St. Josephine Bakhita, "The Universal Sister"

St. Josephine Bakhita
Canossian Daughter of Charity 

On October 1, 2000 – Pope John Paul II, canonized a Canossian Sister from Africa, Saint Josephine Bahkita. Since then, this holy woman of faith and forgiveness has been interceding for many, especially those who are sick, those who are in any form of slavery, and those who need to find peace, forgiveness and reconciliation in their lives. If you know someone who needs this kind of powerful intercessor, why not ask her?

Josephine Bakhita was born in Sudan in 1869 and died in Schio (Italy) in 1947. This African flower, who knew the anguish of kidnapping, slavery and torture, bloomed marvelously in Italy, in response to God’s grace, close to the Daughters of Charity.

Bakhita, which means “fortunate one,” is the name given her by her kidnappers. Sold and resold in the markets of El Obeid and Khartoum, she experienced the humiliations and the sufferings of slavery, physical, mental and moral.

Fortunately, Bakhita encountered a good owner, who didn’t use the lash when giving orders and treated her in a loving and cordial way. She later celebrated the sacraments of Christian Initiation and was given the name, Josephine, on January 9, 1890. Bakhita joined the religious institute of the Daughters of Charity of Canossa on December 8, 1896.

On May 17, 1992, Josephine Bakhita was beatified by Pope John Paul II. She was proclaimed Saint on October 1, in the Jubilee year 2000.