Their chance came one day when the overseer carelessly left them unchained and alone. Alice Michieli was born in Zianigo, the municipality of Mirano in the Veneto region, in 1886. She was a member of the Daju people and her uncle was a tribal chief. We partner with people like you. / Holy See Press Office. When it was time for him to return to Italy, she begged to be taken with him, and he agreed. 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. Bakhita knew how to value true riches and chose eternal treasures. On February 8, the Church commemorates the life of St. Josephine Bakhita, a Canossian Sister who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Sudan. Saint Josephine Bakhita | Franciscan Media When the child was about seven months old, Bakhita accompanied her to Suakin in Africa, where, in the hotel bought by the Michieli family, she experienced the awful conditions she would have fallen back into, had she stayed there. Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. Born in a village in Sudan, kidnapped by slavers, often beaten and abused, and later sold to Federico Marin, a Venetian merchant, Bakhita then came to Italy and became the nanny servant of Federico's daughter, Aurora, who had lost her mother at birth. Saint Bakhita is still with us today. 1751 Pinnacle Drive Suite 600 | McLean, Virginia 22102, National Human Trafficking Intelligence Center, Parent Coalition to End Human Trafficking. Josephine entered the Institute of St. Magdalene of Canossa in 1893 and made her profession three years later. Bakhita came to believe it was her guardian angel, who stayed with her all along, guiding her to God. Josephine Bakhita was born around 1869 in Darfur (now in western Sudan). She was eventually assigned to a convent in Schio. Her special charisma and reputation for sanctity were noticed by her order; the first publication of her story (Storia Meravigliosa by Ida Zanolini) in 1931, made her famous throughout Italy. This is the secret of her inner freedom, of her upstanding will, of her courageous choices born of a hope which does not disappoint, but sustains faith and charity of heart. Grateful to her teachers, she recalled, "Those holy mothers instructed me with heroic patience and introduced me to that God who from childhood I had felt in my heart without knowing who He was. "Rejoice, all of Africa! February 8 is the feast day of Saint Josephine Bakhita. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. She would suffer a total of 114 scars from this abuse. Bakhita: From Slave to Saint, p. 81. 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. and faith. Updates? Ida Zanolini, in Positio, p. 113 233). She wanted to be good, to obey the one who gave her joy in following his voice that enlightened her from the heart. She was baptized in 1890 and given the name Josephine. For the first time in her life, Josephine was free and could choose what to do with her life. She soon became well loved by the children attending the sisters school and the local citizens. In 1883 she was sold to an Italian consul in Khartoum, Callisto Legnani, who treated her more humanely. MISSION: As a girl, Bakhita would look up at the moon and stars, resolving to serve their Master. Birth: 1869. She was seven years old when her good heart experienced the pain of seeing her companions unjustly suffer as slaves. Also known as: Josephine Margaret Bakhita, Mother Josephine Bakhita. As for many migrants today, she explained to those who asked her the reason for her choices, that if she had given in to the insistence to return to her land, she would have lost body and soul. For the rest of her life, Bakhita remained in Italy and lived as a free woman. Her body lay on display for three days afterwards. She was also known as Mother Moretta, our Black Mother. Birth: 1869. She was sold several times, and had eight masters, including the intermediaries, like the kidnappers, who sought the propitious opportunity to resell her for a greater profit. Bakhita Charities is named after her. 2) The name 'Bakhita' was given to her by her ensalver, it means "lucky" or "fortunate". Bakhita was baptized in January 1890 and took the name Josephine. Josephine Bakhita entered the convent in 1893 and took her vows December 8, 1896. And although bombs fell on their village, not one citizen died. Saint of the Day for Monday, May 1st, 2023. Continue reading about St. Josephine Bakhita St. Josephine Bakhita St. Josephine Vannini Bakhita replied, "Yes, I am so happy: Our Lady Our Lady!" The amazement of being so loved flowed from her heart as a river of tenderness that comforted, in a multiplicity of expressions, with the indelible touch of her presence. (ca. Reception centres, training courses or places named after Saint Bakhita are being built throughout various parts of Italy. She became a Canossian nun in December 1896 and remained at the convent for another 42 years. Tarjeta De Oracin De Nuestra Seora De Guadalupe, Tres Maneras Para Obtener Un Mejor Provecho De La Misa. Finally in possession of her human autonomy for the first time in her adult life, Josephine chose to remain with the Canossian Sisters. Another owner, a Turkish general, gave Josephine to his wife and mother-in-law, who would beat her daily. What was she known for? Show the volunteers who bring you reliable, Catholic information that their work matters. He canonized her on October 1, 2000. 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. Her life was forever altered when she was kidnapped from her family as a young child and enslaved by Arab slave traders, likely in early 1877. Saint Bakhita seems to be a made-to-measure saint to comfort the peace and reconciliation workers of our time. Once, they hid behind a thorn hedge for two hours while a long caravan passed nearby. St Josephine Bakhita, also known as 'Mother Moretta' was kidnapped at the age of nine and sold into slavery. Slavery was illegal in Italy, so Bakhita was able to leave her Italian owners and follow Gods calling for her. Josephine Bakhita - Wikipedia But that was not the end of her story. She was bought and sold at least twice during the grueling journey. And although bombs fell on their village, not one citizen died. She was kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery, eventually working in Italy as a nanny for a wealthy family. For had she not been kidnapped, she might never have come to know Jesus Christ and entered His Church. Her voice was pleasing to the little ones, comforting to the poor and suffering. By William Hartston 00:00, Thu, May 29, 2014 Bookmark. 3) Her feast day marks an international day of prayer and awareness against human trafficking. Image credit: Saint Josephine Bakhita by unknown artist, unknown date. Her kidnappers gave her the name Bakhita, meaning "fortunate. She spent so much time in captivity that she forgot her original name. The details and exact timing of her emancipation vary, but it seems that the mother superior petitioned the Italian authorities on Josephines behalf, and the issue was brought before the court. If anyone asked her how she was, she would reply, "As the master desires.". Then salt was poured into the open wounds to ensure it would scar. Bakhita lived and worked in various locations in Africa until an Italian consul bought her and moved his family back to their hometown of Schio, Italy. Yes, she is a Catholic saint, but her story can serve as an inspiration to all, no matter what their religious beliefs may be. For the next 42 years of her life, she worked as a cook and a doorkeeper at the convent. [15] The Turkish general began making preparations to return to his homeland and sold his slaves. Something maybe not as well-known about St. Josephine Bakhita is that her body was scarred all over. Josephine wrote that as soon as one wound would heal, they would inflict another. St. Josephine Bakhita - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online While she was in the custody of the sisters, she came to learn about God. Six years later she entered the Canossian Sisters convent in Schio, Italy. Through baptism she discovered that what makes us free is Gods breath in us and with this freedom she wanted to free everyone: with understanding, advice, gently, always giving thanks, saying: See you in Heaven!. She even received a new name at her baptism: Josephine Margaret Bakhita. Permission Guidelines Her body lay on display for three days afterwards. Printable Catholic Saints PDFs. Her own story, in turn, can serve as a balm for others. During World War II, the people of the village of Schio regarded her as their protector. Everyone assured us that they had met her. 2) The name 'Bakhita' was given to her by her ensalver, it means "lucky" or "fortunate". When Bakhita was seven or eight, Arab slave traders kidnapped her and sold her into slavery. Activity: The Kindness Chain. 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. When the Michielis returned from Africa and wanted to take Mimmina and Josephine back with them, the future saint refused to go. They treated her relatively well, until after offending one of her owner's sons, wherein the son lashed and kicked her so severely that she spent more than a month unable to move from her straw bed. She spent so much time in captivity that she forgot her original name. St. Josephine Bakhita - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online She was surrounded by a loving family of three brothers and three sisters; as she says in her autobiography: "I lived a very happy and carefree life, without knowing what suffering was".[5]. 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. Continue reading about St. Josephine Bakhita, St. Josephine Bakhita Sterling Silver Oval Pendant, St. Josephine Bakhita Pendant (14 Karat Gold Filled), Submit a Rosary Prayer Request to be Read Live Online. [11][12] As her mistress was watching her with a whip in her hand, a dish of white flour, a dish of salt and a razor were brought by a woman. Pay Your Bill, SUBSCRIBE TO OSV KIDS Josephine wrote that as soon as one wound would heal, they would inflict another. She is the patron saint of Sudan and of victims of human trafficking. Shop St. Josephine Bakhita. Bakhita herself never mentions this incident. For 10 years, this inheritance has been taken up by the Bakhita Committee which has now become an Association in order to continue the caring work that today Bakhita would have liked to carry out for her own people. Bakhita was not a Christian, but she had always looked to the night sky and wanted to know the One who had created the moon and stars. Who is St. Josephine Bakhita? 5 Lessons from a 20th Century Saint - FOCUS He had destined me for better things." Later in life, she devoted herself to promoting Catholic missions to Africa. In 2019, Pope Francis drew attention to the scourge of human trafficking on Saint Bakhitas feast day and called upon government leaders worldwide to intervene and stop the trafficking of persons. [2] She was one of the Daju people;[3][4] her respected and reasonably prosperous father was brother of the village chief. She used the flour to draw patterns on her skin and then she cut deeply along the lines before filling the wounds with salt to ensure permanent scarring. Newsletter Signup 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? She is venerated as a modern African saint, and as a statement against the brutal history of slavery. On 1 December 1978, Pope John Paul II declared Josephine Venerable, the first step towards canonization. Due to her family lineage, she grew up happy and relatively prosperous, saying that as a child, she did not know suffering. As punishment, she was beaten so severely she was incapacitated for a month. Sadly, the news of her beatification in 1992 was censored in Sudan. On the advice of their business agent Illuminato Cecchini, on 29 November 1888, Michieli left both in the care of the Canossian Sisters in Venice. In Pope Francis Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, we grasped the indications of a path, that is, of a school of humanity, defined in the words of Romano Guardini, who calls human fullness the possibility to live humanly, equally shared with all those who are in the same place (cf. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law. 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. Bakhita wished to stay in Italy when her owners readied for a relocation. Customer Service:cservice @franciscanmedia.org, Technical Questions:support @franciscanmedia.org, Writers GuidelinesPrivacy PolicyPost a Prayer RequestDonor Portal. Died: 1947 in Italy Suakin on the Red Sea was besieged but remained in Anglo-Egyptian hands. What happened to the Catholic Knights Hospitaller? At some point during her captivity she was given the name Bakhita, which is Arabic for fortunate., One of her early captors forced her to serve as a maid. During World War II, the people of the village of Schio regarded her as their protector. It is said that the trauma of her abduction caused her to forget her original name; she took one given to her by the slavers, bakhta (), Arabic for 'lucky' or 'fortunate'. With your help we can eradicate human trafficking in our lifetime. Her new family also had dealings in Sudan had when her mistress decided to travel to Sudan without Josephine, she placed her in the custody of the Canossian Sisters in Venice. In Venice, her story of ransom from slavery, the gift of her faith was well known. Bakhita was grateful for the kindness she discovered in the heart of those who were so different from her, but she could not remember [the location of] her village. Learn about their countries of origin, customs, and current needs. She told about how the general's wife ordered her to be scarred. [16] Two years later, when Legnani himself had to return to Italy, Bakhita begged to go with him. She was forced to walk barefoot about 960 kilometres (600mi) to El-Obeid and was sold and bought twice before she arrived there. The school was run by the Canossian Sisters. Seeing no one around, they linked hands and ran into the countryside as fast as their legs could go. She chose to remain with the Canossian Sisters. Read his story here. Her mistress spent three days trying to persuade her to leave the sisters, but Josephine remained steadfast. When Mrs. Michieli returned to fetch her daughter and the enslaved nanny, Josephine resolutely refused to leave the institute. Continue reading about St. Josephine Bakhita St. Josephine Bakhita St. Josephine Vannini This year, the liturgical feast of Saint Bakhita invited us to rediscover ourselves invited by life to the school of love, and of humanity. This decentralization from herself manifested a creative generosity; for this was already the beginning of a path of redemption that rooted altruism in her. Her trauma was so great that she forgot her birth name and her kidnappers gave her the name Bakhita which means fortunate. Born in Darfur in 1869, Josephine Bakhita was taken by Arab slave traders when she was 9. She was resold several times, finally in 1883 to Callisto Legnani, Italian consul in Khartoum, Sudan. Canonized: October 1, 2000. She also received the sacraments of her first holy communion and confirmation on the same day. Various testimonies have depicted her freely giving thanks, in order to free every creature, to educate to self-giving until death. Saint Josephine Bakhita is an African saint, who was born in Sudan around 1869, and died on 8 February 1947, in Italy. Those whom man enslaves, let God set free. She was tattooed with 114 deep cuts, which were filled with salt so that the design formed by the lip ofher scars remained; marks which remained white and stood out on her very black skin; the children, towhom she told her story, who are now elderly, still remember them. What a great grace it is to know God!. Bakhita became babysitter to Mimmina Michieli, whom she accompanied to Venices Institute of the Catechumens, run by the Canossian Sisters. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. How can you, your family, or an organization you belong to reach out in solidarity. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. Who are the immigrants in your local community? [25], Bakhita's legacy is that transformation is possible through suffering. Due to her family lineage, she grew up happy and relatively prosperous, saying that as a child, she did not know suffering. She was a source of encouragement. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law. All rights reserved. Her owners named her Bakhita, Arabic for lucky or fortunate. With the help of the Canossian Sisters, she won her freedom, became a Christian, and joined their order. On January 9, 1890, she was baptized and confirmed and received her first Holy Communion. You will need: colored construction . Today is Saturday," probably hoping that this would cheer her because Saturday is the day of the week dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus. Bakhita wanted to become a Christian, to receive baptism. Saint Josephine Margaret Bakhita was born around 1869 in the village of Olgossa in the Darfur region of Sudan. Beatified: May 17, 1992 by Pope John Paul II. Known as Mimmina, she was treated like a daughter by Bakhita. Death: February 8, 1947. What Do All Saints Day and Halloween Have in Common? She was a member of the Daju people and her uncle was a tribal chief. Spanish court to investigate artists for exhibiting blasphemous sculptures, Full text of Bishop Paul Coakleys pastoral letter on gender dysphoria, transgender movement, Hundreds of faithful gather in prayer for Pope Francis at Budapests oldest parish church, Pope Francis says he did not lose consciousness before hospitalization in March, Pope Francis warns of technological domination, threat to human ecology at university in Hungary, The Good Shepherd calls us to open our hearts to love, Pope Francis says at Mass in Hungary, TEXT: Dont be couch potatoes! Pope Francis urges youth. Although she was just a child, she was forced to walk barefoot over 600 miles to a slave market in El Obeid. Episcopal Church in the United States of America, "AFROL Background Josephine Bakhita an African Saint", "Canossian Daughters of Charity Who We Are", Black Catholic Theology: A Historical Perspective, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Josephine_Bakhita&oldid=1152154584, 20th-century Italian Roman Catholic religious sisters and nuns, Sudanese Roman Catholic religious sisters and nuns, Christian female saints of the Late Modern era, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using Template:Post-nominals with customized linking, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 1 October 2000, St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II, This page was last edited on 28 April 2023, at 15:04. If you donate just $5.00, or whatever you can, Catholic Online could keep thriving for years. 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. We do not know her exact birthdate, but we know that she was born in the village of Olgossa, which is near Darfur, Sudan. After the years of trauma that she endured, she did not remember the name her parents had given her and went by Bakhita from then on. 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. While Mimmina was being instructed, Josephine felt drawn to the Catholic Church. We serve youth, parents, and those on the frontlines of combatting human trafficking. Bakhita's skin underwent the painful and horrendous Sudanese custom of scarring slaves - where a pattern was cut into the skin with a razor. (ca. She is a shining ray of hope for human trafficking victims and an inspirational demonstration of how a victim can recover from their trauma and become whole again. Imitating Him, let us place our confidence not in riches, but in your love and embrace. Bakhita Charities is named after her. state of slavery; This caused the superior of the institute for baptismal candidates among the sisters to complain to Italian authorities on Josephine's behalf. Her first owner, a wealthy Arab, gave her to his daughters as a maid. 'Bakhita' was not the name she received from her parents at birth. Saint Magdalene of Canossa referred to Venice as a city of projects; also from Venice came Gods dream for Mother Bakhita, who arrived at the Canossian Institute. 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. Her owners named her Bakhita, Arabic for lucky or fortunate. Thank you. Saint Angela of Foligno's feast day is February 28. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Towards the end of her testimony at the canonization process, where she recounted her meetings with Mother Bakhita which inspired her first biography entitled Storia meravigliosa(Tale of Wonder) in 1931, she said: When I wrote the story of Bakhita I scrupulously followed the accounts and considerations that Mother Bakhita had told me in Venice. The most recent one known to us is the Casa Santa Giuseppina Bakhita"(Saint Josephine Bakhita House), dedicated as a temporary reception centre for women, located on the island of SantElena, in Venice. St. Josephine Bakhita Novena | Pray Catholic Novenas St. Josephine Bakhita, Virgin. Canonized: October 1, 2000 by Pope John Paul II. Where would she be taken? Historians believe that sometime in February 1877, Josephine was kidnapped by Arab slave traders. As she grew older, she experienced long, painful years of sickness, but she continued to persevere in hope, constantly choosing the good. [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. Josephine was born in the Daju village of Olgossa in Darfur. On 17 May 1992, she was declared Blessed and given 8 February as her feast day. Mother Moretta, universal sister, who is still speaking to us. Illuminato Checchini, administrator of the Michieli family, who had fatherly feelings for her, was waiting for her in Zianigo. a quick bio of st. josephine bakhita. An example followed by her successors, who pointed her out both to scholars and the poor, declaring her patroness of the victims and those who work to free people from all slavery, touching the flesh of Christ in those they serve. Our mistress stood behind us, whip in hand. A young student once asked Bakhita: "What would you do, if you were to meet your captors?" The Canossian Sisters went to court on her behalf and helped her obtain her freedom. and endured untold hardship and suffering. Today, we humbly ask you to defend Catholic Online's independence. As punishment for clumsiness, she was beaten so severely that she was incapacitated for a month and was sold again when she recovered. 98% of our readers don't give; they simply look the other way. Daily Prayer. Josephines body was mutilated by those who enslaved her, but they could not touch her spirit. 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. [20] A strong missionary drive animated her throughout her entire life "her mind was always on God, and her heart in Africa".[21]. 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 . Under their care, Josephine was drawn to the Roman Catholic Church. 6 Facts About St Josephine Bakhita. She has been adopted as the patron saint of modern Sudan and human trafficking survivors. In her later years, she began to suffer physical pain and was forced to use a wheelchair. By. Printable Catholic Saints PDFs. It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. She was eventually assigned to a convent in Schio, Vicenza. One of her owners was a Turkish general who gave her to his wife and mother-in-law who both beat her daily. She was given away to another family as a gift and she served them as a nanny. She was deeply moved by her time with the sisters and discerned a call to follow Christ. Mothers lifted her hands and placed them on the heads of their children, praying for her blessing. 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. Saint Josephine Bakhita- Patron Saint of Human Trafficking Vatican City, Feb 3, 2022 / 10:15 am (CNA). Spend some time reflecting on areas of your life where you are not free. Bakhita became devoted to the child. Mother Josephine Bakhita - Vatican 3) Her feast day marks an international day of prayer and awareness against human trafficking. This was the school of the Creator that she attended after the school of her family, which she always longed for. She was born around the year 1869 in the African country of Sudan, in the region of Darfur, in the city of Olgossa. We increase awareness and teach you how to intercept trafficking as early as possible. Due to her family lineage, she grew up happy and relatively prosperous, saying that as a child, she did not know suffering. 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. For had she not been kidnapped, she might never have come to know Jesus Christ and entered His Church. 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.
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