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As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
c. 1869–February 8, 1947
Patron Saint of Catholic Church in Sudan; Sudan; South Sudan
St. Josephine Bakhita is one of the Church’s most moving witnesses to forgiveness, hope, and the transforming power of God’s love. Born in Sudan, she was kidnapped as a child and forced into slavery—a trauma so severe she later said she forgot her birth name. She endured years of brutal treatment, but even in her suffering, she sensed a loving God was watching over her.
In God’s Providence, St. Josephine’s owner brought her to Italy and left her in the care of the Canossian Sisters. There, St. Josephine learned about Jesus Christ and experienced His healing grace. When her owner returned for her, St. Josephine refused to leave. The matter was sent to Rome, and it was determined that St. Josephine was free from slavery under current laws.
In 1890, she was baptized St. Josephine Margaret Fortunata—a name meaning “fortunate,” reflecting her deep conviction that God had brought goodness even from pain. St. Josephine entered the Canossian Daughters of Charity in 1896 and spent more than 40 years in humble service at their convent in Schio.
Known for her radiant smile, gentle manner, and deep prayer life, she performed simple tasks—cooking, sewing, welcoming guests—with extraordinary love. People in the region affectionately called her “Madre Moretta,” “our Black mother,” and sought her counsel and intercession.
Once asked if she would forgive her captors, St. Josephine replied, “If I were to meet them, I would kneel and kiss their hands, for if these things had not happened, I would not have become a Christian.” Her life stands as a testimony to the power of God’s grace that heals even the deepest wounds.
Canonized in 2000, St. Josephine Bakhita is the patron saint of Sudan and a symbol of hope for victims of human trafficking worldwide.
St. Josephine Bakhita’s work as a Canossian nun included supporting missionary work in Africa by traveling to various communities to share her life story and train young sisters for their missionary work. She had a strong, lifelong missionary drive that focused on her home continent, and she prayed for her family to be baptized. The violence and dehumanization St. Josephine suffered as a child culminated, by God’s grace, in freedom, healing, and profound forgiveness, making her a powerful intercessor for those suffering similar injustices today. The Church invokes her especially for protection, rescue, and healing for all victims.
After being brought to Italy, St. Josephine lived with the Canossian Sisters while legal issues regarding her status were resolved. Their kindness and witness moved her deeply. She attended catechism classes, felt at home in the Church, and was baptized in 1890—an event she remembered as the most extraordinary grace of her life. St. Josephine’s Christian virtues—her gentle smile, her gratitude, and her willingness to serve in small tasks with great love endeared her to the people. Many in the town sought her prayers.
In 1993, Pope St. John Paul II visited Sudan to honor St. Josephine Bakhita in her homeland after the Sudanese authorities censored news of her beatification. Speaking at the event in Sudan, Pope St. John Paul II said, “Rejoice, all of Africa! Bakhita has come back to you. The daughter of Sudan was sold into slavery … and yet was still free—free with the freedom of the saints.” Pope St. John Paul II later canonized St. Josephine in October 2000. He spoke about her life as an example of emancipation and freedom from oppression, highlighting her story of liberation from slavery amidst ongoing conflict.
The Holy Rosary is an amazing prayer, encouraged by popes, loved by saints, and prayed by the faithful. At its heart, the Rosary is a meditation on Sacred Scripture, on the lives of Jesus and Mary.
Through this Scriptural Rosary, we hope that you will be able to better meditate on each Hail Mary and deepen your understanding of Sacred Scripture. Use the form below to get your free copy of The Scriptural Rosary.
St. Bakhita is an exemplary model for Nakun, a little girl who is lonely and friendless in a new school. With the encouragement of fellow students, however, Nakun soon discovers the joy of making spiritual exercises and becoming a child of God.
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As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
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