a Roman Catholic basilica on the northern slope of Mount Royal in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. In 1904, Blessed André Bessette (Brother André), CSC, began the construction of a small chapel on the side of the mountain near Notre Dame College. Soon the growing number of visitors made it too small. Even though it was enlarged, a larger church was needed and in 1917 one was completed - it is called the Crypt, and has a seating capacity of 1,000. In 1924, the construction of the basilica was inaugurated; it was finally completed in 1967. The Oratory's dome is the third-largest of its kind in the world after the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro in the Ivory Coast and Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, and the church is the largest in Canada. The basilica is dedicated to Saint Joseph, to whom Brother André credited all his reported miracles. These were mostly related to some kind of healing power, and many pilgrims (handicapped, blind, ill, etc.) poured into his Basilica, including numerous Protestants. On display in the basilica is a wall covered with thousands of crutches from those who came to the basilica and were allegedly healed. Pope John Paul II deemed the miracles to be authentic and beatified Brother André in 1982. A reliquary in the church museum contains Brother André's heart, which he requested as a protection for the basilica. More than 2 million visitors and pilgrims visit the Oratory every year. It is located at 3800 Queen Mary Road , at Cote-des-Neiges (near to Cote-des-Neiges metro station). Composer Camilien Allard notably served as the church's carillonneur from 1955-1975. For RCA Victor he released the LP album Carols at the Carillon of Saint Joseph's Oratory for which he wrote the arrangements. Canonization of Brother André, October 17, 2010 Brother André founded Saint Joseph's Oratory, He is it soul, it is he who gives inspiration and meaning to this legacy which elicits such enthousiam here in Canada, and increasingly around the world. The story of the shrine is still being written and it is our great pleasure to be its authors and eye withnesses. A Most Humble Man Prepares to Climb to the Heights In his Letter to the Romans, St. Paul seems to speak wisely about true humility when he counsels, I want to urge each one among you not to exaggerate your real importance. Each of you must judge yourself soberly by the standard of the faith God has given you. (Romans 12:3) That is how I estimate Brother Andre's humility. In his case, there's nothing of false humility in which the person downgrades himself or presents herself as beneath others. As a man of true humility, Brother André made an accurate inventory of the gifts God had given him. His humility was that of a solid person, someone who didn't have to prove his standing before others. Brother Andre didn't need any fancy titles; he understood those words of Jesus which said that the greatest among you is the one who serves the others. To be on the heights, the ultimate recognition that the Catholic Church can bestow upon one of its own was certainly not part of his career planning! From atop his station, Brother Andre doesn't really want to attract attention toward himself. Rather, he invites us to make our life a life of service and love. Brother Andre will be standing on high as a witness who urges us to turn to Saint Joseph, his friend. Brother Andre can now better than ever rouse us to embrace this God of love toward whom all honor and glory be raised. Thanks Magik