Remembering St. Josephine Bakhita: From Slavery to Sainthood

St. Josephine Bakhita: From Slavery to Sainthood

On February 8, the Church commemorates the life of St. Josephine Bakhita, a remarkable woman who went from being kidnapped and sold into slavery in Sudan to becoming a beloved Canossian Sister and eventually a saint.

Born in 1869 in Sudan, Josephine Bakhita was just a young girl when she was taken from her family and forced into a life of slavery. Her captors gave her the name “Bakhita,” meaning “fortunate,” though her early years were anything but fortunate. She endured unimaginable suffering at the hands of her various owners, including being branded, beaten, and cut.

Despite the horrors she faced, Bakhita maintained a sense of awe and wonder at the world around her, feeling a deep desire to know the creator of the sun, moon, and stars. It was this longing for something greater that eventually led her to the Catholic Church.

After being sold multiple times, Bakhita was eventually purchased by an Italian consul who brought her to Italy. There, she found freedom and a new life as she worked as a nanny for a colleague’s daughter and eventually entered the Canossian Sisters.

Known for her smile, gentleness, and holiness, Bakhita dedicated her life to serving others and teaching them to love God. Despite the trauma she endured, she harbored no bitterness towards her captors, expressing a willingness to forgive them and even show them kindness.

In 1992, St. Josephine Bakhita was beatified, and in 2000, she was canonized by Pope John Paul II, becoming the first person from Sudan to be recognized as a saint. She now serves as the patron saint of her home country, a shining example of faith, forgiveness, and resilience in the face of adversity.