The saint spoke to a shepherd – a Frenchman – in 1660. There was a spring and a shrine where miracles and graces were recorded.
In Cotignac, France, there is only one case of an apparition of Saint Joseph recognized by the Church.
Thirsty shepherd
In the village of Cotignac, near the city of Toulon, on June 7, 1660, there lived a man named Riccard Gaspar, tending sheep on Mount Bessilopn three kilometers from the village. Grazing his sheep under the scorching sun made him thirsty. At that time, Riccard Gaspar prayed to Saint Joseph, whom he deeply adored, and suddenly a tall man appeared pointing to a large rock and said: "I am Saint Joseph, turn over that rock. up and you can drink water.”
He lifted the stone very easily
The shepherd looked at the rock pointed out to him by Saint Joseph, and even 10 men could not lift it. However, listening to Saint Joseph, Riccard Gaspar lifted the rock with ease and drunkenly drank the pure water that no one had ever seen.
This is the only apparition of Saint Joseph in the Church. And these are also the only words of Saint Joseph, for in the Gospel he is completely silent.
The stream and the first pilgrimages
Many pilgrims and large numbers of sick people flock to Cotignac: most of them return home healed. Next to the "spring of Saint Joseph", where he appeared, a small chapel was erected and later a convent to assist the increasing number of faithful flocking there.During the French Revolution, the chapel and convent fell into disrepair and remained in such a state for many years.
Blessings and miracles
After the war, a community of Benedictine nuns from Algeria settled here. The old convent was rebuilt and the chapel reopened regularly with the help of pilgrims, towards the place where Saint Joseph spoke to point out the wondrous spring with its sweet and refreshing water.
Today, there are still crowds of pilgrims to the place where Saint Joseph appeared, and because the stream reminds of the wondrous waters of Lourdes, where graces are ever multiplied.
The archives of the Oblates of Mary, which custodians of the sanctuary, list numerous "miracles" attributed to the miraculous waters.
The largest basilica in the world dedicated to Saint Joseph
If Cotignac is the site of the apparition of Saint Joseph, there is another place that honors his power.
Saint André Bessette encouraged devotion to Saint Joseph. To those who have been healed, he said: “It was Saint Joseph who performed miracles, not me. I'm just the saint's little dog."
André Bessette's name is associated with the Oratoire, the world's largest basilica dedicated to Saint Joseph in Montréal (Canada).
Every year at least two million visitors step onto this building to hear the divine calling among the holy walls and to discover the face of Notre Dame's founder, simple custodian.
A small chapel was started construction in 1904. In 1917 the church was actually built with a basement that can accommodate up to 1,000 seats. To do that, over the years, he raised funds and even sold his hair to students.
The basilica above was built in 1955 and completed in 1967. With a capacity of 3,000 seats and 10,000 stands, the interior is 105 meters long, 65 meters wide and 60 meters high. The height from the foot to the top of the cross is 97 meters.
On the day that “St. Joseph's little dog” rested, millions of people paid their respects by marching around his coffin day and night.
Through her humble life and advice, Saint André Bessette presented to the world the goodness and power of St. Joseph's intercession.
