MONTREAL - Brother Andre is one step closer to sainthood.
The Vatican Information Service reported Friday that the Montreal priest was on a shortlist of six people to be considered for canonization.
Cardinals will confer over Brother Andre's case, as well as five others, on Feb. 19.
Brother Andre, born Alfred Bessette, on Aug. 9, 1845 in St-Gregoire-d'Iberville, was a Holy Cross Brother and has been credited with thousands of miracle healings.
Last December, Pope Benedict XVI attributed to him a second miracle healing described as a scientifically inexplicable, a necessary step before sainthood.
Details of the miracle have not been disclosed to the public.
A member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, Brother Andre died in Montreal in 1937 at the age of 91.
He was declared as venerable by the church in 1978, and beatified in 1982.
In 1904, Brother Andre founded St. Joseph's Oratory, a giant landmark church on the slopes of Mount Royal which towers over the city. It is where he was laid to rest.
Officials at both the Montreal Archdiocese and St. Joseph's Oratory declined to comment on Friday, preferring to wait until canonization is confirmed.
Cardinals to discuss Montreal mans sainthood at the Vatican on Feb. 19
- Published on Febuary 13th, 2010
- Published on Febuary 20th, 2010
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The Canadian Press
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