Amen. She was kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery, eventually working in Italy as a nanny for a wealthy family. Her body lay on display for three days afterwards. New Subscription Printable Catholic Saints PDFs (Fortunata is the Latin translation for her Arabic name, Bakhita). She then died. 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 . He eventually took her to Italy and gave her to the Michieli family to serve as a nanny. Read her story here. She chose to remain with the Canossian Sisters. He had destined me for better things." She was gentle and charismatic, and was often referred to lovingly as the "little brown sister" or honorably as the "black mother.". While she was in the custody of the sisters, she came to learn about God. On the evening of February 8, 1947, Josephine spoke her last words, "Our Lady, Our Lady!" Bakhita became babysitter to Mimmina Michieli, whom she accompanied to Venices Institute of the Catechumens, run by the Canossian Sisters. 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. In 1877, when she was 78 years old, she was seized by Arab slave traders, who had abducted her elder sister two years earlier. 6 Facts About St Josephine Bakhita 1) Sudanese-Italian Canossian nun who survived 12 years of brutal slavery. Saint Alexander's feast day is February 26. and faith. For, if these things had not happened, I would not have been a Christian and a religious today". She was kidnapped by slave traders at the age of seven; they gave her the name Bakhita, which means "lucky." She died in 1947 in Italy. The choices of love experienced by Bakhita first freed her, giving her the taste of comfort regarding her lost sisters, finding herself in a situation of unprecedented possibilities with regard to her loved ones. 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. Where would she be taken? He canonized her on October 1, 2000. Thank you. By William Hartston 00:00, Thu, May 29, 2014 Bookmark. Bakhita became devoted to the child. a quick bio of st. josephine bakhita. 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. Born in Olgossa in the Darfur region of southern Sudan, Josephine was kidnapped at the age of 7, sold into slavery and given the name Bakhita, which meansfortunate. Which services in your area address the needs of women and children in poverty? Because, if those things had not happened, I would not have become a Christian and would not be a Sister today.. They brought her back to Italy to work as a maid and care giver to their baby, Mimmina. The figure pointed the way to go, and Bakhita led her companion in that direction. Listening to nature and her heart manifested in her the law of love that unites us all, making us capable of a social life in which rights and duties are expressed in the happy union of truth and justice, an encounter of gift and gratitude. She felt that she was always walking in the light, guided by the One she did not know, but who she knew was present in the circumstances that brought her to Italy, allowing her to know and love Jesus who for us who are His children was crucified, and she was joyful to belong to him as his bride. Bakhita was drawn to the Catholic Church. Despite the trauma that Bakhita endured, she was able to find direction and value in her life, which can serve as an example and a solace to all who suffer, especially those who have been exploited. To all our readers, Please don't scroll past this. 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. One of her owners was a Turkish general who gave her to his wife and mother-in-law who both beat her daily. She became a Canossian nun in December 1896 and remained at the convent for another 42 years. Customer Service:cservice @franciscanmedia.org, Technical Questions:support @franciscanmedia.org, Writers GuidelinesPrivacy PolicyPost a Prayer RequestDonor Portal. When Bakhita was seven or eight, Arab slave traders kidnapped her and sold her into slavery. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited. Historians believe that sometime in February 1877, Josephine was kidnapped by Arab slave traders. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law. Josephine Bakhita was made a saint on by October 1, 2000 by Pope John Paul ll. She was beatified on 17 May 1992 and canonized on 1 October 2000. [9], In El-Obeid, Bakhita was bought by a rich Arab who used her as a maid for his two daughters. Josephine was declared free on the grounds that slavery was not recognized in Italy and had been outlawed in Darfur before her birth. She was forced to wear heavy chains to prevent her from escaping, as she had tried to do by enteringthe forest, where she experienced for the first time the guidance of a divine light; but, having avoided the danger of the jaws of fierce beasts, she was once again captured by deception. Mother Moretta, universal sister, who is still speaking to us. He rejoiced at seeing her again. Her kidnappers gave her the name Bakhita, meaning "fortunate. Josephine was born in the Daju village of Olgossa in Darfur. As she grew older, she experienced long, painful years of sickness, but she continued to persevere in hope, constantly choosing the good. In 2000, she was declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. "[17], When Michieli returned to take her daughter and maid back to Suakin, Bakhita firmly refused to leave. This caused the superior of the institute for baptismal candidates among the sisters to complain to Italian authorities on Josephine's behalf. "It is an act of justice for the rich to help the poor." Saint Josephine, affectionately known as Bakhita ("fortunate one"), was born in the southern Sudan region of Darfur. Today is Saturday," probably hoping that this would cheer her because Saturday is the day of the week dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus. She had brothers, sisters, and loving parents. (Fortunata is the Latin translation for her Arabic name, Bakhita). Image credit: Saint Josephine Bakhita by unknown artist, unknown date. Birth: 1869. In her later years, she began to suffer physical pain and was forced to use a wheelchair. The sisters answered her questions. Sharing the Word for May 1, 2023 Fourth Week of Easter Year 1. St. Josephine BakhitaA Model of Faith. According to Josephine, she had always known about God, who created all things, but she did not know who He was. By. As her mistress watched, ready with a whip, another woman drew patterns on her skin with flour, then cut into her flesh with a blade. She soon became well loved by the children attending the sisters school and the local citizens. This ironic new name did not describe the brutal and humiliating treatment Bakhita received on a daily basis. The choice of her freedom implied a priority of affection, which made her decide not to lose what remains forever; hers was the wisdom of the small and pure of heart who see God. Bakhita Charities is named after her. 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. This was the school of the Creator that she attended after the school of her family, which she always longed for. Not a a day went by without wounds being inflicted on her body. Six years later she entered the Canossian Sisters convent in Schio, Italy. After that, she was sold. In her later years, she began to suffer physical pain and was forced to use a wheelchair. 5 things the Catholic woman should keep in her purse, St. Marculf: Saint of the Day for Monday, May 01, 2023, To Saint Peregrine: Prayer of the Day for Monday, May 01, 2023. Bakhita's skin underwent the painful and horrendous Sudanese custom of scarring slaves - where a pattern was cut into the skin with a razor. Bakhita is a saint in the Catholic Church. The history of her life inspires not passive acceptance but the firm resolve to work effectively to free girls and women from oppression and violence, and to return them to their dignity in the full exercise of their rights.. Does the Bible Have Anything to do with My Life? The sisters she lived with experienced the humanizing power of motherhood in her friendship. What happened to the Catholic Knights Hospitaller? [2] She was one of the Daju people;[3][4] her respected and reasonably prosperous father was brother of the village chief. She was eventually assigned to a convent in Schio, Vicenza. She would suffer a total of 114 scars from this abuse. Learn about their countries of origin, customs, and current needs. This martyrdom ended when, in 1882, she was bought by Callisto Legnani, an Italian consular agent in Sudan. 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. It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. On January 9, 1890, she was baptized and confirmed and received her first Holy Communion. She was given to people she did not know, albeit with the promise of good treatment, but as she left Genoa her heart was in turmoil. The daughter of Sudan sold into slavery as a living piece of merchandise and yet still free. 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. Activity: The Kindness Chain. When speaking of her enslavement, she often professed she would thank her kidnappers. 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. She also cared for war victims during world war 1. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Saint Katharine Drexel was a contemplative in action whose work serving the poor inspires us today. Today, we humbly ask you to defend Catholic Online's independence. Josephine entered the Institute of St. Magdalene of Canossa in 1893 and made her profession three years later. Birth: 1869. For many years, Josephine Bakhita was a slave but her spirit was always free and eventually that spirit prevailed. Josephine Bakhita entered the convent in 1893 and took her vows December 8, 1896. 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. Her mistress spent three days trying to persuade her to leave the sisters, but Josephine remained steadfast. The assignment was easy until she offended her owner's son, possibly for the crime of breaking a vase. Her sacraments were administered by Archbishop Giuseppe Sarto, who would later become Pope Pius X. On December 1st, 1978, Pope John Paul II declared her venerable. Bakhita underwent the excruciating ordeal of tattooing. Although she was just a child, she was forced to walk barefoot over 600 miles to a slave market in El Obeid. " Her life in captivity wasn't quite so. and endured untold hardship and suffering. On the same day, she was also confirmed and received Holy Communion from Archbishop Giuseppe Sarto, the Cardinal Patriarch of Venice and later Pope Pius X. Known as Mimmina, she was treated like a daughter by Bakhita. -. MISSION: As a girl, Bakhita would look up at the moon and stars, resolving to serve their Master. A young student once asked Bakhita: "What would you do, if you were to meet your captors?" For had she not been kidnapped, she might never have come to know Jesus Christ and entered His Church. The Canossian Sisters went to court on her behalf and helped her obtain her freedom. Pay Your Bill, SUBSCRIBE TO OSV KIDS Saint Josephine Bakhita, pray for us. Her new owners, needing to do business in Sudan, temporarily placed her and their daughter in the custody of the Canossian Sisters at the Institute of the Catechumens in Venice in 1888. This ironic new name did not describe the brutal and humiliating treatment Bakhita received on a daily basis. She is also a patron saint for victims of slavery and trafficked persons. She had brothers, sisters, and loving parents. He was a much kinder master and he did not beat her. Those who lived with her still permit us to meet her: smiling like a mother, serene and calm because she has no enemies while expressing herself with affectionate tenderness. When she died her tenderness transfused into her mortal flesh and carried on attracting people. Large crowds followed her hearse to the cemetery. The sisters answered her questions. Printable Catholic Saints PDFs As a slave, her experiences varied from fair treatment to cruel. She was kidnapped at the age of seven and sold into slavery by. Born in Darfur in 1869, Josephine Bakhita was taken by Arab slave traders when she was 9. The feast of Saint Bakhita is in fact the day chosen by the Church to ask collectively for liberation from ancient and new contemporary slavery. Born in Olgossa in the Darfur region of southern Sudan, Josephine was kidnapped at the age of 7, sold into slavery and given the name Bakhita, which means fortunate. Bakhita was baptized in January 1890 and took the name Josephine. Beatified: May 17, 1992 by Pope John Paul II. How can you, your family, or an organization you belong to reach out in solidarity. Given the name "Bakhita", which means "lucky one" Tortured, abused, and mutilated Forced to receive over 60 tattoos made painfully with a razor and salt Finally at age 14 she was a nanny to an Italian family Learned about God from the Sisters of Charity while attending to a Christian child It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. Continue reading about St. Josephine Bakhita, St. Josephine Bakhita 14 Karat Gold Filled Pendant, St. Josephine Bakhita Pendant (14 Karat Gold Filled), Submit a Rosary Prayer Request to be Read Live Online. She patiently suffered long painful years of sickness in her old age and continued to attest to Christian hope. 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. St Josephine Bakhita, also known as 'Mother Moretta' was kidnapped at the age of nine and sold into slavery. Zanini, Roberto Italo (2013). you found true redemption in your encounter with Christ and his Church. Provide comfort to survivors of slavery and let them look to you as an example of hope She left Venice and arrived in Schio in 1902, after simply replying: Yes, Father, to the question concerning her transfer. Shop St. Josephine Bakhita. (ca. Daughter of St. Magdalene. There, cared for and instructed by the Sisters, Bakhita encountered Christianity for the first time. She was a member of the Daju people and her uncle was a tribal chief. Her voice was pleasing to the little ones, comforting to the poor and suffering. Slaves also served to vent the anger of their masters who found sadistic pleasure in hearing them cry out in pain. When she had made her patterns; the woman took the razor and made incisions along the lines. The Pope prayed to Saint Bakhita and asked that she intercede and assist trafficking victims. Each ofATIs initiatives equips you in the fight against human traffickingby providing focused resources developed by survivors as well as experts with firsthand experience. What did she do while she was ministering She ministered as a cook, seamstress, sacristan, and doorkeeper, living simply and lovingly. ATIs tools are designed to ensure that your efforts deliver effective results. Faith can be an important component in the road to recovery for many survivors, as was the case for Bakhita. Her story is noteworthy. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Josephine-Bakhita, Pope Francis venerating St. Josephine Bakhita. 1751 Pinnacle Drive Suite 600 | McLean, Virginia 22102, National Human Trafficking Intelligence Center, Parent Coalition to End Human Trafficking. During the war, because of her colour, she was also mistaken for being a spy, but she did not get upset, she accompanied those who wanted to arrest her to where she lived and, showing them the window in her room, explained that since her arrival in Italy she had received the gift of vocation.