St josephine bakhita story

Saint Josephine Bakhita was born in Sudan, Africa around Her early childhood was a happy one. However, when she was seven, she was kidnapped by slave traders!

St josephine bakhita fun facts

Some of her masters were nice but some were very cruel. One of her mistresses had to travel to Sudan but she decided not to take Bakhita with her, leaving her with the Canossian Sisters in Venice. During this time, the sisters taught her about God and decided she wanted to enter the Church. When her mistress came back, Bakhita did not want to leave the sisters.

St josephine bakhita miracles

Eventually, the case was taken to the Italian court and it was discovered that the slave traders that had captured Bakhita were outlaws. Slavery had been outlawed in Sudan before Bakhita was born. Because of this, she was freed and was no longer a slave! Bakhita decided to remain with the sisters and she was baptized on January 9, , taking the name Josephine Margaret Fortunata the Latin equivalent of Bakhita.

During the following forty-two years, she served as a cook and a doorkeeper. Sometimes, she traveled to other convents telling her story and preparing the sisters for mission work in Africa. Josephine was known for her gentle voice, her smile, and her gentle character. She is said to have told the child not to be afraid — her skin was dark because she was made out of chocolate!

As she grew older she would be in a lot of pain and was confined to a wheelchair. Despite the terrible memories of her life as a slave, Josephine Bakhita still forgave those who were cruel to her.