A Saint for Africa, and for the West

Zenit News Agency ^ | 3/14/12 | Father Peter J. West

[marshmallow]

How the Story of St. Bakhita Is Being Replayed Today

WASHINGTON, D.C., MARCH 14, 2012 (Zenit.org).- When Josephine Bakhita died in 1947, thousands of Italians passed her funeral bier to pay respects to a simple woman who had achieved great renown for her kindness. To this day, the people of Schio, Italy, honor now-Saint Josephine, a former African slave, with the title "Nostra Madre Moretta," which means "Our Black Mother."

In her native land of Sudan, news of Josephine's beatification was banned, yet Blessed John Paul II came to the capital city of Khartoum nine months later, despite the threats to his security, on Feb. 10, 1993. An immense crowd gathered in the Sudanese capital's "Green Square" to hear the Pope and to honor this daughter of Africa. In his homily the Holy Father proclaimed:

"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."

The path to sainthood for Bakhita could be accurately described as an odyssey. Growing up a happy child in a prosperous and locally important family, her idyllic childhood came to a sudden and violent end when she was captured by Arabic slave traders at the age of 9. In the years that followed, she was sold and resold several times before being brought to Italy by one of her owners.

Eventually Bakhita was placed in the care of some Canossian Sisters in Venice who prepared her for baptism. Years later, when her owner tried to take her back to Sudan, Bakhita refused and her case was brought to court. The Court ruled that since slavery was outlawed in Italy, she had never been a slave and she was allowed to remain in Italy.

Bakhita was baptized and.........

[Sergio]

I am always amazed at how Afican-American’s anger over slavery never extends to the Muslims who captured the original slaves that came to this country, and who continue to enslave black African’s today.

Even more confusing is how many African-Americans become Muslims!

“Dude, you do know that you are joining a religion that condones slavery, right? A religion that captured your African fore fathers, placed them in chains, and sold them to be brought to America as slaves.”

“What would you know, you racist bigot!”

[Salvation]

Saint Josephine Bakhita, Virgin
Optional Memorial
February 8th

Vatican Website

[Salvation]

A Saint for Africa, and for the West
From Slave to Saint: The Story of St. Josephine Bakhita [Catholic Caucus]
Josephine Bakhita - an African Saint [from Sudan]
From Slave to Saint: The Story of St. Josephine Bakhita
A Saint For Those Who Are Prisoners of Their Past [St. Josephine Bakhita] (Catholic Caucus)
St. Josephine Bakhita Was a Humble Witness to God's Love