Downtown Montreal in Montréal, Québec — Central Canada (French-Canadian)

Frère André

1845-1937

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 20, 2024

1. Frère André Marker

Inscription. Fondateur de / Founder of
L’oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1845.

Location. 45° 30.198′ N, 73° 33.999′ W. Marker is in Montréal, Québec. It is in Downtown Montreal. It is at the intersection of Boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest and Rue du Square-Phillips, on the right when traveling south on Boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest. The marker and statue are located near the center of Place du Frère André/Brother André Square. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1175 Place du Frère André, Montréal QC H3B 3X9, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Olympic Symbol (within

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

shouting distance of this marker); La Basilique Saint-Patrick / Saint Patrick's Basilica (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Canada Cement Company Building / L'édifice de la compagnie Canada Cement (about 120 meters away); La Cathédrale Christ Church / Christ Church Cathedral (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); L'église St. James United / St. James United Church (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Le Collège Sainte-Marie (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Raoul Wallenberg (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); La terre concédée le 24 octobre 1654 (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montréal.

Also see . . .
1. André Bessette (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: Known as Brother André (French: Frère André) and since his canonization as Saint André of Montreal, he was a lay brother of the Congregation of Holy Cross and a significant figure of the Catholic Church among French-Canadians. He is credited with thousands of reported healings associated with his pious devotion to Saint Joseph.
Bessette's desire to see Saint Joseph honoured led him in 1904 to launch a campaign to build a chapel for that
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 20, 2024

2. Frère André Statue
The marker is mounted on the base of the statue.
purpose. In 1924 construction of a basilica named Saint Joseph's Oratory began on the side of the mountain, near Bessette's chapel. Bessette died on January 6, 1937, at the age of 91. One million people filed past his coffin. The remains of Bessette lie in the church he helped build. His body lies in a tomb built below the Oratory's Main Chapel.
A cause for Bessette's beatification was opened on July 20, 1950. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 23, 1982. The miracle cited in support of his beatification was the healing in 1958 of Giuseppe Carlo Audino, who suffered from cancer. Pope Benedict XVI approved the decree of sainthood for Bessette on 19 February 2010, with the formal canonization taking place on 17 October 2010. He is the first Canadian living after Confederation to be canonized.

(Submitted on April 2, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Saint Joseph's Oratory (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal (French: Oratoire Saint-Joseph-du-Mont-Royal) is a Roman Catholic minor basilica and national shrine located on Mount Royal's Westmount Summit in Montreal, Quebec.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 20, 2024

3. Place du Frère André / Brother André Square
The square is named for André Bessette.
It is a National Historic Site of Canada and is Canada's largest church, with one of the largest church domes in the world. Founded in 1904 by Saint André Bessette in honour of his patron saint, Saint Joseph, the Oratory is the product of numerous architects and thousands of workers in a process spanning six decades. The Oratory is the highest building in Montreal, rising more than 30 meters above Mount Royal's summit, allowing it to be seen from many kilometers away. It is the only building that violates the height restriction under the municipal building code of Montreal, which limits the height of any building, including skyscrapers, from surpassing the height of Mount Royal.

(Submitted on April 2, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 1, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 128 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 2, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.