Fears and Tears

I completed week three of “Magnify 90”, this week emphasized the virtue of gratitude and Saint Josephine Bakhita. Her feast day is February 8th in the Church. I didn’t know much about her, so I spent time reading about her life this week.

What I learned about her was shocking. She was a saint who suffered much. She was kidnapped around the age of nine and sold into slavery. It was so traumatic for her that she forgot her own name. Her captors called her Bakhita, which means fortunate. Her captors were cruel, she was tortured and received many scars.

Though she didn’t know who God was, she felt Him in her heart.

“Seeing the sun, the moon, and the stars, I said to myself, “Who could be the Master of these beautiful things?” I felt a great desire to see Him, to know Him, and do Him homage.” St. Josephine Bakhita

After being sold multiple times during her years in slavery in Sudan, she eventually was sold to an Italian Consul member who treated her with kindness. Bakhita was then given to a family where she was a nanny to their daughter. She traveled to Italy with this family.

When the family returned to Sudan, Bakhita stayed behind in Italy and entered a religious household of sisters who catechized her in the faith. She came to know and love God, whom she had felt in her heart. She was initiated into the Catholic Church by baptism, with the name of Josephine Margaret Fortunata, and received the sacraments of first communion and confirmation by the Archbishop of Venice.

When the family returned to Italy, Josephine expressed a desire to enter into religious life. She was able to do so as a free woman because Italy had not recognized slavery in their laws. She took her vows and served in the order of the Canossian Sisters for over 40 years.

I can truly say that it was a miracle that I did not die, because the Lord had destined me for greater things. St. Josephine Bakhita

St. Josephine Bakhita was canonized by Pope St. John Paul II on October 1, 2000. St. Josephine is an amazing witness to forgiveness, gratitude, and love. She is the patron saint of the country of Sudan.

St. Josephine has encouraged me to not only have gratitude when life is good, but also in the times of suffering. Because in the pain, the Lord is especially near and draws me closer to Himself.

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

Thank you, Lord God, for the gift of St. Josephine Bakhita, I am thankful for her heroic courage and her spirit of gratitude. Lord, I pray for the grace of gratitude. Help me to see with eyes of thankfulness in the good times as well as the times of suffering. Amen

The life of St. Josephine Bakhita cited here is from the website Catholic.org.