The relics of St. Andre Bessette, known worldwide for his devotion and healing of visitors to the Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal, will be visiting St. Anne Shrine on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 in the lower church.
St. Andre was a lay brother of the Congregation of Holy Cross and a significant figure among French-Canadians, credited with thousands of reported miraculous healings associated with his pious devotion to Saint Joseph.
He was declared venerable in 1978 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1982. Pope Benedict XVI approved the his decree of sainthood on February 9, 2010, with the formal canonization taking place on October 17, 2010.
It is reported that St. Andre visited St. Anne’s during his trips to Fall River to visit with relatives, and the Shrine gratefully welcomes him back to the shrine dedicated to the patroness of Quebec. The schedule of events is listed in the poster above.
Fr. Edward A. Murphy, Chaplain of St. Anne Shrine, has announced the schedule for his Healing Mass ministry in the Shrine. Please make note of these dates and plan to attend these uplifting and spiritually fulfilling events here at St. Anne.
The feast day of St. Dominic is celebrated on Tuesday, August 8. Known for his self-denial, apostolic zeal, and holiness, St. Dominic (Dominic de Guzman) was born in 1170 and ordained a priest at age 24. In 1216, St. Dominic established separate women’s, men’s and lay orders as the Order of Preachers, which later became known as the Dominicans.
The charism of the Dominicans is to proclaim the Word of God by preaching, teaching, and example while sustained by common life of prayer and study. Known as a joyful friar, St. Dominic conveyed enthusiasm for the Gospel. People came to St. Dominic because he offered them hope.
Along with establishment of the Order of Preachers, St. Dominic is associated with preaching on the daily devotion of praying the Holy Rosary. During the time of the Albigensian heresy, which believed that adultery, fornication, and suicide were praiseworthy and there is no heaven, no hell, and no defined moral code, St. Dominic went from town to town in Southern France preaching the TRUTH through the Word of God. Having little luck in converting the Albigenses, St. Dominic prayed fervently to Our Blessed Lady for direction and help. In Prouille, France, in 1208, The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in an abbey to St. Dominic, instructing him in the prayers of the Angelic Psalter, to be later known as the Holy Rosary. The late Dominican Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange OP, who was a mentor and teacher of Pope St. John Paul II when he was a student at the Angelicum in Rome, stated: “Our Blessed Lady made known to St. Dominic a kind of preaching till then unknown which she said would be one of the most powerful weapons against future errors and in future difficulties.” That St. John Paul II was devoted to the Rosary his whole life is testament to the power of this devotion.
Just as the Dominican Order continues in these missions today, St. Dominic dedicated himself to preaching the Word of God through the pursuit of Truth in His Son, Jesus Christ and encouraged daily praying of the Rosary.
St. Anne’s was privileged to have the members of the Dominican Order minister here since soon after the founding of the parish; the effect of their steadfast devotion and love of our patroness continues today as we work to reestablish the Shrine as a place of pilgrimage, hope, and peace.
Please join us at 2PM on June 18 in the Shrine for a Healing Mass with Fr. Edward Murphy, Shrine Chaplain, as he also celebrates his 25th anniversary as a priest of the Roman Catholic Church. Mass begins at 2PM, followed by Exposition, individual healing prayers over the congregation, and Benediction.
For more information, please contact the Shrine office at 508-678-1510, or info@st-annes-shrine.org
“And he came to his disciples, and finding them asleep, he said to Peter: ‘What? Could you not watch one hour with me? Watch, and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh weak.” (Mt. 26:40-41)
Forty Hours’ Devotion is a special exposition of the Blessed Sacrament over a period of three days, during which prayers continue uninterrupted for an approximate total of 40 hours. It ends with a Eucharistic procession and benediction. The number 40 is a remembrance of the 40 hours from Jesus’ burial until His resurrection, but also a remembrance of the 40 days fast of Jesus in the desert.
Echoing Our Lord’s words: “Could you not watch ONE HOUR with me?”, St Anne Shrine is hosting, in preparation for the observation of the Feast of Corpus Christi on this coming Sunday, June 11, 40 hours of exposition of our Eucharistic Lord in the lower shrine. Please contact the Shrine office at 508-678-1510 for the hours the doors will be open for YOU to spend some time in the presence of Our Lord and Savior, from whom all blessings in this world flow. Time spent in Jesus’ presence is never time wasted.
