Alfred Pampalon
Encyclopedia
Alfred Pampalon was born in the city of Lévis, Quebec
, and died at 28 in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. He was a Redemptorist priest known for having a deep faith
in God and a deep love of Mary
. He is a patron for people with addictions.
his fellow students asked him how he managed to study philosophy so well, and he replied he imagined Mary was asking him the questions. He would make his head touch the floor and pray to her daily, and while dying he would pray throughout the day.
at the age of 26, he found out that he had contracted tuberculosis
. During this time he stayed devoted to God, moving back to Quebec to be a priest there. While dying from tuberculosis he gave communion
, baptized people, and heard confessions. Before his death he was in constant pain, unable to alleviate it, and would spend his days in prayer
. The night before the priest died, he said in a soft voice;
in a loud voice. He has become known as the "Hail Mary Saint
" because of this.
, Quebec City.
Lévis, Quebec
Lévis is a city in eastern Quebec, Canada. It is located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, opposite Quebec City. A ferry links Old Quebec with Old Lévis, and two bridges, the Quebec Bridge and the Pierre Laporte Bridge, connect western Lévis with Quebec City. The Société de transport de...
, and died at 28 in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. He was a Redemptorist priest known for having a deep faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
in God and a deep love of Mary
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
. He is a patron for people with addictions.
His character and early life
He was considered a modest, prayerful person, he was thought of as honest and pure by his classmates. Pampalon was devoted to Mary; before going to a Redemptorists' monastery, he went to a statue of Mary and asked her to pray for the monks to let him join. The Monastery allowed him to join despite his poor health, because they saw his strong desire to become a Redemptorists father. While training to become a Roman Catholic priestPriest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
his fellow students asked him how he managed to study philosophy so well, and he replied he imagined Mary was asking him the questions. He would make his head touch the floor and pray to her daily, and while dying he would pray throughout the day.
Later years and death
While completing his scholasticat in BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
at the age of 26, he found out that he had contracted tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. During this time he stayed devoted to God, moving back to Quebec to be a priest there. While dying from tuberculosis he gave communion
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
, baptized people, and heard confessions. Before his death he was in constant pain, unable to alleviate it, and would spend his days in prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
. The night before the priest died, he said in a soft voice;
"O death..., O holy death..., come..., do come! O divine Savior..., my hope is in your merits... I am happy... to suffer for you! I want to go to Heaven... to see you and Mary,"After this he got up and sang the Magnificat
Magnificat
The Magnificat — also known as the Song of Mary or the Canticle of Mary — is a canticle frequently sung liturgically in Christian church services. It is one of the eight most ancient Christian hymns and perhaps the earliest Marian hymn...
in a loud voice. He has become known as the "Hail Mary Saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
" because of this.
Quotations
"Que la volonté de Dieu soit faite!" in English: "That the will of God be done!" is inscribed on the tomb of Alfred Pampalon, which is located in the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-BeaupréBasilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré
The Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is a basilica set along the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada, east of Quebec City. It has been credited by the Roman Catholic Church with many miracles of curing the sick and disabled. It is an important Catholic sanctuary which receives about a...
, Quebec City.