St. Josephine Bakhita Resources For Kids (Crafts, Printables, More!) Three fundamental passages: relationships are formed from an encounter which make us a people. She was a member of the Daju people and her uncle was a tribal chief. As a slave, her experiences varied from fair treatment to cruel. 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. Learn about their countries of origin, customs, and current needs. [26] On 10 February 1993, he solemnly honoured Bakhita on her own soil. For many years, Josephine Bakhita was a slave but her spirit was always free and eventually that spirit prevailed. Bakhita has come back to you. 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. But, she felt the separation to such an extent that with trembling lips and shining eyes she listened to the stories of the soldiers returning from Africa, informing her of their experience there, of the situation of her people. She was a member of the Daju people and her uncle was a tribal chief. Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. 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. a quick bio of st. josephine bakhita. During the ensuing court case, the Canossian Sisters and the patriarch of Venice intervened on Josephines behalf. Your email address will not be published. In 1958, the process of canonization began for Josephine under Pope John XXIII. Saint Josephine Margaret Bakhita was born around 1869 in the village of Olgossa in the Darfur region of Sudan . He canonized her on October 1, 2000. Amen. 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. Sculpture of Saint Josephine Bakhita, patron of human trafficking Bakhita became a nanny for her new family, and she and her young charge lived at the convent run by the Canossian Sisters in Venice. [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. Daughter of St. Magdalene. She also traveled and visited other convents telling her story to other sisters and preparing them for work in 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. Birth: 1869. 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 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. 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. She was gentle and charismatic, and was often referred to lovingly as the "little brown sister" or honorably as the "black mother.". She was deeply moved by her time with the sisters and discerned a call to follow Christ. She was sold not just once, but multiple times. Even while she was outwardly denied freedom and human dignity, her spirit was free. Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! They brought her back to Italy to work as a maid and care giver to their baby, Mimmina. 6 Facts About St Josephine Bakhita. She used to tell the teachers in the community "You teach catechism, I will stay in the chapel and pray for you that you may teach well.". Copyright 2023 Eternal Word Television Network, Inc. Irondale, Alabama. When she was on door duty, she would gently lay her hands on the heads of the children who attended the nearby school and caress them. What a great grace it is to know God!. [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]. Top 10 facts about Josephine THE Empress Josephine of France, first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, died 200 years ago today, on May 29, 1814. and endured untold hardship and suffering. She was eventually assigned to a convent in Schio, Vicenza. Saint Josephine Bakhita- Patron Saint of Human Trafficking [18] For the first time in her life, Bakhita found herself in control of her own destiny, and she chose to remain with the Canossians. She was known for her gentle voice and smile. A bronze sculpture of Saint Josephine Bakhita, patron of trafficking victims, will be installed in the Vatican. 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. St. Josephine Bakhita - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online 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. When it was time for him to return to Italy, she begged to be taken with him, and he agreed. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. 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. New Subscription The Patriarch of Venice was informed, and he sought the advice of the Kings attorney. These were her last audible words.[23]. [20], On 7 December 1893, Josephine Bakhita entered the novitiate of the Canossian Sisters and on 8 December 1896, she took her vows, welcomed by Cardinal Sarto. (Fortunata is the Latin translation for her Arabic name, Bakhita). 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 would suffer a total of 114 scars from this abuse. She spent so much time in captivity that she forgot her original name. In 2018, we published the testimonies of those who actually knew Mother Bakhita. Born: 1869 in Sudan Saint of the Day for Monday, May 1st, 2023. And although bombs fell on their village, not one citizen died. Born in Darfur in 1869, Josephine Bakhita was taken by Arab slave traders when she was 9. They ran through the wilderness all night, terrified of being caught and even more terrified of the roars of wild beasts; whenever the animals came too close, they took shelter in a tree. 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. Bakhita Charities for Southern Africa, Inc. 2014 by Bakhita Charities Created with wix.com, 2014 by Bakhita Charities Created with w. 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. She was a member of the Daju people and her uncle was a tribal chief. " Her life in captivity wasn't quite so. Mother Josephine Bakhita - Vatican It was that freedom of spirit that allowed her to follow her heart and live her true vocation. Our mistress stood behind us, whip in hand. During World War II, the people of the village of Schio regarded her as their protector. She then remained in the catechumenate for four more years. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Saint Gabriel Francis Possenti's feast day is February 28. According to Josephine, she had always known about God, who created all things, but she did not know who He was. (ca. She patiently suffered long painful years of sickness in her old age and continued to attest to Christian hope. 3) Her feast day marks an international day of prayer and awareness against human trafficking. 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. Bakhita wished to stay in Italy when her owners readied for a relocation. She was baptized and confirmed in 1890, taking the name Josephine. Saint John Cassian's feast day is February 29. She left Venice and arrived in Schio in 1902, after simply replying: Yes, Father, to the question concerning her transfer. Help all survivors find healing from their wounds. Two years later, he took Josephine to Italy and gave her to his friend Augusto Michieli. But she always remained cheerful. 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. 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. Yes, she is a Catholic saint, but her story can serve as an inspiration to all, no matter what their religious beliefs may be. St. Josephine Bakhita - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online 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. . She was loved by many in the city and was a bastion of comfort during the trials and bombings of World War II. You can read more about Elizabeth on her ATI leadership profile page. Slavery was illegal in Italy, so Bakhita was able to leave her Italian owners and follow Gods calling for her. Corrections? [14] In May 1992, news of her beatification was banned by Khartoum which Pope John Paul II visited nine months later. When a wound from the whip began to heal, other blows would pour down on me. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. She was beatified on 17 May 1992 and canonized on 1 October 2000. It was then that we felt how in these years the passage from testimony to devotion was taking place. Saint Josephine Bakhita | EWTN 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. For the event, some Canossian sisters travelled from Verona to hold a vigil with young people [with the theme]: A light in the night against human trafficking. Bakhita became babysitter to Mimmina Michieli, whom she accompanied to Venices Institute of the Catechumens, run by the Canossian Sisters. There, cared for and instructed by the Sisters, Bakhita encountered Christianity for the first time. The figure pointed the way to go, and Bakhita led her companion in that direction. 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. Gift Subscription Her new owners took her to their family villa at Zianigo, near Mirano, Veneto, about 25km (16mi) west of Venice. He was a much kinder master and he did not beat her. Under their care, Josephine was drawn to the Roman Catholic Church. She died on 8 February 1947 in the country of Italy, in the city of Vincenza. Each ofATIs initiatives equips you in the fight against human traffickingby providing focused resources developed by survivors as well as experts with firsthand experience. In 2000, she was declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. She was baptized on January 9, 1890 and took the name Josephine Margaret and Fortunata. 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. [11] She lived there for three years and became nanny to the Michieli's daughter Alice, known as 'Mimmina', born in February 1886. Josephine Bakhita was born around 1869 in Darfur (now in western Sudan). With the help of the Canossian Sisters, she won her freedom, became a Christian, and joined their order. By the end of 1882, El-Obeid came under the threat of an attack of Mahdist revolutionaries. Renew Your Subscription Printable Catholic Saints PDFs. But that was not the end of her story. and faith. Finally in possession of her human autonomy for the first time in her adult life, Josephine chose to remain with the Canossian Sisters. She became a Canossian nun in December 1896 and remained at the convent for another 42 years. She even received a new name at her baptism: Josephine Margaret Bakhita. Bakhita wished to stay in Italy when her owners readied for a relocation. Saint Katharine Drexel was a contemplative in action whose work serving the poor inspires us today. Thus, from 13 to 16 years old she experienced a Christian welcome and civil respect. Bakhita replied, "Yes, I am so happy: Our Lady Our Lady!" Saint Bakhita lived long ago. Surrounded by the sisters, she died at age 78. Her historical experience suggests anthropological and spiritual reflections that amazingly manifest the divine imprint of the Creator in a good heart which the harshness of slavery, torture and tireless work have revealed almost as a precious metal purified by fire. 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. It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. 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. . 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. She had freely chosen to belong to God, by whom she felt loved, and accepted once again the separation from those she loved. Bakhita became devoted to the child. But she always remained cheerful. Caritas Bakhita House in London, which provides accommodation and support for women escaping human trafficking, is named in her honour. Because, if those things had not happened, I would not have become a Christian and would not be a Sister today.. We partner with people like you. One of her owners was a Turkish general who gave her to his wife and mother-in-law who both beat her daily. 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. Saint Bakhita lived long ago. [6][7][8] She was also forcibly converted to Islam. Something maybe not as well-known about St. Josephine Bakhita is that her body was scarred all over. 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. Bakhita's skin underwent the painful and horrendous Sudanese custom of scarring slaves - where a pattern was cut into the skin with a razor. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. What happened to the Catholic Knights Hospitaller? St. Josephine Bakhita - Information on the Saint of the Day - Vatican News Bakhita converted to Christianity and was baptized and confirmed in 1890. In 1883 she was sold to an Italian consul in Khartoum, Callisto Legnani, who treated her more humanely. Known as Mimmina, she was treated like a daughter by Bakhita. As a slave, her experiences varied from fair treatment to cruel. Bilinge: Encontrando a Dios / Finding God, Encontrando a Dios / Finding God (Espaol), Encontrando a Dios / Finding God (English), Catequistas Y Maestros / Catechists & Teachers, En El Orden Restaurado: Descripcion Del Programa, Nuestra Seora De GuadalupeOur Lady of Guadalupe. [19] On 9 January 1890, Bakhita was baptized with the names of 'Josephine Margaret' and 'Fortunata' (the Latin translation of the Arabic Bakhita). When the Michielis returned from Africa and wanted to take Mimmina and Josephine back with them, the future saint refused to go. Those whom man enslaves, let God set free. Josephine Bakhita - Wikipedia The girls passed long hours telling one another about their families and how they had been kidnapped. 3) Her feast day marks an international day of prayer and awareness against human trafficking. Stay up to date with the latest news, information, and special offers. The day when her life turned into a nightmare, that terrified 9-year-old girl forgot everything, even her . She was beatified on May 17, 1992, by Pope John Paul II and canonized by him on October 1, 2000. LIVED: Bakhita was born in 1869 in Sudan. She was of the Daju people; her respected and reasonably prosperous father was a brother of the village chief. Died: 1947 in Italy The consul was her guarantee. St. Josephine Bakhita - Catholic World Report Oh St. Bakhita, assist all those who are trapped in a Bakhita remained in the catechumenate where she experienced the call . By William Hartston 00:00, Thu, May 29, 2014 Bookmark. Her Baptism set her on an eventual path toward asserting her civic freedom and then service to Gods people as a Canossian Sister. 98% of our readers don't give; they simply look the other way. In 2000, she was declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. Shop St. Josephine Bakhita. These three sacraments are the sacraments of initiation into the Church and were always given together in the early Church. At her canonization ceremony on October 1, 2000, Pope John Paul II said of St. Josephine: In todays world, countless women continue to be victimized, even in developed modern societies. Author and Publisher - Catholic Online. At the age of 13 she was sold to a Turkish general and every day his mistresses punished her with whips and beatings. Over the next decade of enslavement, Josephine was passed from owner to owner, bought and sold so many times that she forgot her birth name. He was a much kinder master and he did not beat her. 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. Saint Josephine Margaret Bakhita was born around 1869 in the village of Olgossa in the Darfur region of Sudan. The Canossian Sisters went to court on her behalf and helped her obtain her freedom. By the end of 1888, Turina Michieli wanted to see her husband in Sudan even though land transactions were unfinished. St. Josephine Bakhita - Catholic News Agency The sisters answered her questions. 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. Whether airline employees, medical professionals, teachers, social workers, law enforcement, or businesses,ATI stops trafficking before it startsby partnering with you at the community-level toeliminate the threat. She is also a patron saint for victims of slavery and trafficked persons. According to Josephine, she had always known about God, who created all things, but she did not know who He was. 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. 1751 Pinnacle Drive Suite 600 | McLean, Virginia 22102, National Human Trafficking Intelligence Center, Parent Coalition to End Human Trafficking. 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. Where would she be taken? Everyone plays a rolein helping to end human trafficking. Although the figure led Bakhita and her friend safely out of the wilderness, the girls were caught by another slaver late the next day and sold on. On the evening of February 8, 1947, Josephine spoke her last words, "Our Lady, Our Lady!" Saint Josephine Bakhita | Franciscan Media All rights reserved. Josephines body was mutilated by those who enslaved her, but they could not touch her spirit. She was forced to walk barefoot about 960 kilometres (600mi) to El-Obeid and was sold and bought twice before she arrived there. 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. Bakhita was baptized in January 1890 and took the name Josephine. For had she not been kidnapped, she might never have come to know Jesus Christ and entered His Church. 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'. so that they will be released from their chains of captivity. Bakhita: From Slave to Saint, p. 81. Saint Josephine Margaret Bakhita was born around 1869 in the village of Olgossa in the Darfur region of Sudan . Born in the village of Olgossa (Darfur, Sudan) in 1869, Bakhita had a twin sister, she was loved and she lived peacefully. Of that traumatic mutilation she reportedly said, I thought I would die, especially when salt was poured in the woundsit was by a miracle of God I didnt die. 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. Alice Michieli was born in Zianigo, the municipality of Mirano in the Veneto region, in 1886. As she said: If I were to meet those who kidnapped me, or even those who tortured me, I would kneel down and kiss their hands. Intercede with God on their behalf The woman had a dish of white flour, a dish of salt and a razor. In 2000, she was declared a saint, the first Black woman to receive the honor in the modern era. Free with the freedom of the saints. ATIs tools are designed to ensure that your efforts deliver effective results. Mothers lifted her hands and placed them on the heads of their children, praying for her blessing. When Bakhita was seven or eight, Arab slave traders kidnapped her and sold her into slavery. Seeing no one around, they linked hands and ran into the countryside as fast as their legs could go. 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. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited. 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. 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. Privacy Statement, Five ways for parents to prepare children for First Holy Communion, Four quick and crafty ways to celebrate Thanksgiving with Catholic kids, 9 tips for a successful family prayer time. Most people donate because Catholic Online is useful. 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. But just nine months later, Pope John Paul II visited Sudan and honored her publicly. Saint Josephine Bakhita, pray for us. The Canossian Sisters went to court on her behalf and helped her obtain her freedom. state of slavery; We rejoiced to learn that the human integration centre in Cerignola is dedicated to her. Continue reading about St. Josephine Bakhita St. Josephine Bakhita St. Josephine Vannini St. Josephine Bakhita, in full Josephine Margaret Bakhita, also called Mother Josephine Bakhita, (born c. 1869, Olgossa, Darfur (now in Sudan)died February 8, 1947, Schio, Italy; canonized October 1, 2000; feast day February 8), Sudanese-born Roman Catholic saint who survived kidnapping and enslavement. She was bought and sold at least twice during the grueling journey. Her body lay on display for three days afterwards. When Pope Francis enlightens us on social justice, to give us the joy of the Gospel, he seems to illustrate the program already carried out by Saint Bakhita that uses the word humanity to describe what, instead, was inhuman, such as the treatment of slaves. Permission Guidelines She told about how the general's wife ordered her to be scarred. Faith can be an important component in the road to recovery for many survivors, as was the case for Bakhita. 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. The greatest revelation of such love was forgiveness, which was expressed with gratitude in grasping Gods Providence in the traumas of the experience of being kidnapped as a child and the inhuman life that followed. She arrived in Italy for the first time. It seemed that Bakhita had failed in her quest for freedom. Saint Josephine Bakhita Saint stories - Teaching Catholic Kids Bakhita Charities is named after her. 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. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. She rubbed the wounds with salt to make the scars permanent. Imitating Him, let us place our confidence not in riches, but in your love and embrace. Birth: 1869. She was eventually assigned to a convent in Schio. On February 8, the Church commemorates the life of St. Josephine Bakhita, a Canossian Sister who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Sudan. If you are one of our rare donors, you have our gratitude and we warmly thank you. 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. Her mistress spent three days trying to persuade her to leave the sisters, but Josephine remained steadfast. This African flower, who knew the anguish of kidnapping and slavery, bloomed marvelously in Italy, in response to God's grace, with the Daughters of Charity. 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. 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. Newsletter Signup Omissions? 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. Read his story here. For the next 12 years she would be bought, sold and given away over a dozen times. MISSION: As a girl, Bakhita would look up at the moon and stars, resolving to serve their Master. Death: February 8, 1947. Who is St. Josephine Bakhita? 5 Lessons from a 20th Century Saint - FOCUS She was also known as Mother Moretta, our Black Mother. Josephine wrote that as soon as one wound would heal, they would inflict another. Thank you. Six years later she entered the Canossian Sisters convent in Schio, Italy. St. Josephine Bakhita, in full Josephine Margaret Bakhita, also called Mother Josephine Bakhita, (born c. 1869, Olgossa, Darfur (now in Sudan)died February 8, 1947, Schio, Italy; canonized October 1, 2000; feast day February 8), Sudanese-born Roman Catholic saint who survived kidnapping and enslavement. -Her friendly voice -The way that she thought about death She was born around the year 1869 in the African country of Sudan, in the region of Darfur, in the city of Olgossa. She had brothers, sisters, and loving parents. Illuminato Checchini, administrator of the Michieli family, who had fatherly feelings for her, was waiting for her in Zianigo. If anyone asked her how she was, she would reply, "As the master desires.".