- St. Josephine Bahkita (1869 - 1947)
Today is the feast day of St. Josephine Bahkita. Josephine was born in 1869 in Olgossa, Sudan, Africa. She was sold into slavery at the age of 7, and at that time was given the name Bahkita, which means fortunate. She was sold many times, and was finally sold to an Italian consul who was named Callisto Legnani. After two years, Callisto took Josephine with him to Italy, and gave her to his friend Augusto Michieli. She became a babysitter for Augusto's daughter Mimmina. While Mimmina was attending a school run by Conossian sisters, Josephine began to feel called to enter the Catholic Church. She was baptized and confirmed in 1890, and took the name of Josephine. When the Michielis returned from Africa, they wished to take Mimmina and Josephine back with them. However, Josephine refused to go. In the court case, it was decided that since slavery was illegal in Italy, that Josephine had been a free woman ever since 1885. Josephine then joined the Conossian sisters in 1893. Once in the convent, Josephine cooked, sewed, embroidered, and was also given the job of portress. She was well-loved by many local citizens and the children who attended schools run by the sisters. She died in 1947, and was canonized in 2000.
St. Josephine Bahkita, pray for us!
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Picture Of And Information About St. Josephine Taken From:
https://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintofDay/
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=7339
http://wau.org/resources/article/from_slave_to_saint/
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