Blessed Isabel Cristina Mrad Campos

Life story

Isabel Cristina Mrad Campos was born on 29 July 1962 at Barbacena in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, to a Catholic family active in the Society of St Vincent de Paul; her father was president of its central council in Barbacena, and she shared in its charitable work. She attended Mass often, received the sacraments, and hoped to become a paediatrician.

In 1982 she moved to Juiz de Fora to prepare for medical school, living in a small apartment with her brother. On 1 September 1982, while the apartment was being fitted out, a man who had come to install a wardrobe attacked her and tried to rape her. She resisted and was stabbed fifteen times; forensic examiners confirmed that the rape was not completed. She was twenty.

Her beatification process opened in 2001. In October 2020 Pope Francis recognised her death as a martyrdom. On 10 December 2022 Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno Assis presided over her beatification in Barbacena. Her tomb there has become a pilgrimage site, and the press has called her the Maria Goretti of Brazil.

Works and witness

• Shared in the charitable work of the Society of St Vincent de Paul
• Moved to Juiz de Fora in 1982 to study medicine
• Killed on 1 September 1982 while resisting an attacker
• Recognised as a martyr in 2020
• Beatified at Barbacena on 10 December 2022

Saints from the same country

Saint Dulce Lopes Pontes, Saint Antônio Galvão, Blessed Nhá Chica, Saint Mateus Moreira

References

• Catholic World Report / CNA, “Young martyr known as the Maria Goretti of Brazil beatified” (12 December 2022) – attack of 1 September 1982, wardrobe installer, fifteen stab wounds, brother Paulo Roberto, beatification at Barbacena presided by Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno Assis
• FAMVIN, “Isabel Cristina, member of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, will be beatified in December” (famvin.org, 22 August 2022) – born 29 July 1962 at Barbacena, father president of the central council, cause opened 2001, martyrdom decree October 2020 (its attack year '1962' and presider Semeraro disagree with the other sources and are not used)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.