On December 10, 2022, Isabel Cristina, “the Vincentian flower” was beatified in the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Piedad [the Shrine of Our Lady of Piety] in Barbacena. The cardinal and archbishop emeritus of Aparecida, Raymundo Damasceno Assis, presided at the ceremony. More than ten thousand people participated in this ceremony among whom were many members of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. The National Council of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Brazil was represented by the president, Márcio José da Silva, the vice-president, Elizabete María Castro and the president of the Youth Commission, Geyson Torres de Lima (accompanied by youth representatives from the seven regions of the country). Isabel Cristina was the daughter of a member of the Society, thus drawing her even closer to the Society.
After reading the request for beatification, a brief life of Isabel Cristina was proclaimed. Pope Francis wrote: Through our apostolic authority, we state that the venerable servant of God, Isabel Cristina, a faithful laywoman martyr, a joyful witness of the evangelizing charity of the infirm who, for the love of Christ, shed her blood in defense of her virginity and dignity, will henceforth be involved with the name Blessed Isabel Cristina. Her feast is to be celebrated on September 1st, the day on which she was born.
After said reading, a hymn of glory and joy for the beatification was sung and the painting of the blessed was displayed. Isabel Cristina holds in her right hand a bouquet of white lilies, symbols of her purity and dedication to God. In her left hand, resting on her chest, Elizabeth wears the ring of the rosary with the cross on her index finger, a sign of her faith in Christ. The garden at the bottom of the image has fifteen roses that are symbols of her virtuous life in the city of Barbacena, and represent the fifteen stab wounds that she received during her martyrdom.
The brother of the newly beatified, Paulo Roberto Mrad Campos, participated in the ceremony with his wife and children. He was accompanied by twenty young people from the parishes in Barbacena, as he brought the reliquary in procession to the altar. The entrance of the relic was made to the music of the Anthem of Isabel Cristina. Listen to the hymn:
Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno incensed the reliquary and Archbishop Airton expressed his gratitude for this most important moment in the Archdiocese of Mariana.
Geyson Torres de Lima, coordinator of the Youth Commission of the Brazilian National Council of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul spoke about the significance of this event for the life of the Church and especially for Vincentian youth in Brazil and throughout the world: Isabel Cristina provides us with an example that motivates us to seek ever greater holiness. She is a young woman close to us, who lived a few years ago, experienced challenges similar to those we experience today … she had dreams and vital longings. She is one of us, one among us, who has reached the honor of the altars. This enables us to see that holiness is possible for everyone and is not some utopian ideal. Isabel Cristina’s example of life inspires us. Therefore, we want to spread devotion to her and make her life known so that many other people might be inspired to act in a similar manner. The joy of being here in the city of Barbacena and accompanying this beatification is indescribable. We are able to proclaim that we have a young blessed, Vincentian, Brazilian who is close to us”.
Life of Isable Cristina
Isabel Cristina Mrad Campos was born on July 29th , 1962 in Barbacena. She is the daughter of José Mandes Campos and Helena Mrad Campos. She had a strong desire to study medicine. In 1982, in order to engage in university studies, she moved to Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais.
She was a young woman like many others: she studied, dated, went to parties. But she was also different: she developed a life of prayer and dreamed of being a pediatrician in order to help children who were in need.
She was sensitive to people, especially toward the poor, the elderly and children, something that she certainly learned from her parents who were members of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. At that time, her father was president of the Central Council of Barbacena.
In 1982, Isabel Cristina was brutally assassinated in the city of Juiz de For by a man who was helping her move furniture into an apartment that she shared with her brother. This man attempted to rape her. Isabel resisted his advances and struck him with a chair. The man attacked her, bit her, tore off her clothing and stabbed her 15 times.
The manner in which she died, but more especially, the manner in which she lived (her charity and her faith) motivated a group of people in Barbacena to request the process of beatification (2001). At the time, Isabel was given the title, “Servant of God”. The process continued for 18 years during which time some sixty individuals gave testimony.
In October 2020, Pope Francis authorized the decree of martyrdom for Isabel and thus there was no need for a miracle for her beatification
Fuente: https://ssvpbrasil.org.br/
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