Saint Josephine Bakhita
- sincerelygpb
- Feb 10
- 3 min read
A little bit about her Story:
Saint Josephine Bakhita was born into a prosperous tribe in Sudan. During the early years of her childhood, she lived a comfortable life. However, at around the age of seven or eight, she was kidnapped and forced into slavery. Bought and sold multiple times, she experienced both kind and abusive owners.
Bakhita endured severe physical abuse and humiliation. It was common for slave owners to brand or tattoo their slaves as a mark of ownership. One of her masters, noticing she had no such mark, subjected her to a horrifying ordeal—cutting and wounding her breasts, stomach, and arms until she lost consciousness. As if that were not enough, he then rubbed salt and flour into her wounds to intensify the pain and ensure permanent scarring in place of a brand.
She remained in slavery for so long that she eventually forgot her real name. One of her later owners gave her the name “Bakhita,” which ironically means “lucky” or “fortunate.” Despite all she endured, she survived—proof that the Lord had greater plans for her. Though she suffered daily beatings, torture, and forced conversion to Islam, God ultimately led her out of her trials.
During her enslavement, Bakhita was sold to an Italian family. One of her owners gave her a crucifix, kissing it reverently and telling her that Jesus had died for her. Though she knew nothing about God, she felt inexplicably drawn to the cross. As a slave, she had never possessed anything of her own, but this crucifix became something she cherished. She even had the urge to keep it hidden, sensing a certain attachment.
With no other choice, she continued her life as a nanny for the Italian family. At one point, her owners left her and the children in the care of the Canossian Sisters of Venice. It was there that she learned about God. In addition to receiving the sacraments, she was given a new name - Josephine. In that moment, when she chose to follow Christ, she became truly free.
During her time with the sisters, Italy officially abolished slavery. So when her former owners returned to claim her, she was finally given a choice. After a legal battle, she decided to stay with the sisters and entered religious life.
To Saint Josephine Bakhita, God was her perfect Master. While many refer to God as a loving Father, Josephine, having never known a father’s love, could only understand relationships through the lens of servitude. She entrusted herself fully to Him, living a life of patience, humility, and obedience. The other sisters often described her as gentle, joyful, and always smiling. On the day of her death it seems that Mary had freed her from all pains as she called out “Our Lady” with a smile.
What can we learn from Bakhita?:
God brings good from suffering
Knowing God and forgiveness are ultimate forms of freedom
To know God is to know you were never abandoned
Quick Prayer:
St. Josephine Bakhita, you were sold into slavery as a child and endured untold hardship and suffering. Once liberated from your physical enslavement, you found true redemption in your encounter with Christ and his Church.
O St. Bakhita, assist all those who are trapped in a state of slavery; Intercede with God on their behalf so that they will be released from their chains of captivity. Those whom man enslaves, let God set free.
Provide comfort to survivors of slavery and let them look to you as an example of hope and faith. Help all survivors find healing from their wounds. We ask for your prayers and intercessions for those enslaved among us. Amen.
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