In 1868 a girl was born to wealthy Sudanese parents, and when she was about seven she was kidnapped by slave traders, given the Arabic name Bakhita, and forced to convert to Islam. She was abused and sold over a dozen times in the slave markets, and when she was about 15 she was purchased by an Italian consul whom she begged to take her home to Italy. Bakhita was introduced to Catholicism by the Canossian Sisters, and she said that in the Catholic faith, she finally met the God she knew was in her heart her whole life. She became a Canossian sister and took the name Josephine. Until her very last breath in 1947, she called God her master and was an example of virtue and sanctity to all she met.
CHALLENGE
St. Josephine Bakhita is a saint who shows us how in God’s plan, and on his timeline, the light of faith can spring from the darkest of circumstances so long as we have hope. Her feast has been designated the International Day of Prayer to Stop Human Trafficking. Today, say the Rosary and pray that the victims of human trafficking are given the grace of hope.
Want to learn more about the Order of Mercy, also known as the Mercedarians? Mercy, Ransom, Redemption is a compilation of short stories about Mercedarian saints, blesseds, brothers, priests, and third order members of the Order.
