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travel / great places / explorer / so04
| Explorer |
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A closer look at the House of Miracles
Added stories, facts and links on CG's travel section
Contributor: Lindsay Foss
Read an excerpt of the September/October '04 Exploration.
Blessed bikers
Pilgrims to Saint Joseph's Oratory arrive these days by all manner of conveyances.
During the last weekend in May each year for more than 25 years, some 500 motorcyclists have travelled to the Oratory. A group of priests meets them outside
to bless the bikes as they drive by.
Recently, a group of Mustang owners followed suit, and this year marked the first time Corvette drivers motored to the Oratory in search of a blessing.
The Church does not, however, restrict itself to finely tuned sports cars.
"If you have a Honda, you can come and get your car blessed," says Danielle Decelles, assistant manager of communications.
The Oratory expects that the number of groups coming for blessings - including representatives of the Canadian Armed Forces, Greater Montréal's Scouts and Guides and the city's
fire department - will increase over the next year
as Saint Joseph's centenary
is celebrated.
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Heart for ransom
Countless songsters wail about broken hearts, but how many tell of stolen hearts - literally? Canadian band Blue Rodeo released "Brother André's Heart" in 1997, which soulfully recounts the true story of thieves who demanded a ransom in the mid-1970s for the return of the preserved heart of Saint Joseph's founder.
Did they ever pay the ransom / For Brother André's heart? the song asks. The answer is no. Saint Joseph officials refused to meet the thieves' demands, and 18 months later, the heart was returned. The culprits were never apprehended.
Today, the heart sits on display separately from the tomb. It was originally removed from Brother André's body in keeping with an ancient tradition of French kings.
Apart from the ransom story, the Blue Rodeo song reflects the belief pilgrims have in the healing powers of the Oratory: And I climbed that mountain / On my knees / In my hand I held a rosary / Saying I believe.
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Oratory tour
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Click on image to see renovation plans |
The steps aren't the only feature that will take your breath away at Saint Joseph's Oratory. Once you've huffed and puffed your way to the top, the architectural and spiritual wonders include:
- The crypt, a small church on the first level, with a
display of 10,000 candles nearby, lit in honour of loved ones. Brother André's tomb is in an adjoining room.
- A spectacular mountaintop view of Montréal. And up a few more stairs is a display dedicated to Brother André.
- An exhibit where upward of 300 nativity scenes are displayed.
- More than 1,000 discarded crutches and canes.
- The Basilica, which can seat 2,200 people, features spectacular works of art, stained-glass windows and an immense grand organ with 5,811 pipes.
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