Isabel Cristina

Isabel Cristina Mrad Campos(29 July 1962 – 1 September 1982) was aBrazilian Catholiclaywoman.She served as aVincentianin her parish, although she never formally joined the movement.In her spare time, she devoted herself to faith. She was often seen doingEucharistic adorationand attendingMass. She wanted to studymedicineand become apediatricianto take care of underprivileged children, but was murdered in her apartment after an attempted rape.
Herbeatificationprocess began on 26 January 2001. On 27 October 2020,Pope Francisacknowledged that Cristina was killedin odium fidei("in hatred of faith"), approving the ceremony of her beatification, which occurred 10 December 2022.She is the firstmartyrof the brazilian state ofMinas Gerais.
Isabel Cristina Mrad Campos was born on 29 July 1962 inBarbacenato José Mendes Campos and Helena Mrad; her brother was Roberto.Herbaptismwas celebrated on 15 August in the local parish church of Nossa Senhora da Piedade in Barbacena; she received herConfirmationon 22 April 1965 in the San José basilica from Archbishop Oscar de Oliveira before making herFirst Communionat the school that theVincentian Sistersmanaged on 26 October 1969.
Mrad Campos, affectionately known as 'Cris', studied at the Immaculata College that the Vincentian Sisters managed, becoming known for her kindness and for her above-average intelligence that set her apart from her peers. During this time, she often helped the poor or the old, providing them with food or other essential supplies.During this period, she joined the Young Vincentians which came under the umbrella ofthe main group. Her goal in life was to become apediatricianto care for poor children, also hoping to do this in Africa.
On 15 August 1982, she relocated toJuiz de Foraalongside her brother Roberto to a small rented apartment that was located near the church and school where Mrad Campos was to take her medical entrance examination.Upon moving in, she immediately began cleaning it and purchasing new furnishings. However, on 30 August, she hired thetradesmanMaurilio Almeida Oliveira to install a newwardrobesince he was reputable, reliable, and had reasonable prices for his services. The two began having a conversation, however, she grew gradually uncomfortable at his many suggestive comments, asking her to go on a date with him, despite her asking him to finish his work promptly and telling him that she was not interested. He then told her that he needed to leave to get a missing part so that he could install it either the next day or the one after that.After her brother returned, she told him of the encounter.
Almeida Oliveira returned on 1 September and attacked her in an attempt to rape her. He grabbed her and hit her with a chair before he gagged her with sheets and tied her up before he ripped at her clothes. Mrad Campos fought him and tried to call for help before he raised the volume on the radio and television to drown out her cries. He grew frustrated at her resistance before he stabbed her fifteen times before fleeing.Her brother discovered the body later that evening; the investigation determined she was never raped throughout the ordeal but had thirteen stab wounds in the back and two in thegroin.
The diocesan process opened in Mariana on 26 January 2001 before concluding a decade later on 1 September 2009.Pope Francisauthorized a decree on 27 October 2020 that determined that Mrad Campos had died "in odium fidei" (she preservedchastityin the name of faith) and approved for her to be beatified. The beatification took place in Barbacena on 10 December 2022.Thepostulatorfor this cause is Doctor Paolo Vilotta.