Bakhita herself never mentions this incident. She was taken as a slave in her early life by Arab traders and suffered a difficult life, until her eventual freedom in Italy. With your help we can eradicate human trafficking in our lifetime. Various testimonies have depicted her freely giving thanks, in order to free every creature, to educate to self-giving until death. The Michielis brought Bakhita with them back to the Sudan where they stayed for nine months before returning to Italy. -. Activity: The Kindness Chain. She also traveled and visited other convents telling her story to other sisters and preparing them for work in Africa. He had destined me for better things." 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. In 2000, she was declared a saint, the first Black woman to receive the honor in the modern era. Josephine was declared free on the grounds that slavery was not recognized in Italy and had been outlawed in Darfur before her birth. They travelled a risky 650-kilometre (400mi) trip on camelback to Suakin, which was the largest port of Sudan. 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. a quick bio of st. josephine bakhita. 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. 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. Through Christ Our Lord. 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. [28], Josephine Margaret Bakhita is honored with a Lesser Feast on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America,[1] also on 8 February.[29]. Biography [ edit] Early life [ edit] If anyone asked her how she was, she would reply, "As the master desires.". "Rejoice, all of Africa! 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.. Bakhita converted to Christianity and was baptized and confirmed in 1890. She was also known as Mother Moretta, our Black Mother. In St. Josephine Bakhita we find a shining advocate of genuine emancipation. Before long, they were planning an escape. The Pope prayed to Saint Bakhita and asked that she intercede and assist trafficking victims. In 2018, we published the testimonies of those who actually knew Mother Bakhita. Bakhita wished to stay in Italy when her owners readied for a relocation. On December 1st, 1978, Pope John Paul II declared her venerable. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. It was during this time that she was introduced to formal religion and came to know the Daughters of Charity of Canossa, or the Canossian Sisters. Printable Catholic Saints PDFs. 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. Everything in her reveals an inner order, a reflection of a healthy and good nature. She is also a patron saint for victims of slavery and trafficked persons. Bakhita became babysitter to Mimmina Michieli, whom she accompanied to Venices Institute of the Catechumens, run by the Canossian Sisters. Bakhita came to believe it was her guardian angel, who stayed with her all along, guiding her to God. Bakhita wanted to become a Christian, to receive baptism. He eventually took her to Italy and gave her to the Michieli family to serve as a nanny. Meet St. Josephine Bakhita! Venezuelan migrant thanks God, recounts journey through dangerous jungle to U.S. She was sold not just once, but multiple times. In 2000, she was declared a saint, the first Black woman to receive the honor in the modern era. Printable Catholic Saints PDFs 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. Our universal sister was given back to us. She and other enslaved women were forced to undergo a traditional Sudanese practice that left her permanently scarred with 114 patterns cut into her skin and rubbed with salt and flour. She said, "A woman skilled in this cruel art came to the general's house. But just nine months later, Pope John Paul II visited Sudan and honored her publicly. Imitating Him, let us place our confidence not in riches, but in your love and embrace. Who are the immigrants in your local community? She was a member of the Daju people and her uncle was a tribal chief. Thank you. Author and Publisher - Catholic Online. Pay Your Bill, SUBSCRIBE TO OSV KIDS Saint Josephine Margaret Bakhita was born around 1869 in the village of Olgossa in the Darfur region of Sudan. " Her life in captivity wasn't quite so. 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. 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 was kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery, eventually working in Italy as a nanny for a wealthy family. Josephine was born in the Daju village of Olgossa in Darfur. Historians believe that sometime in February 1877, Josephine was kidnapped by Arab slave traders. Saint Josephine Bakhita was born to a wealthy family in Sudan in 1869. She was bought and sold at least twice during the grueling journey. Indeed, she spent twelve years in cruel slavery. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law. Her fourth owner was a Turkish general, and she had to serve his mother-in-law and his wife, who were cruel to their slaves. On the evening of February 8, 1947, Josephine spoke her last words, "Our Lady, Our Lady!" Birth: 1869. He was a much kinder master and he did not beat her. -Her friendly voice -The way that she thought about death 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. In the slave markets, where she was put up for sale, she always hoped to recognize her sister who had been kidnapped two years before her. Alice Michieli was born in Zianigo, the municipality of Mirano in the Veneto region, in 1886. Learn about their countries of origin, customs, and current needs. (ca. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Read his story here. She was baptized on January 9, 1890 and took the name Josephine Margaret and Fortunata. Someone asked her, "How are you? Free with the freedom of the saints. Josephine celebrated the sacraments of initiation, receiving the name Josephine. For the next 42 years of her life, she worked as a cook and a doorkeeper at the convent. Saints for kids, Two Suitcases: The Story of St. Josephine Bakhita. For three days, her body lay in repose while thousands of people arrived to pay their respects. [9], In El-Obeid, Bakhita was bought by a rich Arab who used her as a maid for his two daughters. Her story is noteworthy. Illuminato Checchini, administrator of the Michieli family, who had fatherly feelings for her, was waiting for her in Zianigo. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. Pope John Paul II canonized Josephine Bakhita in 2000. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Josephine-Bakhita, Pope Francis venerating St. Josephine Bakhita. Bakhita became devoted to the child. Daughter of St. Magdalene. The Archbishop who gave her the sacraments was none other than Giusseppe Sarto, the Cardinal Patriarch of Venice, who would later become Pope Pius X. Josephine became a novice with the CanossianDaughters of Charity religious order on December 7, 1893, and took her final vows on December 8, 1896. If you donate just $5.00, or whatever you can, Catholic Online could keep thriving for years. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. In 1883 she was sold to an Italian consul in Khartoum, Callisto Legnani, who treated her more humanely. She was eventually assigned to a convent in Schio, Vicenza. Saint Bakhita lived long ago. She rubbed the wounds with salt to make the scars permanent. During World War II, the people of the village of Schio regarded her as their protector. She left Suakin, then a flourishing port on the Red Sea, and arrived in Genoa where she witnessed what Italian migrants, leaving the same port to look for work, would experience on their arrival in foreign lands. She was baptized on January 9, 1890 and took the name Josephine Margaret and Fortunata. Shop St. Josephine Bakhita. 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. Once liberated from your physical enslavement, Saint Bakhitas feast day is celebrated on February 8. Josephines body was mutilated by those who enslaved her, but they could not touch her spirit. Finally in possession of her human autonomy for the first time in her adult life, Josephine chose to remain with the Canossian Sisters. / Holy See Press Office. Her voice was pleasing to the little ones, comforting to the poor and suffering. I had then the confused feeling that, since she was an extraordinary soul, my writing would sooner or later be useful, thinking that in time the Church would take this story and this extraordinary soul into account (cf. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 2) The name 'Bakhita' was given to her by her ensalver, it means "lucky" or "fortunate". Mother Josephine Bakhita was born in Sudan in 1869 and died in Schio (Vicenza) in 1947. The Archbishop who gave her the sacraments was none other than Giusseppe Sarto, the Cardinal Patriarch of Venice, who would later become Pope Pius X. Josephine became a novice with the CanossianDaughters of Charity religious order on December 7, 1893, and took her final vows on December 8, 1896. and endured untold hardship and suffering. As punishment, she was beaten so severely she was incapacitated for a month. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. It was then that we felt how in these years the passage from testimony to devotion was taking place. The Canossian Sisters went to court on her behalf and helped her obtain her freedom. She became a Canossian nun in December 1896 and remained at the convent for another 42 years. Bakhita is a saint in the Catholic Church. In her final days she relived the agony of her enslavement and is said to have called out, Please, loosen the chains. When speaking of her enslavement, she often professed she would thank her kidnappers. The judge concluded that since slavery was illegal in Italy, she had actually been free since 1885. Her black skin revealed different ancestry and a different life experience. To all our readers, Please don't scroll past this. She died on 8 February 1947 in the country of Italy, in the city of Vincenza. 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. She was often beaten and kicked and whipped. Sharing the Word for May 1, 2023 Fourth Week of Easter Year 1. She then remained in the catechumenate for four more years. 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. Bombs did not spare Schio, but the war passed without a single casualty. Corrections? 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. She was gentle and charismatic, and was often referred to lovingly as the "little brown sister" or honorably as the "black mother.". LIVED: Bakhita was born in 1869 in Sudan. How might God be calling you to greater freedom in this area? Canonized: October 1, 2000 by Pope John Paul II. Died: 1947 in Italy Faith can be an important component in the road to recovery for many survivors, as was the case for Bakhita. There, cared for and instructed by the Sisters, Bakhita encountered Christianity for the first time. Born in Darfur in 1869, Josephine Bakhita was taken by Arab slave traders when she was 9. Caritas Bakhita House in London, which provides accommodation and support for women escaping human trafficking, is named in her honour. For had she not been kidnapped, she might never have come to know Jesus Christ and entered His Church. She left Venice and arrived in Schio in 1902, after simply replying: Yes, Father, to the question concerning her transfer. 1) Sudanese-Italian Canossian nun who survived 12 years of brutal slavery. The Canossian Sisters went to court on her behalf and helped her obtain her freedom. On 29 November 1889, at the Catechumens, something similar to a trial took place regarding her choice not to return to the life of slavery, and she was declared free. Her Baptism set her on an eventual path toward asserting her civic freedom and then service to Gods people as a Canossian Sister. 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. 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. Her owners named her Bakhita, Arabic for lucky or fortunate. Saint Josephine, affectionately known as Bakhita (fortunate one), was born in the southern Sudan region of Darfur. For had she not been kidnapped, she might never have come to know Jesus Christ and entered His Church. But she always remained cheerful. In Venice, her story of ransom from slavery, the gift of her faith was well known. Josephine wrote that as soon as one wound would heal, they would inflict another. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Saint Josephine Bakhita is the patron saint of Sudan and her feast day is celebrated on February 8. Evangelii Gaudium, n. 224). Due to her family lineage, she grew up happy and relatively prosperous, saying that as a child, she did not know suffering. "[10], She once said that the most terrifying of all of her memories there was when she (along with other slaves) was marked by a process resembling both scarification and tattooing, which was a traditional practice throughout Sudan. By William Hartston 00:00, Thu, May 29, 2014 Bookmark. In the new house in Schio she found herself dressed like the other Canossian sisters, but so different from them as to arouse curiosity and the desire to meet her. Mothers lifted her hands and placed them on the heads of their children, praying for her blessing. Amen. Now she looked to the sky for guidance once morebut this time, to her surprise, she saw a beautiful figure, bathed in light and smiling at her. Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited. And although bombs fell on their village, not one citizen died. 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. If anyone asked her how she was, she would reply, "As the master desires.". Learn more about Saint Josephine Bakhita! Her only extended time away was between 1935 and 1939, when she stayed at the Missionary Novitiate in Vimercate (Milan); mostly visiting other Canossian communities in Italy, talking about her experiences and helping to prepare young sisters for work in Africa. She was deeply moved by her time with the sisters and discerned a call to follow Christ. Renew your gift subscription Her body lay on display for three days afterwards. 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. 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. 29-32. It is interesting what Ida Zanolini, a lay Canossian woman who published Mother Bakhitas first biography, wrote about her. 1751 Pinnacle Drive Suite 600 | McLean, Virginia 22102, National Human Trafficking Intelligence Center, Parent Coalition to End Human Trafficking.
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