Saint Josephine Bakhita

Biography

Saint Josephine Bakhita, also known as Giuseppina Bakhita, Madre Moretta, and Sister Moretta, was born in 1868 to a wealthy Sudanese family in the region of Darfur, Sudan. Tragically, at the tender age of 9, she was kidnapped by slave-traders and forced into a life of slavery. The captors gave her the name Bakhita, which means "lucky" in Arabic. For several years, Bakhita was sold and resold in the harsh markets of El Obeid and Khartoum. However, in 1883, her life took a significant turn when she was finally purchased by Callisto Legnani, an Italian consul. Legnani had intentions of setting her free, and it was under his care that Bakhita's destiny began to change. In 1885, she accompanied Legnani to Italy, where she started working as a nanny for the Michieli family. While in Italy, Bakhita was treated with kindness and respect, which was a stark contrast to the cruelty she had experienced as a slave. She quickly grew to love her new country and its people. It was during this time that Bakhita encountered Christianity, and in 1890, she converted to the faith, taking the name Josephine as a symbol of her new life and her deep devotion to Saint Joseph. In 1893, Bakhita entered the Institute of Canossian Daughters of Charity in Venice, Italy, where she dedicated her life to God and the service of others. She took her vows on 8 December 1896 in Verona, Italy, becoming a Canossian Sister for the next fifty years. Bakhita's presence was a source of comfort and solace to the poor and suffering individuals who sought assistance from the Institute. Her gentle demeanor, warm voice, and willingness to perform any menial task endeared her to those she encountered. In 1930, a biography of her extraordinary life was published, which brought her story to the wider public. Following the publication, Bakhita's reputation as a symbol of hope and resilience spread, and she became a sought-after speaker. She used her platform to raise funds for missions, touching the hearts and inspiring many. On 1 December 1978, Pope John Paul II officially recognized Bakhita's heroic virtues, declaring her venerable. On 17 May 1992, she was beatified by the same pope, acknowledging her as a woman of exceptional holiness. Finally, on 1 October 2000, Bakhita achieved the pinnacle of sainthood when she was canonized by Pope John Paul II at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. Saint Josephine Bakhita is thought to be the only saint originally from Sudan and has become a symbol of strength, resilience, and unwavering faith. Her feast day is celebrated on 8 February, and it has been designated as the International Day of Prayer to Stop Human Trafficking in remembrance of her own experiences and as a call to end modern-day slavery. Saint Josephine Bakhita, the beloved patron of Sudan, passed away on 8 February 1947 in Italy, due to natural causes. Her legacy lives on, inspiring countless individuals to fight against all forms of injustice and to strive for a world free from the chains of human trafficking and slavery.