Isidore Bakanja
Encyclopedia
Blessed Isidore Bakanja (born ca. 1887, at Bokendela in Democratic Republic of Congo, died at Busira (Belgian Congo
), 15 August 1909) accepted the Christian
faith at eighteen years of age through the ministry of Cistercian missionaries in what is today the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly known as the Belgian Congo).
Bakanja was a very devout convert and catechist. He had a great love for the Blessed Virgin Mary that he expressed through recitation of the Rosary
and by being invested in the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
.
It was Bl. Isidore's practice to share the Catholic
faith with his fellow workers and for this his Belgian employers held him in great contempt. Christian faith was seen as a threat to the power of the colonizers
as Christians were known to stand for the rights
of the oppressed. Isidore was eventually confronted by his employers and ordered to cease sharing the Gospel
as well as remove the scapular
that he wore as a witness to his faith. Isidore's refusal to comply with the demands of his supervisor resulted in his being brutally beaten and chained.
As a result of the beating and persistent ill treatment he received, Isidore's wounds became severely infected. As his condition worsened his supervisor sought to keep him from the view of the plantation
's inspector, however, Isidore was discovered and taken to the inspector's own home for emergency treatment. His condition had deteriorated so severely, however, that no further medical attention could aid him.
Blessed
Isidore Bakanja was beatified on 24 April 1994 by Pope
John Paul II. His feast day is 12 August on the Carmelite Calendar of Saints, and 15 August in the general Church calendar. Isidore Bakanja is considered a strong witness to the grace of reconciliation that can be experienced between peoples of different races.
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
), 15 August 1909) accepted the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
faith at eighteen years of age through the ministry of Cistercian missionaries in what is today the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly known as the Belgian Congo).
Bakanja was a very devout convert and catechist. He had a great love for the Blessed Virgin Mary that he expressed through recitation of the Rosary
Rosary
The rosary or "garland of roses" is a traditional Catholic devotion. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary...
and by being invested in the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land during the late 12th and early to mid 13th centuries...
.
It was Bl. Isidore's practice to share the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
faith with his fellow workers and for this his Belgian employers held him in great contempt. Christian faith was seen as a threat to the power of the colonizers
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
as Christians were known to stand for the rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
of the oppressed. Isidore was eventually confronted by his employers and ordered to cease sharing the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
as well as remove the scapular
Scapular
The term scapular as used today refers to two specific, yet related, Christian Sacramentals, namely the monastic and devotional scapulars, although both forms may simply be referred to as "scapular"....
that he wore as a witness to his faith. Isidore's refusal to comply with the demands of his supervisor resulted in his being brutally beaten and chained.
As a result of the beating and persistent ill treatment he received, Isidore's wounds became severely infected. As his condition worsened his supervisor sought to keep him from the view of the plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
's inspector, however, Isidore was discovered and taken to the inspector's own home for emergency treatment. His condition had deteriorated so severely, however, that no further medical attention could aid him.
Blessed
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
Isidore Bakanja was beatified on 24 April 1994 by Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
John Paul II. His feast day is 12 August on the Carmelite Calendar of Saints, and 15 August in the general Church calendar. Isidore Bakanja is considered a strong witness to the grace of reconciliation that can be experienced between peoples of different races.