WALKING WITH THE SAINTS l FEAST OF ST. JOSEPHINE BAKHITA, PATRON SAINT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING l FEBRUARY 8

WALKING WITH THE SAINTS l FEAST OF ST. JOSEPHINE BAKHITA, PATRON SAINT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING l FEBRUARY 8 “Suffering is an instrument of transformation and sanctity.” These words are fittingly applied to our saint for today, St. Josephine Bakhita, who experienced a lot of sufferings but accepted them all in patience and humility. Josephine came from a respected family in Dafur, now in western Sudan. Born in a large family with three brothers and three sisters around 1869, she lived a happy and carefree life. In 1877, however, when she was about 8 years old, she was kidnapped by Arab slave traders. She was chained, made to walk 960 kilometers to El Obeid and was sold twice before reaching the place. In a course of twelve years she was sold three more times and was forced to accept the Muslim religion. Her fourth owner was a Turkish general whose wife and children maltreated and wounded her. She said that the most terrifying experience she had was, when together with other slaves, she received the tattoes. She was sliced on her breast, belly and right arm. In 1883, her Turkish master sold her to an Italian Vice Consul to Khartuom, Sudan, who gave her to his friend Augusto Michieli.  She was brought to their family villa in Veneto, 25 kilometers west of Venice, and lived there for three years as nanny to his daughter; and the new family treated her kindly. When the Michieli’s wife went to Sudan for their business affairs, she left Josephine and her daughter for a while in the convent of the Canossians. Upon her return to take her daughter, Josephine refused to go with them. Her teachers contacted the Patriarch of Venice who ruled out that since slavery is unconstitutional in Italy, Josephine can be legally free from her master. She therefore remained with the Sisters and on January 9, 1890, she was baptized, confirmed and received Holy Communion from Archbishop Giuseppe Sarto, future Pope Pius X. According to her story, she forgot her real name due to her trauma and was given the name Bakhita, Arabic for fortunate. Josephine joined the Sisters at the Institute of St. Magdalene of Canossa to become a nun. She entered the novitiate on December 7, 1893 and, took her first vows on December 8, 1896. In 1902, she was assigned to the convent at Schio, in the Italian province of Vicenza. During her 42 years there, she worked as cook, sacristan, portress and was in frequent contact with the people. The Canossian Sisters noticed the special charisma of St. Josephine, so she was also assigned to visit the communities of the Sisters and to prepare young Sisters for work in Africa. A strong love for the mission animated her whole life. She was described as one “whose mind was always on God, and her heart in African mission.” The people of Vicenza called her “Sor Moretta” (little black sister) or “Madre Moretta” (black mother). In 1931, her life story entitled Storia Meravigliosa, written by Ida Zanolini was published and it made her famous throughout Italy. During her old age, she used a wheelchair and her life was marked with illness and pains but she remained cheerful. When asked about her kidnappers, she said she would kiss their feet because through them she was blessed with many graces.  Her last words before dying were “Our Lady! Our Lady.” It was February 8, 1947. During the three days that her body was in repose, thousands of people came to pay their respect. Later, her remains were transferred to the Church of the Holy Family of the Canossians of Schio in 1969. She was beatified on May 17, 1992 and canonized on October 1, 2000.  Virtue: faith, humility, innocence, kindness, patience, forgiveness, long-suffering and charity         Prayer: “O St. Bakhita, assist all those who are trapped in a state of slavery and give comfort to survivors of captivity. Let them look to you as an example of hope and faith.