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Reflection based on the Word of God (Luke 8, 19-21)

Andre, Our Brother

Many ordinary people of Quebec have viewed Brother Andre as a

brother with whom they can identify; he was and remains one of

their own. However, the event of his canonization cannot help but

raise once more the question of the vocation of the brother in the

Church. A vocation not always recognized and understood except

in comparison with the vocation of the priest — an approach which

usually ends up reducing the brother to second-class. But with the

canonization of Brother Andre, such categories and boundaries

fade to the periphery. Something else comes to the fore, apparent

to the eyes of the questioner.

Quite apart from any consideration of status or ministry, the

religious brother is called to incarnate, by the example of his life,

the surprising rejoinder of Jesus to his own relatives who wanted

to see him: “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the

word of God and put it into practice.” (Luke 8, 21) By the grace of

God, the religious brother first and foremost responds to Jesus’

call to personify what it means to be brother, to be a brother in

Jesus, and thereby, be a brother to all. A brother is recognized not

so much by his doing, but rather his manner of being, in relation

to others.

Behind the immediately obvious countenance of wonderworker,

Brother Andre was a man of acceptance and compassion. His

entire life was given over to the service of others who needed

comforting in a brother’s arms.

(Brother Gerard Dionne, CSC)