Larry Peterson
Isabel Cristina Mrad Campos was born in Brazil, in
the ancient city of Barbacena, on July
29, 1962. A few weeks later, on the feast of the Virgin Mary's Assumption, her
parents had her baptized in the parish church of Nostra Signora della Pieta in
Barbacena. At the age of seven, she received her First Holy Communion at the school
of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Isabel grew up in a devout Catholic family and led
an everyday life for a young woman of that era. She studied hard, dated and
attended socials, participated in Church activities, and was even part of the
local St. Vincent de Paul Conference. She cared for needy children, spent time
in prayer, and planned on becoming a pediatrician. The world looked bright to Isabel
Campos.
She studied at Immaculata
College run by the sisters of the Daughters of Charity. She was an excellent
student with above-average intelligence, applied herself well, was held in high
regard by her teachers, and had a good relationship with everyone. Often,
Isabel helped the sick and the elderly, giving them food while demonstrating
love and kindness to all, no matter who they might be.
When Isabel
was twenty years old, she and her brother, Roberto, moved to the city of Juiz
de Fora, where Isabel was going to prepare for entrance into medical school.
They found a small apartment to rent located close to the school. It was an
excellent place to study, but, more importantly, it was close to the church and
the Blessed Sacrament. Having little money, she began to furnish the house as
best she could.
She managed to acquire a table and chairs,
utensils and plates, and other necessary items. Included among them was a
wardrobe closet that required assembly. She hired a young, local man who had a
reputation as a reliable handyman who charged reasonable prices.
On August 30, the young man delivered the wardrobe
and began to assemble it. He began to converse with Isabel. She became very uncomfortable as the man started
making suggestive comments to Isabel about her good looks and asking her to
date him. Isabel asked him to please finish his work and told him she was not
interested. He told her he had to leave to get a missing part and would return
to complete the job in a day or two.
On September 1, the man returned to Isabel’s
apartment to finish the work. Sadly, his intentions were not on work. No, he
was focused on Isabel. He immediately put his arm around her. She pushed him
away telling him to stop. The man became enraged at the rejection and threw
Isabel to the floor. She screamed, so he grabbed a chair and hit her with it.
He continued to beat her with it and then tore
some sheets into strips and gagged her. He tied her with rope and ripped her
clothes off. She fought the best she could to protect her honor. He stabbed her
fifteen times before she died. Isabel never let him accomplish his intent. She
chose death rather than fail in protecting God’s virtue.
Her violent death triggered an outcry for her
recognition as a martyr for the faith. Many compared her to St. Maria Goretti. Also,
many testified to Isabel’s work with those with disabilities and those who were
the poorest of the poor.
On January
26, 2001, she was declared a Servant of God and in September of 2009, she was
declared Venerable. During October of 2020, Pope Francis has recognized her
death as one of “in defensum
castitatis” (in defense of purity). She
has been.declared a martyr and her cause
for beatification has been approved. The date is still TBA.
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