Isidore De Loor

Blessed Isidore De Loor, C.P.
Religious
Born	April 18, 1881 Vrasene, East Flanders, Belgium
Died	October 6, 1916 Kortrijk, West Flanders, Belgium
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church (Passionists)
Beatified	30 September 1984, Vatican City, by Pope John Paul II
Feast	October 6
Attributes	Passionist religious habit
Patronage	Cancer patients

Isidore De Loor, C.P., also known as Isidore of Saint Joseph, was a Belgian lay brother of the Passionist Congregation, born on April 18, 1881 in Vrasene, Belgium; died October 6, 1916 at Kortrijk, Belgium. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1984.

Life

He was born on April 18, 1881, in the village of Vrasene, now part of the Municipality of Beveren, East Flanders. His parents, Aloïs De Loor and Kamilla Hutsebaut, a deeply religious couple, had been married for two years when Isidore was born. Isidore’s education came to an end when he was aged 12 and from then on he joined his father in working on the family’s farm.^[1] He grew up to be a devout and hard-working young man and often thought of following a vocation to the religious life. At a mission given by the Redemptorist Fathers he discussed the matter of his vocation with a priest who advised him to join the Passionists.

On April 15, 1907 De Loor set off for the Passionist monastery at Ere (now part of Tournai, which had been founded by Blessed Dominic Barberi, C.P. Here the French language was spoken and the Dutch-speaking Isidore found it very difficult to navigate his way to the monastery.^[2] Initially shy, Isidore quickly put himself to work and greatly impressed the superiors with his determination. On 8 September, the feast of the Nativity of Mary, he was vested as a Passionist lay brother and received the religious name of Isidore of Saint Joseph. A year’s novitiate followed during which Isidore became an example to his fellow novices who were impressed by his charity and joyful disposition. On September 13, 1908 he professed his vows as a Passionist.^[3]

After his profession De Loor was transferred to the Passionist monastery of Kortrijk, where he was employed as gardener and cook. Despite suffering with a painful tumour in his eye Isidore was reluctant to complain about it, cancer was diagnosed and his right eye was removed in 1911.^[4] The cancer had spread throughout his body however and Isidore was given only a few years left to live. He then served as porter of the monastery thereafter. As World War I took its toll on Belgium more and more visitors prevailed upon the monastery for help, help Brother Isidore was only too willing to offer.^[5] In late summer 1916 his health worsened and finally, having asked the permission of his superior to die, he died of cancer and pleurisy on October 6, 1916. He was only thirty-five years of age, and had lived as a religious for only nine years.

Beatification

Pope John Paul II declared De Loor Blessed on September 30, 1984.^[3]

External links

• The web site of the Passionists in Belgium
• The Story of the Passionists in Belgium and Brother Isidore

References