BL ISIDORE BAKANJA | KAIROS GLOBAL | DECEMBER 2023

Dear Chandler,

Received your letter. And here, just as I’ve finished it, I’m writing back to you.

Yes, I understand. I understand it all in Christ. Miracles can happen anytime, anywhere. God decides for us before we think of asking him. I’m sure. I assert this because I have just watched a movie on Blessed Isidore Bakanja, who went through a similar situation as you are experiencing now. He has a message for you. I believe God made me learn about him before your letter came to me about the troubles you face living a faith-life at your workplace. It is challenging to be a Christian. We feel embarrassed to witness Christ. But look at Isidore, who came to encounter Christ when he was only eighteen, has plenty to share. See him inspiring us.

It is a century old tale. Isidore was born in the Belgian Congo, sometime between 1885 and 1890. It was the Trappist missionaries from Westmalle Abbey who shared the gospel with him. He recited the prayers and received baptism. He left his village because he didn’t have any fellow-Christians there. He always held a rosary in his hands. The Scapular of Mary, Mount Carmel around his neck became his identity. Isidore was never found without them. 

As Mary couldn’t stop herself from sharing Christ after the Annunciation, Bakanja too couldn’t cease himself from rendering the good news. This was when he was working on a rubber plantation run by a Belgian colonialist and was forbidden by the owner to spread Christianity among his fellow-workers. The Belgian agents hated missionaries because they fought for the rights and justice of the natives. Bakanja went in haste, dropping Christ in everyone’s heart. The Son of God is often contagious. He spreads like a fire to our astonishment, a healing fire. The plantation was on fire. And Isidore was the ignition point. Most of the agents of the plantation were atheists. They banned him from teaching others about Christ. He was addressed as ‘that animal of Mon pere’. Mon pere was an abusive name used for priests and missionaries. 

One of the agents shouted at Isidore, telling him, ‘You'll have the whole village praying and no one will want to work.’ He was denied permission when asked for a leave to go home. He was told to remove the scapular but Isidore was not ready to remove Mary’s habit. For his ‘defiance’, he was flogged; the supervisor tore the scapular and threw him to the ground. They flogged him repeatedly until they lost count of the blows. The whip used was made of elephant hide with nails protruding at the tip. He was wounded badly on his back and his bones were exposed. He was chained to a single spot 24 hours a day. They kept him away as an inspection was due at the plantation. When the inspector came, Isidore managed to drag himself to him. The written account tells, ‘I saw a man come from the forest with his back torn apart by deep, festering, malodorous wounds, covered with filth, assaulted by flies. He leaned on two sticks in order to get near me – he wasn't walking; he was dragging himself.’ 

The inspector took Isidore to his settlement and treated his wounds. But Isidore was sinking each passing day. His health deteriorated. He told others, ‘… I am dying because I am Christian.’ Alas! His agony continued for six months. Two missionaries visited him and he received the final sacraments. When asked to forgive the persecutors, he said he had already forgiven them. And that he would pray for them more when he reached heaven. He died in August 1909. He had the rosary in his hand and the Scapular around his neck. He was a Christian for only two-and-a-half years. How could he witness Christ even to the point of death? Christ was his conviction. Isidore didn’t weigh anyone or anything more than the Son of Joseph.

Chandler, that ‘animal of Mon pere’ is now a blessed at the holy altars. He bravely witnessed Christ. Death couldn’t defeat him either. He was martyred. So, why not us? Why should we drag ourselves to comfort and safety? All of that will perish in the blink of an eye. Let us be brave. Let us declare with firm faith that we are Christians. He is for us. And we are for him. 

Fear no more!

With much love

Your sibling in Christ,

Joey