Blessed Isidore Bakanja
Biography
Blessed Isidore Bakanja, also known as "the Martyr of Congo," was born around in northeast Republic of the Congo. At the age of 18, he was baptized on May 6, , after receiving instruction from Trappist missionaries. Isidore worked as an assistant stone mason for white colonists in what was then the Belgian Congo, later known as Zaire or simply the Congo.
Deeply committed to his faith, Isidore carried his rosary with him at all times and used any opportunity to share his faith with others. Despite being untrained, many regarded him as a catechist due to his fervent devotion and knowledge of Catholic teachings.
Isidore made the difficult decision to leave his native village as there were no fellow Christians there. He found work as a domestic on a Belgian rubber plantation, where he encountered the hostility of Belgian agents who were atheists and harbored animosity towards missionaries advocating for native rights and justice. These agents derogatorily referred to anyone associated with religion as "mon pere" (my father).
When Isidore requested leave to return to his village, the agents denied his request and ordered him
August 25
BLESSED ISIDORE BAKANJA
Martyr
Optional Memorial
Isidore Bakanja, a member of the Boangi tribe, was born in Bokendela (Congo) between and In order to survive, even as a boy, he had to work as bricklayer or in farms. He was converted to Christianity in He was working in a plantation run by a colonialist in Ikili and was forbidden by the owner to spread Christianity among his fellow-workers. On 22 April , the superintendent of the business tore off the Carmelite Scapular, which Isidore was wearing as an expression of his Christian faith, and had him severely beaten even to drawing blood. He died on 15 August of the same year as a result of the wounds inflicted in &#;punishment&#; for his faith and which he bore patiently while forgiving his aggressor. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 24 April
From the common of one martyr
PRAYER
Merciful and forgiving Father,
you filled your servant Isidore Bakanja
with the gifts of prayer and witness
and inspired him to heroic patience and pardon
in his atrocious sufferings.
By the grace of Your Holy Spirit,
grant us Your gifts of reconciliation
and perseverance in the faith,
and lead us on the way of
Bakanja, Isidore
All articles created or submitted in the first twenty years of the project, from to
Catholic Church
Democratic Republic of Congo
Isidore Bakanja, who gave his life for the Christian faith, led a simple life as a Catholic layman at the time of the atrocities perpetrated by King Leopold II’s regime in the Congo Free State. He was born at Bokendela on the river Congo, north of the town of Mbandaka (formerly Coquihatville). His father and mother were called Iyonzwa and Inyuka. Bakanja’s own name was variously pronounced as Bakanda, Bakana, Bokando, Makanda and Makando. In his early twenties Bakanja went down river to Mbandaka seeking employment. There he became a mason and was employed by the government in the building industry. While in Mbandaka he came across Catholic missionaries of the Trappist (Cistercian) Order, was instructed by them and was baptized at St. Eugene’s parish, Bolokwa-Nsimba, on May 6th, He received First Communion and Confirmation later in the same year. Bakanja lived his new faith very simply, cherishing the two external signs of the rosary and the scapular which he never failed to wear. By word and example, he attracted fr
Blessed Isidore Bakanja who was Martyred for Wearing the Brown Scapular in #Zaire - Saint of August 15
Feast Day: Aug. 15
Born: at northeast Republic of the Congo Died: 8 or 15 AugustBeatified: 24 April by Pope John Paul II
Bl. Isidore Bakanja, a member of the Boangi tribe, was born in Bokendela (Congo) between and In order to survive, even as a boy, he had to work as bricklayer or in farms. He was converted to Christianity in He was working in a plantation run by a colonialist in Ikili and was forbidden by the owner to spread Christianity among his fellow-workers.
On 22 April , the superintendent of the business tore off the Carmelite Scapular, which Isidore was wearing as an expression of his Christian faith, and had him severely beaten even to drawing blood. He died on 15 August of the same year as a result of the wounds inflicted in "punishment" for his faith and which he bore patiently while forgiving his aggressor. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 24 April
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Biography of Blessed Isidore Bakanja
Isiidore Bakanja worked as an assistant mason for white colonists in what was then the Belgian Congo and later known as
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