Today is the feast of Blessed Isidore Bakanja, lay Carmelite and Martyr

Isidore was martyred as a young man in the Congo in 1909. He had been spreading the Good News of Jesus among his fellow workers on a plantation, to the fury of its colonialist owner. Isidore wore the Carmelite Brown Scapular as a sign of his Christian faith, for which he was beaten. Dying of his wounds some months later, Isidore forgave his aggressor. He was beatified in 1994.

Blessed Isidore Bakanja, pray for us. Saint Jude, pray for us.

Our photo shows the icon of Blessed Isidore at the National Shrine of Saint Jude. Read more, here.

Have a look at our Carmelite books collections, here which includes a beautifully written life on Blessed Isidore.