Paul-André Durocher, bishop of the local Alexandria-Cornwall diocese, made it his goal to bring 1,000 of his diocesans with him to participate in the Montreal celebration. On Saturday morning, 27 coaches shuttled more than 1,300 locals from all points in the diocese.
Participants were called to worship by the ringing of the bell from the first chapel on Mount Royal. Jean-Claude Cardinal Turcotte presided over the celebration and served as homilist. As expected, music played a large role in the Big-O gathering. Quebec pop singer Chantal Pary, violinist Alexandre Da Costa, and the group 3 Petits Chanteurs helped to lead the congregation in song.
People of all ages and walks of life joined in the festivities, which saw Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Quebec’s Premier, Jean Charest, as well as Montreal and area politicians among the congregation.
Brother André was the poor, uneducated, sickly, humble doorman/porter at St. Joseph’s Oratory for many years. During his tenure, the multitudes flocked to consult with the hospitable Brother André and to ask God’s healing touch through the Holy Cross lay member’s intercession and that of St. Joseph. Although he was always careful to deflect the credit to God and the intercession of St. Joseph, Bessette is credited with affecting many medically documented physical healings.
Brother André had a dream – the building of a Canadian shrine in honour of St. Joseph. Though he did not live to see St. Joseph’s Oratory come to full fruition, the man of meagre means did set the wheels in motion for the shrine to be built and upgraded many times. Every year, 2 million pilgrims and tourists visit the Oratory.
Photo courtesy of Don Smith:
The Olympic Stadium transformed for the post-canonization celebration of thanksgiving. In the inset photo is local Catholic bishop, Paul-André Durocher, processing with about 60 of his brother bishops.
I am so glad I don’t have to be canonized to be a real saint of God! Consider the plainness of the Word of God on this (the only and final authority for all faith and practice), and see the folly of such religious idolatry –
Romans 1:7 “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ”. 1 Corinthians 1:2 ” Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:; 2 Corinthians 1:1″Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia”. Ephesians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 1:1 “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons”. Colossians 1:2 “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”.
Every “born again” believer is a saint of God. Everyone who is saved by faith through Christ’s atoning work is a child of God. The plain declarations of Holy scriptures prove the fallacy of such religious lies!
“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues”(Revelation 18:4). The fate of the whore of Rome!
True Pastor Tom, you won’t have to be canonized and thats because you are no saint! From all of your diatribes it’s obvious that the guy down below in that hot place has poked you with his fork and is reserving a special place for you. There you will be able to talk only with sinners!
Antipasta: Do you actually believe in a personal Devil? Satan, himself? I did not know you believed the Bible?
As to my or anyone else’s saintly hood : By the authority of the Word of God, and not by the whore of Rome, Every “born again” believer is a saint of God. Everyone who is saved by faith through Christ’s atoning work is a child of God. It is not “canonization” that we need it is “regeneration”.
John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”.
Titus 3:5-7 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life”.
Bwahahaha, the pastor canonized? You talking about being glad not having to be canonized is like harper saying we didn’t need to be on the UN security council! If not, why did he apply for it in the first place? You only wish you could be canonized most likely.
But Antipasta is right, you’ll never get canonized, nor should you be recognized for being good at any pastoral works as well! Like you do good for anyone out there, with all your blasts how everyone with their own beliefs are going to hell… you can take their places in heaven and go there alone while the rest of us go have a blast down under!
Hey pastor, answer me this, who is the whore of Rome?
Grimalot: If you open your Bible and look at Rev.17. “A woman arrayed in purple…”. Apostate Christianity is pictured here as a religious whore. Whoredoms is an Old Testament word used to describe the nation of Israel’s unfaithfulness to Jehovah God. Like a whore Israel committed spiritual adultery with idols! Side note – whenever spiritual idolatry is rampant in a society, it is often evident in the abandonment of society to all manner of sexual immorality – like our society of today.
A whorish woman, in the Bible, often depicts a religious system of beliefs and practices. For example Roman Catholicism is a mixture of Judaism, Christianity and ancient Babylonian religion (See Rev.17:5). Roman Catholicism is a modern version of Baal worship – the worship of the Sun. The whore of Rev. 17 includes Rome, and many other forms of religion, including apostate evangelicalism in it’s last corrupt form.
In the end times, especially during the Great Tribulation Period ( which the book of Revelation is mostly about – a future time of great tribulation from the wrath of God being poured out upon this Christ rejecting earth – something like Moses and the plagues upon Egypt), the Antichrist will allow apostate Christianity to team up with his program, only to be used by the Antichrist, and eventually destroyed. Antichrist will betray the nation of Israel, and declare himself God. All will be forced to worshiped him as God. The mark of the beast will be used to enforce the Antichrist’s power and rule. It is in the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, that Antichrist, the false prophet, the Beast will be destroyed (Rev. 19:19-21), and in the process the believing remnant of Israel will be saved. (See 2 Thess.2 for such prophetic details)