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Saint Josephine Bakhita (Credit : Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

The story of St. Josephine Bakhita, the Sudanese slave who became a Canossian Sister, is one of the most extraordinary tales of oppression and redemption in the Church. This saint from Darfur in South Sudan, who lived between the 19th and 20th centuries, went from chains and torture to the service of the Gospel.

Early Life and Slavery

Born in Olgossa in the Darfur region of southern Sudan in 1869, Josephine was kidnapped at the age of 7, sold into slavery and given the name Bakhita, which means fortunate. She was resold several times, finally in 1883 to Callisto Legnani, Italian consul in Khartoum, Sudan.

Two years later, he took Josephine to Italy and gave her to his friend Augusto Michieli. Bakhita became babysitter to Mimmina Michieli, whom she accompanied to Venice’s Institute of the Catechumens, run by the Canossian Sisters. While Mimmina was being instructed, Josephine felt drawn to the Catholic Church. She was baptized and confirmed in 1890, taking the name Josephine.

Freedom from Slavery

When the Michielis returned from Africa and wanted to take Mimmina and Josephine back with them, the future saint refused to go. During the ensuing court case, the Canossian Sisters and the patriarch of Venice intervened on Josephine’s behalf. The judge concluded that since slavery was illegal in Italy, she had actually been free since 1885.

Religious Life

Josephine entered the Institute of St. Magdalene of Canossa in 1893 and made her profession three years later. In 1902, she was transferred to the city of Schio (northeast of Verona), where she assisted her religious community through cooking, sewing, embroidery, and welcoming visitors at the door. She soon became well loved by the children attending the sisters’ school and the local citizens. She once said, “Be good, love the Lord, pray for those who do not know Him. What a great grace it is to know God!”

Josephine worked under many “masters” was finally happy to address God as “master” and carry out everything that she believed to be God’s will for her.

Death & Legacy

Josephine Bakhita died of pneumonia on February 8, 1947, leaving all Schio in mourning.

The first steps toward her beatification began in 1959. She was beatified in 1992 by Pope John Paul II and was canonized in 2000 by the same pope, becoming the first female black Catholic saint in the modern era.

St. Josephine Bakhita is the Catholic patron saint of victims of modern slavery and human trafficking celebrated on February 8. The day is also observed as the World Day of Prayer and Reflection Against Human Trafficking, established by Pope Francis in 2015.

Article by Catholic Time Staff