Blessed Isidore Bakanja

Life story

Isidore was born between about 1880 and 1890 at Bokendela in the Congo Free State, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On 6 May 1906 Trappist missionaries baptised him at St Eugene's parish in Bolokwa-Nsimba. He worked as a bricklayer and farm labourer, then at a rubber plantation at Ikili, where he also served as a catechist for his fellow workers.

The plantation owner forbade him to teach religion, but he kept teaching catechism and wearing the Brown Scapular the missionaries had given him. On 22 April 1909 a plantation supervisor tore the scapular from his neck and beat him severely. Sources describe a whipping of about a hundred blows with a nail-studded whip and name Van Cauter as the man responsible, though accounts differ on whether he and the supervisor were the same person. Church sources say he was left to suffer while his wounds became infected.

He was found by the missionaries and cared for, but died on 15 August 1909. According to accounts handed down, he said he forgave the man who beat him. In 1910 Van Cauter was sentenced to several years in prison. Pope John Paul II beatified him on 24 April 1994. His memorial is 15 August in the Roman Martyrology and 12 August in the Carmelite calendar. A shrine in his name has been under construction since 2022.

Works and witness

• Baptised in 1906 by Trappist missionaries
• Worked as a catechist on the Ikili rubber plantation
• Beaten for wearing the Brown Scapular and teaching catechism
• Died on 15 August 1909
• Beatified on 24 April 1994

Saints from the same country

Blessed Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta, Blessed Floribert Bwana Chui

References

• Pope John Paul II, beatification of 24 April 1994 (Vatican)
• Martyrologium Romanum
• Carmelite Order, liturgical calendar (memorial of 12 August)

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