Saint Andre Bessette was born into a large French Canadian family in 1846. Born with the name Alfred, he was the youngest boy of the family’s 12 children. His father was a carpenter and died tragically when he was only 9 years old. Their mother was chronically ill so the children had to find work to support themselves. Education was not possible so nearly all of the children were illiterate.

Soon, their mother realizing she was near death, called all the children together to speak with them for the last time. Her message was simple. She begged them “to always believe in God and his love for them, never abandon their faith, and always go to Mass on Sundays where ever they may be.” After her death, the family began to separate, but young Alfred took his mother’s words to heart and became a man of deep and frequent prayer.