Saint of the Month - October 2012: Blessed Isidore de Loor

Bl. Isidore de Loor

A Son of the Passion ~ Memorial:  October 6th

As with many Saints in the history of the Church, this Blessed was of humble, but deeply pious origins, having been born on April 18, 1881, to a devout farming couple of Vrasene, Belgium.  Isidore de Loor was the oldest of three children, and like most farm-folk of his time, he was raised in a simple lifestyle filled with faith, hope, and hard work.  At age 12 he dropped out of school to help on the family farm, where the fine example of his parents greatly influenced his developing love for God and nature.

Shortly after his 26th birthday, Isidore bid his family farewell and departed for the Passionist Monastery of Ere to pursue his dream of becoming a religious.  Upon his entrance he was given the name “Bro. Isidore of St. Joseph”, and after a year’s novitiate, he professed his vows on September 13, 1908.  Bro. Isidore was then assigned to the Passionist community in Kortrijk where he served as the monastery’s gardener and cook.

Bro. Isidore’s religious life was relatively normal with no external signs of extraordinary heavenly favors.  His example of holiness was the type of sanctity that is steadily accomplished through the sincere and consistent practice of several virtues: humility, charity, obedience, and prayer.  His superiors praised him as a model Passionist.

In 1911, the faith of the young religious was put to a grueling test - a growth on his right eye developed into a cancer.  During its early stages, Bro. Isidore never made much of the growth until his superiors pressed him to have it examined.  By the time it was diagnosed, the cancer had advanced so much, it necessitated the removal of the eye.  Furthermore, it was also learned that the disease had spread to other parts of his body.  Bro. Isidore responded to the personal crisis by peacefully continuing his daily routine of work, service, and prayer.

As the cancer progressed, Bro. Isidore maintained a remarkable control over the severe pain he endured.  He displayed a cheerful disposition and once even confided, “Alone I could not endure the pain, but with Our Lord I can manage it.”  By the summer of 1916, the cancer reached a terminal stage and Bro. Isidore passed away later that same year on October 6th, after asking his superiors for their permission to die.  He was only 35.

Bro. Isidore’s exemplary conduct in the face of his terrible ordeal had inspired many.  Rather than being forgotten, a spontaneous local devotion sprang up after his death, and many remarkable cures were reported at his tomb.  These developments led the Passionists to initiate the opening of his Cause for Canonization, which to their joy, resulted in Bro. Isidore’s Beatification on September 30th, 1984.

A Reflection

“When the cross God sends us is too heavy, we have to lift our eyes towards Jesus.”  ~ words of Bl. Isidore de Loor

A Short Prayer

Lord Jesus, we look to you when we are overwhelmed by the weight of our personal crosses.  Grant us strength, patience, and hope.  Amen.