How to Use Sacramentals of the Saints

            St. Andre Bessette was a Canadian saint of the early 20th century.  He spent his life working as a porter (the guy who answered the door) and was a brother in the Congregation of Holy Cross.  His humble devotion to St. Joseph became famous when his prayers to St. Joseph started working many miracles for people. 

            He would work these miracles in several ways.  Sometimes, he would simply tell the person requesting aid that they were no longer sick and command them to go home. Suddenly, the person would be healed.  Other times he would use what he called “St. Joseph’s oil.”  St. Joseph’s oil was merely oil taken from a candle that had been burning in front of a statue or image of St. Joseph.  When Andre used St. Joseph’s oil, he would rub it on the sick person, and they would get better.  Sometimes this took multiple “treatments.”  Another option for Andre was that he would take a medal of St. Joseph, such as one might wear around one’s neck, and rub it on the person or tell them to rub it themselves. 

            At first glance these “treatments” seem extremely superstitious and silly.  But that is not how St. Andre viewed them.  A friend of his explained, “he attributed the cures to the humble trust people placed in such means.  He also believed many more would be healed if they persevered, out of faith, in rubbing themselves with the oil or medals” (Dubac, Brother Andre, 81).  Andre himself often counseled people who came to him for advice, “hold a medal of Saint Joseph in your hand when you have a special request to make or an important transaction to conclude . . . Holding a medal in your hand, rather than just wearing it on you, reminds you of the power of Saint Joseph. It also shows greater trust in him” (Dubac, Brother Andre, 84).

            Once, Andre explained to a friend why he used the oil and medals, “many people are not healed because of their lack of faith or submission to God’s will.  Often, they refuse to do what I ask of them. It takes a lot of faith, you know, to rub oneself with a medal or the oil of Saint Joseph” (Dubac, Brother Andre, 92).   

            Andre was well aware that this use of the medals and the oil seems silly.  But he also knew that the point was not the medals nor the oils themselves.  On their own, they are just random articles.  The point of using them was to show one’s faith in St. Joseph and in God.  Andre knew very well that it was the people’s faith that led to the miracles occurring, not a medal or oil.  Once he said, “if people prayed with more faith, they’d get all they want from Saint Joseph” (Dubac, Brother Andre, 200).  The articles were just a way for people to demonstrate their faith. 

            Using articles in this way is a good way for people to demonstrate their faith because we are human beings, not angels.  Because we are humans, our bodies are truly part of our nature and our person.  Therefore, we need physical ways to express ourselves.  This of course includes expressions of trust, faith, and reliance.