Black History Month recalls and celebrates the barriers that people of color have transcended, and the struggles and adversities overcome. In celebration, I share with you the story of a little-known saint of the Church, St. Josephine Bakhita, whose Feast Day was last Wednesday, 8th February.
St. Bakhita was declared a saint in 2000, the first woman of color to receive this honor in the modern era. She was born in Sudan in 1869. Because of the traumatizing, dehumanizing experiences she endured Josephine forgot her birth name and was renamed by a slave trader. Josephine was kidnapped from her parent’s home when she was only seven. She suffered the humiliation of being sold and resold many times. She was often whipped by slave owners, leaving many deep scars and welts that remained on her body as evidence of the hardships she endured.
Josephine was eventually bought by an Italian Consul in Sudan. To her surprise, for the first time she was “owned” by a kinder master who did not whip her when giving orders. She began to experience peace. When the time came for the Consul to return to Italy, he and his family took Josephine with them. But again, she was given to another family. She served as a nanny for the new family’s young child. After a while, her new family decided to travel back to Sudan. They left her and their daughter in the custody of the convent of the Canossian Sisters in Venice. There at the convent, her life was transformed. She experienced the closeness of God. According to Josephine, she had always known about God who created all things, but she had not known who He was. The sisters guided her, and deeply moved, she discerned a call to follow Jesus Christ.
However, her “mistress” returned and tried to take Josephine back to her home. Josephine refused to leave the convent. The case was taken to the court which ruled in Josephine’s favor as slavery was illegal in Italy at that time. Josephine remained with the sisters, was baptized, and became a novice, taking her final vows as a sister in 1896. It is said that Josephine lived and ministered in Italy for 42 years. She dedicated her life to assisting her community and teaching others about the love of Jesus Christ. She became known for her gentle spirit and her holiness. She traveled to other convents and shared her experience of enslavement.
In Sunday’s gospel (Matthew 5:21-37), Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, you shall not murder……. But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment.” Jesus taught that our deepest spiritual need is a striving for purity of heart, so we become instruments of peace and reconciliation. Josephine attained purity of heart. She chose to think of love and thanksgiving instead of anger and resentment. Often, she expressed thanks for her kidnappers and slave traders, stating that she “would kneel and kiss their hands”, for had she not been kidnapped, she might never have come to know Jesus Christ. Her heart was purified by Christ’s love and the wounds of slavery were transformed into forgiveness and true freedom in Christ.
Another of Josephine’s common sayings was, “as the Master desires.” She who worked under many “masters” was happy to submissively address God as master. May we all find true peace and freedom in living submissively for the Master.
