North America
Canada
Montreal
Basilica
Saint Joseph’s Oratory
Name:Saint Joseph’s Oratory
Construction period of the basilica:1924 – 1967
Founder:Brother André Bessette
Architect:Dom Paul Bellot
Architectural style:Renaissance
Length x width x height:105 metres x 65 metres x 97 metres
National heritage site:since 2004
Number of visitors:approx. 2 million / year

12 Fascinating Facts about Saint Joseph’s Oratory

 

  1. Location: Saint Joseph’s Oratory stands on Mount Royal in Montreal in eastern Canada and offers sweeping views over the city and its surroundings. The complex is arranged in terraces along the hillside and rises in clearly structured sections from the lower entrance to the summit. Along the way, visitors pass several distinct areas, including the original chapel, the crypt church, and the votive chapel, until the monumental basilica with its striking dome forms the highlight at the top.
  2. Significance: Saint Joseph’s Oratory is one of Montreal’s most important landmarks and also one of the most significant religious sites in Canada. As the largest shrine in the world dedicated to Saint Joseph, it holds a prominent place within the Catholic Church. Around 2 million pilgrims and visitors come here each year.
  3. Origins: Long before Saint Joseph’s Oratory took its present form, Brother André, whose real name was Alfred Bessette, worked as a porter at Collège Notre-Dame in Montreal, a Catholic boarding school. There, he met sick, poor, and desperate people every day. Deeply devoted to Saint Joseph, he prayed with visitors, encouraged them, and gradually became known far beyond the school. Over time, so many people came to seek his help that the desire for a dedicated place of prayer grew stronger. Eventually, the idea of building a small chapel in honor of Saint Joseph emerged on a slope of Mount Royal opposite the college, from which Saint Joseph’s Oratory later developed.
  4. Chapel: In 1904, a tiny chapel was built at the initiative of Brother André, measuring only about 4.5 by 5.5 meters. As the number of visitors quickly increased, it was expanded several times within just a few years and relocated in 1918 to make room for the large-scale expansion of the sanctuary. Today, it still exists as a small, simple wooden chapel with a bell tower, where the original altar and other authentic elements can still be seen inside.
  5. Crypt Church: As the small chapel could no longer accommodate the steadily growing number of pilgrims, construction of a larger lower church, known as the crypt church, began in 1915 and it was inaugurated in 1917. Although originally planned on a much larger scale, the design was simplified for practical and financial reasons before becoming the first major building of the Oratory. Despite its considerable size, the crypt church feels warm and intimate, and with its carved oak wood, striking light fixtures, and decorated vaults, it is one of the most atmospheric spaces in the entire complex.
  6. Basilica: Construction of the large church began in the 1920s and extended over several decades due to its immense scale, multiple design revisions, and the global economic crisis. Brother André, the spiritual founder of Saint Joseph’s Oratory, died on January 6, 1937 at the age of 91 and did not live to see the completion of the basilica, as it remained unfinished at that time. The work was only fully completed in 1967. The basilica is considered the tallest church in Canada, and with a diameter of 39 meters, its dome is the largest church dome in the country. The exterior features clear elements of the Italian Renaissance, while the interior is deliberately simple and modern in design.
  7. Canonization of Brother André: Brother André was beatified in 1982 by Pope John Paul II and canonized in Rome in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI. Since then, he has been officially venerated as Saint André Bessette and is regarded as one of Canada’s most important spiritual figures with international recognition. This development is of central importance for Saint Joseph’s Oratory, as its founder has thus become a globally recognized figure within the Catholic Church.
  8. Tomb of Brother André: The tomb of Brother André is located in a small semicircular room next to the votive chapel and is one of the most important places within the entire sanctuary. The founder, who died in 1937, was laid to rest here in a simple black granite tomb that is still visited daily by pilgrims and visitors. Above the tomb, a fresco depicting symbols of the Passion of Christ commemorates his faith and life’s work. The inscription “Pauper, servus et humilis,” translated as “poor, serving, and humble,” succinctly captures his way of life.
  9. Votive Chapel: The votive chapel is a long devotional space and, with its thousands of candles and lamps, one of the most impressive areas of the entire complex. Votive offerings are visible expressions of faith through which people ask for help, give thanks for help received, or express hope in difficult times. At Saint Joseph’s Oratory, this is mainly done by lighting candles, but also through personal items such as crutches or walking sticks that have been left behind.
  10. Exhibitions: The exhibitions at Saint Joseph’s Oratory provide a vivid insight into the life of Brother André, the veneration of Saint Joseph, and the development of the sanctuary. They include numerous works of art, historical objects, as well as personal memorabilia and relics. A particular highlight is the impressive nativity scene collection featuring displays from around 100 countries.
  11. Stairways and Processional Paths: The layout of Saint Joseph’s Oratory is designed as a clearly structured ascent, guiding visitors step by step from the entrance on Queen Mary Road up to the basilica. A defining feature is the grand staircase with 283 steps, whose central section is traditionally climbed on one’s knees by pilgrims, turning the ascent itself into an act of prayer. This concept is complemented by the Way of the Cross along the slope of Mount Royal, which follows a quiet garden path and vividly portrays the key moments of Jesus’ final hours through 42 monumental figures made of Indiana stone, from the Passion to the Resurrection.
  12. Origin of the Name: The name Saint Joseph’s Oratory dates back to the small chapel built in 1904 by Brother André as a simple place of prayer in honor of Saint Joseph. The term “oratory” originally refers to precisely such a place, a quiet space for personal prayer and devotion. Saint Joseph, to whom the sanctuary is dedicated, is described in the Bible as the husband of Mary and is regarded as the foster father of Jesus. The Gospels state that Jesus was conceived through the Holy Spirit, meaning Joseph is not considered his biological father. Nevertheless, Joseph consciously takes on the role of father, accepts Jesus as his child, and continues to be venerated today as a symbol of protection, trust, and care.