Alfred Pampalon was a Canadian Redemptorist priest. He was born on November 24, 1867, in Lévis (Quebec), the ninth of twelve children, born to Antoine and Josephine Dorion Pampalon. His father was a stonemason, who worked building churches. His mother died when he was five and his father remarried. Albert was tutored at home until the age of nine. In 1876 Pampalon entered the Collège de Lévis in 1876 where he took courses in business. He was considered a modest, prayerful person; he was thought of as honest and pure by his classmates.
Shortly before his sixth year, in 1885, he contracts pneumonia. They thought he was going to die. Following his recovery, that was attributed to the intercession of Saint Anne, Alfred sets out on a pilgrimage, walking twenty-one miles to the shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré to give thanks for his healing. Here, on this occasion, he asks to enter the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer of which his brother was already a member. He is accepted and in July 1886 he sails off for the Redemptorist novitiate in Saint-Trond, Belgium.
Given the precarious state of his health, the superiors had been reluctant to receive him into the community, but his exemplary piety outweighed all objection. He was sent to the major seminary of Saint-Jean-de-Beauplateau for two years of philosophy and four years of theology. During his years of formation and study, his classmates dubbed him "the Lamb of God," a testimony to his piety and gentleness. His fellow students asked him how he managed to study philosophy so well, and he replied that he imagined Mary was asking him the questions. After completing his studies in Philosophy and Theology, he is ordained priest on October 4, 1892.
The following year, on August 31, he is appointed to the monastery in Mons, where he carries out various duties, replacing absent priests or on occasion accompanying those who go to preach in neighbouring parishes. From April to September 1894, he undertakes a second novitiate at Beau Plateau, which among the Redemptorists served as a preparation for conducting missions and parish retreats. Meanwhile though Pampalon’s health continues to deteriorate and the Belgian climate doesn’t help. His superiors therefore decide to send him back to Canada, hoping that in his native clime he will recover. He returns in September 1895 and is assigned to the monastery at Sainte-Annede-Beaupré, where he is able to carry out simple duties, preaching in the basilica and hearing confession. In February, 1896, he enters the infirmary for the last time.
Before his death he was in constant pain, unable to alleviate it, and would spend his days in prayer. The night before Pampalon 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 in a loud voice. He has become known as the "Hail Mary Saint" because of this.
He died on September 30, 1896. He was declared venerable by Pope John Paul II on May 14, 1991. He is the Patron of Alcoholics and Drug Addicts. His feast day is on 30th September.

Prayer to Venerable Alfred Pampalon
Dear Father Alfred, listen to my cry and come to my aid. Obtain for me the favours I desire. You are well known as the protector of people who are suffering in body, mind and spirit. You show special compassion for alcoholics and drug addicts. You have freed so many people from their dependencies. Free me also, I beg you, dear Father Alfred, and free those people I recommend to you, especially members of my family. I come to you with confidence. I pray for myself and for all those who are dear to me. Come also to the assistance of the Church and of the whole world. Amen.