Isidore Bakanja: Difference between revisions

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|death_date= 15 August 1909 (aged 21-22)
|death_date= 15 August 1909 (aged 21-22)
|death_place= [[Busira (Democratic Republic of the Congo)|Busira]], [[Belgian Congo]]
|death_place= [[Busira (Democratic Republic of the Congo)|Busira]], [[Belgian Congo]]
|feast_day= 15 August<br>12 August ([[Carmelites]])
|feast_day= 15 August, 12 August ([[Carmelites]])
|beatified_date= 24 April 1994
|beatified_date= 24 April 1994
|beatified_place=[[Saint Peter's Square]]
|beatified_place=[[Saint Peter's Square]]
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|prayer_attrib= }}
|prayer_attrib= }}


'''Isidore Bakanja''' (c. 1887 &ndash; 15 August 1909) was a [[Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congolese Catholic]] layman who suffered [[martyrdom]] in 1909 and was [[beatified]] on 24 April 1994 by [[Pope John Paul II]].
'''Isidore Bakanja''' (c. 1887 &ndash; 15 August 1909) was a [[Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congolese]] Catholic [[laity|layman]] who suffered [[martyrdom]] in 1909 and was [[beatified]] on 24 April 1994 by [[Pope John Paul II]]. Due to the nature of his martyrdom, he is sometimes referred to as "martyr of the Brown scapular".


== Life ==
== Life ==
Bakanja accepted the [[Christianity|Christian]] faith at eighteen years of age through the ministry of [[Cistercian]] missionaries in the [[Belgian Congo]]. He was a very devout convert and [[catechist]]. Bakanja 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]]. His Belgian colonist employers had ordered him 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.
Bakanja was [[baptism|baptised]] into the [[Roman Catholic Church]] at eighteen years of age through the ministry of [[Trappists|Trappist]] missionaries in the [[Belgian Congo]]. He was a very devout convert and [[catechist]]. Bakanja had a great love for the [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|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]]. His Belgian colonist employers had ordered him to cease sharing [[the gospel]] as well as remove the [[Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel]] 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, Bakanja's wounds became severely infected. As his condition worsened his supervisor sought to keep him from the view of the [[plantation]]'s inspector. However, Bakanja was discovered and taken to the inspector's home for treatment. His condition had deteriorated so severely, however, that no further medical attention could help him.
As a result of the beating and persistent ill treatment he received, Bakanja's wounds became severely infected. As his condition worsened his supervisor sought to keep him from the view of the plantation's inspector. However, Bakanja was discovered and taken to the inspector's home for treatment. His condition had deteriorated so severely, however, that no further medical attention could help him. At this point Isidore told the inspector "tell them that I am dying because I am a Christian." Missionaries in the area visited Isidore and urged him to forgive the supervisor. He assured them that he already had, declaring "When I am in heaven, I shall pray for him very much."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.carmelite.org/index.php?nuc=news&item=70&func=view&id=40 |title=www.carmelite.org |access-date=2009-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030005623/http://carmelite.org/index.php?nuc=news&item=70&func=view&id=40 |archive-date=2010-10-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the following months, more than 4,000 baptisms were recorded in the Busira area, which was seen as the fruit of Bakanja's martyrdom.

{{Quotation|At this point Isidore told the inspector "tell them that I am dying because I am a Christian." Missionaries in the area visited Isidore and urged him to forgive the supervisor. He assured them that he already had, declaring "When I am in heaven, I shall pray for him very much."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.carmelite.org/index.php?nuc=news&item=70&func=view&id=40 |title=www.carmelite.org |access-date=2009-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030005623/http://carmelite.org/index.php?nuc=news&item=70&func=view&id=40 |archive-date=2010-10-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}


== Veneration ==
== Veneration ==
His feast day is 15 August, on 12 August in the liturgical calendar of the [[Carmelite order]].
His feast day is 15 August, on 12 August in the liturgical calendar of the [[Carmelite order]].


The [[National Shrine of Saint Jude (England)|National Shrine of Saint Jude]], Faversham, United Kingdom contains an icon of Isidore. In 2004 a fire broke out in the Shrine Chapel which destroyed the murals which hung there, and it damaged much of the other artwork. The decision was made to install icons depicting saints inspired by the Carmelite Rule of Saint Albert, and in commemoration of the 8th centenary of the Carmelite Rule in 2007. The icons were written by Sister Petra Clare, a Benedictine hermit living in Scotland, United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carmelite.org/index.php?nuc=content&id=116|title=A Tour of the National Shrine|publisher=|accessdate=3 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503002434/http://www.carmelite.org/index.php?nuc=content&id=116|archive-date=3 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nationalshrinesaintjudefaversham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/feast-of-blessed-isidore-bakanja.html|title=National Shrine of Saint Jude|author=Shrine Saint Jude|date=12 August 2014 |publisher=|accessdate=3 May 2016}}</ref>
The [[National Shrine of Saint Jude (England)|National Shrine of Saint Jude]], Faversham, United Kingdom contains an icon of Isidore. In 2004 a fire broke out in the Shrine Chapel which destroyed the murals which hung there, and it damaged much of the other artwork. The decision was made to install icons depicting saints inspired by the [[Rule of Saint Albert]], and in commemoration of the 8th centenary of the Carmelite rule in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carmelite.org/index.php?nuc=content&id=116|title=A Tour of the National Shrine|publisher=|accessdate=3 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503002434/http://www.carmelite.org/index.php?nuc=content&id=116|archive-date=3 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nationalshrinesaintjudefaversham.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/feast-of-blessed-isidore-bakanja.html|title=National Shrine of Saint Jude|author=Shrine Saint Jude|date=12 August 2014 |publisher=|accessdate=3 May 2016}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category:1887 births]]
[[Category:1887 births]]
[[Category:Carmelite Order]]
[[Category:Carmelite Order]]
[[Category:Venerated Carmelites]]
[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic martyrs]]
[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic martyrs]]
[[Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo Roman Catholics]]

Revision as of 10:57, 3 May 2024

Blessed

Isidore Bakanja
Martyr
Bornc. 1887
Bokendela, Congo Free State
Died15 August 1909 (aged 21-22)
Busira, Belgian Congo
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Beatified24 April 1994, Saint Peter's Square by Pope John Paul II
Feast15 August, 12 August (Carmelites)

Isidore Bakanja (c. 1887 – 15 August 1909) was a Congolese Catholic layman who suffered martyrdom in 1909 and was beatified on 24 April 1994 by Pope John Paul II. Due to the nature of his martyrdom, he is sometimes referred to as "martyr of the Brown scapular".

Life

Bakanja was baptised into the Roman Catholic Church at eighteen years of age through the ministry of Trappist missionaries in the Belgian Congo. He was a very devout convert and catechist. Bakanja 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. His Belgian colonist employers had ordered him to cease sharing the gospel as well as remove the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel 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, Bakanja's wounds became severely infected. As his condition worsened his supervisor sought to keep him from the view of the plantation's inspector. However, Bakanja was discovered and taken to the inspector's home for treatment. His condition had deteriorated so severely, however, that no further medical attention could help him. At this point Isidore told the inspector "tell them that I am dying because I am a Christian." Missionaries in the area visited Isidore and urged him to forgive the supervisor. He assured them that he already had, declaring "When I am in heaven, I shall pray for him very much."[1] In the following months, more than 4,000 baptisms were recorded in the Busira area, which was seen as the fruit of Bakanja's martyrdom.

Veneration

His feast day is 15 August, on 12 August in the liturgical calendar of the Carmelite order.

The National Shrine of Saint Jude, Faversham, United Kingdom contains an icon of Isidore. In 2004 a fire broke out in the Shrine Chapel which destroyed the murals which hung there, and it damaged much of the other artwork. The decision was made to install icons depicting saints inspired by the Rule of Saint Albert, and in commemoration of the 8th centenary of the Carmelite rule in 2007.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ "www.carmelite.org". Archived from the original on 2010-10-30. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  2. ^ "A Tour of the National Shrine". Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  3. ^ Shrine Saint Jude (12 August 2014). "National Shrine of Saint Jude". Retrieved 3 May 2016.
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