Josephine Bakhita

Feast Day: 8^th February

Josephine Bakhita was a Sudanese woman who was kidnapped and enslaved for 12 years. During these years she was treated extremely violently on occasions. She spent so many years in captivity that she forgot her real name.

Whilst with one of her last employers, she spent some time in an Italian convent and felt a call to Christ while there. She refused to leave the convent when her mistress returned and went through a court case to be allowed to stay.

It was proved that before she became a slave, the slave trade had been abolished in Sudan and, therefore, the mistress had no control over her to make her a slave. St Josephine said she wanted to thank her kidnappers because without them, she would not have heard the call from the Lord.

St Josephine inspires us because of her willingness to forgive even the most violent of treatment, to see the best in all situations, and her integrity to fight for what she knows the Lord is calling her to.

Forgiveness, Endurance, Gentleness and Courage

Prayer to St Josephine Bakhita

Loving God, rewarder of the humble, you blessed St. Josephine Bakhita with charity and patience. May her prayers help us, and her example inspire us to carry our cross and to love you always. Pour upon us the spirit of wisdom and love with which you filled St. Josephine Bakhita

Amen