A Canadian monk who began life as a sickly, illiterate orphan before becoming a porter is to be canonised at the Vatican on Sunday.
Alfred Bessette was renowned in the late 19th century as the diminutive doorman of Montreal's College of Notre Dame, whose hands were said to have powers of healing.
Brother André, as he became known, was born in 1845. When he was nine his father was killed by a falling tree. His mother died three years later, leaving him to be looked after by an aunt. He began his life at the college in 1870 as a porter.
"Our superiors put me at the door, and I remained there for 40 years," he said later.
Five feet tall, Brother André slept little and survived on bread dipped in milk. He also worked as a gardener, a cleaner and as a nurse to the sick, and began developing a reputation as a healer.
He struggled to persuade his superiors to accept him into the religious life, however, due to his poor health.
Eventually he was admitted and took his final vows in 1874.
In 1904 he fulfilled his ambition of building a chapel on the side of Mount Royal as a shrine to St Joseph.
By the time of his death in 1937, the shrine was being expanded into an oratory.
Brother André was beatified in 1978 by Pope John Paul II.
A miracle healing was officially recognised by the Vatican on Dec 19, 2009, marking the two steps towards his canonisation.
Mary MacKillop, who taught poor children and later established the Sisters of St Joseph order in Australia, will also be canonised, becoming the country's first saint.
SIC: TC/UK