About St. Bakhita

Bakhita was born somewhere between 1869 and 1870 (Marthaler, 2003) in the Dufar district of Sudan and before she was barely even 7 years old she was kidnapped by Arab salve traders (Cunningham, 2003). "Bakhita" which means "lucky one" (Marthaler, 2003) or "fortunate one" is treated as her surname, however it was not the name she received from her parents at birth. The terrible experiences and fright of what she faced as a child made her forget the name her parents gave her and so Bakhita was given to her by her kidnappers (www.vatican.va).

She was sold and resold in the markets of El Obeid (Cunningham, 2003; www.vatican.va) and Khartoum and experienced that humiliations and sufferings, both physically and morally, of slavery (www.vatican.va).  An example of that was when she was sold one of those times to a Turkish military officer who left her with 114 razor-cut scars (Cunningham, 2003). She was eventually bought by the Italian Consul, Callisto Legnani (www.vatican.va; Marthaler, 2003) at the age of 12 (Marthaler, 2003) and for the first time was treated by her owner in a loving and friendly way. In her time at the Consul's home, Bakhita experienced peace, warmth and moments of joy (www.vatican.va).

The Legnani family were forced to return to Italy in 1885 (Canningham, 2003). On arrival in Genoa, Legnani, through pressure from the wife of his friend Mr Michieli, agreed to leave Bakhita with them. She followed the new "family" around and when their daughter, Mimmina was born, Bakhita became her nanny and friend (www.vatican.va; Marthaler, 2003).

Bakhita was enrolled in a Catholic school as a companion to Michieli's daughter in 1889 (Cunningham, 2003) and when the family returned to Africa to manage a new hotel, they entrusted their daughter and Bakhita to the Canossian Sisters in Venice (Marthaler, 2003; www.vatican.va). It was there that Bakhita came to know about God and was formally introduced to the faith (Marthaler, 2003; www.vatican.va). Several months later on January 9, 1890, Bakhita was baptized Josephine, confirmed and received her first Communion (Marthaler, 2003; www.vatican.va ; Cunningham, 2003).

It was with the Canossian sisters that Bakhita was able to develop a close relationship with God which was nourished by her wonder at the beauty of the natural world. "Seeing the sun, the moon and the stars, I said to myself: (www.vatican.va) who could be the master of these beautiful thing? And I felt a great desire to see Him, to know Him and to pay Him homage." (www.vatican.va; Cunningham, 2003, p. 57).

When the Michielis returned from Africa to take back their daughter and Bakhita, she firmly expressed her desire to stay with the Canossian Sisters (Marthaler, 2003; www.vatican.va). Mrs Michieli claimed ownership, however an Italian judge's interpretation of Sudan's ani-slavery laws freed her (Marthaler, 2003; www.vatican.va; Cunningham, 2003).

On December 8, 1896, Bakhita entered the novitiate (Marthaler, 2003; www.vatican.va). For 50 years, this humble Daughter of Charity, a true witness to the love of God, (www.vatican.va) lived in the communities of Venice, Verona (1896-1902) and Schio (1902-47), (Marthaler, 2003) where she spent her vowed life as a doorkeeper, cook, seamstress and embroiderer (Marthaler, 2003; www.vatican.va; Cunningham, 2003).

She was much-loved by the students who attended the Canossian schools for her sweet nature and musical voice (Marthaler, 2003). When she greeted them at the door, she would lay he hand on their heads and caress them. Her friendly voice was one which reflected the rhythm and music of her country and was comforting to those whom she met (www.vatican.va).

As she grew older she experienced long painful years of sickness (www.vatican.va) and contracted pneumonia (Cunningham, 2003). In her final days she re-lived the terrible days of her childhood when she was linked together in chains with other slaves and on more than one occasion Bakhita's nurse heard he beg: "Please, loosen the chains . . . they are heavy!" (Cunningham, 2003; www.vatican.va). Finally, on February 8 1974 (Marthaler, 2003; www.vatican.va), surrounded by the Sisters, "our Black Mother" (Mother Moretta) breathed her last (www.vatican.va).

The process of beatification began 12 years after her death and on October 1, 2000 (Marthaler, 2003) and she was canonized by Pope John Paul II (Marthaler, 2003; www.vatican.va ; Cunningham, 2003) in St Peters Square.

St Josephine Bakhita is a wonderful example of someone who emulates the principles of hospitality as found in Luke's Gospel. Bakhita was one of the poor, outcast and afflicted people that Jesus' message is aimed towards. Her life was a struggle for freedom and through searching for liberation she was able to find the fullness of life when she joined the Canossian Sisters.

Bakhita followed her call to hospitality through her dedication to the Daughters of Charity and her decision to serve the poor. After receiving the sacraments of Christian initiation, she was often seen kissing the baptismal font saying: "Here, I become a daughter of God!" (www.vatican.va ). It is through that very action that we can see she allowed the spirit of the Lord to come down upon her (Lavery, 2004). Bakhita new that she had been chosen to "bring good news to the poor" (Lavery, 2004) and devoted life to do so.

In her later years she helped prepare young sisters for the African missions. Through sharing her life story and own experiences (Cunningham, 2003), Bakhita actively lived out Jesus' message and through education and the sharing of her knowledge she helped in the "recovery of sight to the blind" (Lavery, 2004).

Bakhita is a living example of being freed by oppression and her humbleness was often witnessed when she would respond to situations with a smile saying: "As the Master desires." (www.vatican.va). She participated in setting the oppressed free through her commitment to service and prayer. It was her call to be religious that encouraged her to give herself to the Lord in the Institute of St Magdalene of Canossa and through her vow to so, she devoted her life to living out the Gospel and therefore tried to live out her life on the examples of prayers such as the Magnificat and the Beatitudes.

Bakhita was a Christian leader and a model for others through her commitment to God. Just as Jesus did, Bakhita took her life and turned it into something positive, by turning her suffering into service to others for God. Her Humility, simplicity and constant smile won the hearts of many (www.vatican.va). Bakhita believed we should: "Be good, love the Lord, pray for those who do not know Him. What a great grace it is to know God!" (www.vatican.va).

Bakhita has been used as a model of freedom and reconciliation and the fact that she was first Sudanese (and negro) saint to be canonized is a wonderful example is a perfect of how her life represented the principles of hospitality found in Luke's Gospel.

It is impossible to refect on her life without bearing in mind that there are still children in the world that are victims of slavery. We not only honour Bakhita as the humble nun that she was, but as a symbolic figure which stands for all who are enslaved (Cunningham, 2003).