interesting facts about saint josephine bakhita

She patiently suffered long painful years of sickness in her old age and continued to attest to Christian hope. He gave her her first crucifix and had the idea of having her live with the little girl she took care of, at the Catechumens of Venice, a place where she could be educated and learn about the love of Jesus and the Gospel of salvation. Their chance came one day when the overseer carelessly left them unchained and alone. Saint Josephine Bakhita | Franciscan Media Shop St. Josephine Bakhita. It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. Faith can be an important component in the road to recovery for many survivors, as was the case for Bakhita. When the Michielis returned from Africa and wanted to take Mimmina and Josephine back with them, the future saint refused to go. Author and Publisher - Catholic Online. When visited and asked how she was, shed respond: "As the Master desires.". Josephine wrote that as soon as one wound would heal, they would inflict another. Italian saint and former slave (18691947), Dagnino, p.10. Bakhita Charities for Southern Africa, Inc. 2014 by Bakhita Charities Created with wix.com, 2014 by Bakhita Charities Created with w. In 1877, when she was 7-8 years old, she was seized by Arab slave traders, who had abducted her elder sister two years earlier. The sisters answered her questions. Read his story here. She who worked under many masters was finally happy to address God as master and carry out everything that she believed to be Gods will for her. Feb. 8 was chosen for the day of prayer because it is the feast day of Saint Josephine Bakhita, who was born in Sudan in 1869. In 1883, Bakhita was sold to an Italian family who treated her with kindness and respect. ", After prayer and discernment, Josephine joined the religious order, pronouncing her religious vows on 8 December 1896 at the age of 27. Her remains were translated to the Church of the Holy Family of the Canossian convent of Schio in 1969. Josephine Bakhita (c. 1869 - 8 February 1947) was a Sudanese-born former slave who became a Roman Catholic Canossian nun in Italy, living and working there for 45 years. She was seven years old when her good heart experienced the pain of seeing her companions unjustly suffer as slaves. She told about how the general's wife ordered her to be scarred. Who are the immigrants in your local community? Bakhita became devoted to the child. / Holy See Press Office. Provide comfort to survivors of slavery and let them look to you as an example of hope Daily Prayer. We ask for your prayers and intercessions for those enslaved among us. Children and adults alike flocked to her, enjoying her good heart, good nature, good works, and her love of people. The case went to court, and the court found that slavery had been outlawed in Sudan before Josephine was born, so she could not be lawfully made slave. Bakhita wished to stay in Italy when her owners readied for a relocation. "[17], When Michieli returned to take her daughter and maid back to Suakin, Bakhita firmly refused to leave. Show the volunteers who bring you reliable, Catholic information that their work matters. Selling his house and lands took longer than expected. She had brothers, sisters, and loving parents. She chose to remain with the Canossian Sisters. In 2015, her feast day became the first international day for prayer and reflection on human trafficking. During World War II, the people of the village of Schio regarded her as their protector. The assignment was easy until she offended her owner's son, possibly for the crime of breaking a vase. For three days, Michieli tried to force the issue, finally appealing to the attorney general of the King of Italy; while the superior of the Institute for baptismal candidates (catechumenate) that Bakhita attended contacted the Patriarch of Venice about her protege's problem. She became a Canossian nun in December 1896 and remained at the convent for another 42 years. Help all survivors find healing from their wounds. Beatified: May 17, 1992 by Pope John Paul II. Meet St. Josephine Bakhita! Saint Josephine Bakhita is the patron saint of Sudan and her feast day is celebrated on February 8. According to Josephine, she had always known about God, who created all things, but she did not know who He was. The colour of her skin had either frightened or attracted the little ones, who thought she was made of chocolate, and intrigued the grown-ups, who had never seen people of other ethnic groups; but that very colour became the privilege given them to have known and loved someone who was different, and to receive love in return. Saint Alexander's feast day is February 26. She seems to be always ready, on the right hand of her Master, ready to become his spokesperson to help us and support us in the trials of life. We are a team of people dedicated to defeating the scourge of human trafficking through uniquely targeted programs. The Pope prayed to Saint Bakhita and asked that she intercede and assist trafficking victims. [25], Bakhita's legacy is that transformation is possible through suffering. For had she not been kidnapped, she might never have come to know Jesus Christ and entered His Church. She was born around the year 1869 in the African country of Sudan, in the region of Darfur, in the city of Olgossa. Saint Bakhita still continues to intercede, to operate, to help, to solve the insoluble problems of those who turn to her and those who do not yet know her. and endured untold hardship and suffering. Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Saint Josephine, affectionately known as Bakhita (fortunate one), was born in the southern Sudan region of Darfur. When her mistress returned from Sudan, Josephine refused to leave. It was that freedom of spirit that allowed her to follow her heart and live her true vocation. Saint Josephine Bakhita | uCatholic Bakhita became babysitter to Mimmina Michieli, whom she accompanied to Venices Institute of the Catechumens, run by the Canossian Sisters. After a long and dangerous journey across Sudan, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean, they arrived in Italy. She is venerated as a modern African saint, and as a statement against the brutal history of slavery. She said, "during that time I could hear more and more clearly the gentle voice of the Lord, urging me to consecrate myself to God. She could not recall the name given to her at birth by her parents after she suffered repeated terrible humiliation, both physical and moral, as a result of being kidnapped by slave traders at the age of 7 and sold and re-sold . Your email address will not be published. Bakhita wished to stay in Italy when her owners readied for a relocation. | Irondale, AL 35210 |. In the new house she found peace of heart and dignity of the body, finally dressed not in a straw tutu but in a white robe. Would she be treated like a slave again or could she still hope to have the human dignity she had experienced in the consuls home? Born in 19 th century Sudan, Josephine Bakhita was the furthest thing from Italian. A total of 114 intricate patterns were cut into her breasts, belly and into her right arm.[13][14]. Saint Josephine Bakhita, pray for us. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. In Venice, her story of ransom from slavery, the gift of her faith was well known. Watch Two Suitcases: The Story of St. Josephine Bakhita, available to stream or on DVD from Amazon. Death: February 8, 1947. We do not know her exact birthdate, but we know that she was born in the village of Olgossa, which is near Darfur, Sudan. Her kidnappers gave her the name Bakhita, meaning "fortunate. Dagnino, pp. Indeed, there are over 30,000 faithful who have been coming annually to Schio to [visit] Saint Bakhita from every region of Italy and from all the continents. All rights reserved. 6 Facts About St Josephine Bakhita 1) Sudanese-Italian Canossian nun who survived 12 years of brutal slavery. Surrounded by the sisters, she died at age 78. On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, as organizations, governments, and individuals all over the world pause to rededicate themselves to their anti-trafficking goals, it is important that we listen to the stories of survivors and let them guide us in our work. On 29 November 1889, an Italian court ruled that because the British had outlawed slavery in Sudan before Bakhita's birth and because Italian law had never recognized slavery as legal, Bakhita had never legally been a slave. Bakhita: From Slave to Saint by Roberto Italo Zanini | Goodreads She served her convent humbly, cooking, embroidering, and sewing, and was responsible for attending the door of the convent to welcome visitors, where she was noted for her warm smile and hospitality. 98% of our readers don't give; they simply look the other way. Learn more about Saint Josephine Bakhita! Saint Josephine Bakhita A Woman of Faith and Forgiveness Born: 1869 in Sudan Died: 1947 in Italy Beatified: May 17, 1992 Canonized: October 1, 2000 Introduction February 8 is the feast day of Saint Josephine Bakhita. Her black skin revealed different ancestry and a different life experience. These three sacraments are the sacraments of initiation into the Church and were always given together in the early Church. Josephine Bakhita is the Patron Saint of Human Trafficking. Gift Subscription Two years later, he took Josephine to Italy and gave her to his friend Augusto Michieli. In 1883, the Turkish general sold her to the Italian Vice Consul, Callisto Legani. Awareness of how much the family had already suffered increased her pain knowing that her people were suffering for her, too. She was five years old when her older sister was kidnapped and when Bakhita was about seven years old, she experienced the same tragedy herself. Each ofATIs initiatives equips you in the fight against human traffickingby providing focused resources developed by survivors as well as experts with firsthand experience. Bakhita converted to Christianity and was baptized and confirmed in 1890. In her later years, she began to suffer physical pain and was forced to use a wheelchair. What Do All Saints Day and Halloween Have in Common? Although she was just a child, she was forced to walk barefoot over 600 miles to a slave market in El Obeid. Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. Her gentleness, calming voice, and the ever-present smile became well known and Vicenzans still refer to her as Sor Moretta ("little brown sister") or Madre Moretta ("black mother"). The day when her life turned into a nightmare, that terrified 9-year-old girl forgot everything, even her . She wanted to be good, to obey the one who gave her joy in following his voice that enlightened her from the heart. Children who are now elderly, told us to call her Mother Moretta, because this is her name for us. This project was carried out in collaboration between the municipality and the diocesan Caritas. Everyone assured us that they had met her. Permission Guidelines uCatholic. One year later, when Mrs Michieli returned to take her daughter and Bakhita back to Suakin, she refused for the first time. Bakhita sought humanity and discovered that she longed for a good master, like the One who cares for all beautiful things: the sky, the stars, the earth, flowers. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. Despite the terrible things she had endured, Bakhita dedicated the rest of her life to serving God, her fellow sisters, and mankind; she was a much beloved, respected member of her community. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a24650c9343008eb8a6585a97221ebfb" );document.getElementById("c8429a34be").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. During World War II, the people of the village of Schio regarded her as their protector. The little girl had never worn a dress until the day two scowling men appeared in the fields, blocking her path and holding a knife to her side, kidnapping her much as one might snatch a hen from its coop. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. St. Josephine BakhitaA Model of Faith | Franciscan Media Which services in your area address the needs of women and children in poverty? [9], In El-Obeid, Bakhita was bought by a rich Arab who used her as a maid for his two daughters. What a great grace it is to know God!. On 17 May, 1992, she was proclaimed blessed, and on 1 October of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 she was made a saint by John Paul II. Her constant smile, humility and simplicity won peoples hearts. It is interesting what Ida Zanolini, a lay Canossian woman who published Mother Bakhitas first biography, wrote about her. After a long and dangerous journey across Sudan, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean, they arrived in Italy. Her story of deliverance from physical slavery also symbolises all those who find meaning and inspiration in her life for their own deliverance from spiritual slavery. Mother Moretta, universal sister, who is still speaking to us. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. [3][22] During the Second World War (19391945) she shared the fears and hopes of the townspeople, who considered her a saint and felt protected by her presence. For the first time in her life, Josephine was free and could choose what to do with her life. In 1902 she was assigned to the Canossian convent at Schio, in the northern Italian province of Vicenza, where she spent the rest of her life. She was declared free. Died: 1947 in Italy Saint Katharine Drexel was a contemplative in action whose work serving the poor inspires us today. The terrified girl was bought and sold at least two times over the next few months and forced to walk hundreds of miles on foot to a slave market in Al-Ubayyi in south-central Sudan. 1869 - 8 February 1947), was a Sudanese - Italian Canossian religious sister who lived in Italy for 45 years, after having been a slave in Sudan. Hers was not the skin of an Italian aristocrat but rather a child kidnapped and forcibly relocated in the slave trade. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Her body may have been devastated by cruelty, but not her soul, which was always aware of an innate dignity which only we can destroy in ourselves. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

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