Photos of St. Joseph's Oratory Basilica in Montreal

Two weeks ago I posted photos of the shrine at Lourdes for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. That led me to post photos of some other basilicas I visited during the pilgrimage.

Continuing with that general theme, I thought I'd post some photos of St. Joseph's Oratory, which I had the opportunity to visit during a work trip to Montreal back in September. Not only is the Oratory a beautiful church, but it's also the home of St. André of Montreal, a lay brother of the Congregation of Holy Cross whose intercession is credited for thousands of miraculous healings.

Known as "Brother Andre", the saint was a doorman known for his great devotion to St. Joseph and was canonized by Pope Benedict in 2010.

The basilica's exterior from the parking lot

A timeline of Brother Andre's life and canonization

Just a few of the many crutches left by believers healed at the oratory

The interior of the church

The sanctuary

The Alter and Tabernacle

The Crucifix from the back of the Sanctuary

I am always deeply moved by the Crucified Christ hanging in agony

The chapel where St. Andre lived and prayed

The interior of the chapel

More crutches and engraved plaques commemorating miracles granted through the intercession of St. Joseph

The living quarters of Brother Andre

Another view of Brother Andre's living quarters

Saint Jean de Brébeuf & comp., orate pro nobis!

St. Jean de Brebeuf

Brébeuf was killed at St. Ignace in Huronia on March 16, 1649. He had been taken captive with Gabriel Lalemant when the Iroquois destroyed the Huron mission village at Sainte-Louis. The Iroquois took the priests to the occupied village of Taenhatenteron, where they subjected the French men to ritual torture. The Iroquois finally killed them. Five Jesuits: Antoine Daniel, Lalement, Charles Garnier, Noel Charbanel, and Brébeuf, were killed in this conflict. The Jesuits considered their martyrdom proof that the mission was blessed by God and would be successful.

Throughout the torture, Brébeuf was reported to have been more concerned for the fate of the others and the captive Native converts than for himself. As part of the ritual, the Iroquois drank his blood, as they wanted to absorb Brébeuf’s courage in enduring the pain. The Iroquois mocked baptism by pouring boiling water over his head. They claimed that they were hurting him so that he would be happier in Heaven, as Jesuits preached that “the more one suffers on earth, the happier he is in Heaven."

wiki 

His feast is celebrated today in Canada. 

The account of Brébeuf's torture and death inspired me investigate becoming a Jesuit myself.

St. Jean de Brebeuf is near the Ottawa River in Hull