Religion
Josephine Bakhita - the first African Saint proclaimed in centuries

afrol.com, 14 October - On 1 October, the Catholic Church and especially African Catholics were enriched with another Saint. Josephine Bakhita, born in Darfur (Sudan) in 1869, died in Schio (Italy) 8 February 1947, was canonized by the Pope in the Vatican, calling her Our Universal Sister. This amazingly strong women made it from an ill-treated slave to a unifying symbol for African Catholics and women.

The Spanish Catholic Missionary journal, Mundo Negro, praises the quick canonization process realized by the Vatican. Only eight years have passed since her beatification in 1992. Such processes usually take much longer. Catholic missionaries afrol.com has been in contact with, state that this was a long needed symbol to honour African Christianity, African women and against the brutal history of slavery, were also the Catholic society once was deeply involved.

- This Sudanese slave and religious woman turns into the first African Saint in modern times, Mundo Negro writes. "Without doubt, it will be an inspiration to the many Christians in Sudan, which now suffer persecution, and, in some cases, slavery, just for being black as she was."

Josephine Bakhita was canonized on 1 October by Pope John Paul II, together with 120 Chinese martyrs of the Catholic Church. Already 12 years after her death in 1947, the local diocese started their investigations whether Bakhita could be found honourable to be sanctified. She was declared Venerabilis (Honourable) 1 December 1978, and on 17 May 1992, she was beatified. 8 February has been declared her official day of worship.

John Paul II praised her for "leaving us a message of reconciliation and evangelic forgiveness in a world so much divided and hurt by hatred and violence. She, that was the victim of the worst injuries of all times, namely slavery, herself declared: 'If I was to meet those slave raiders that abducted me and those who tortured me, I'd kneel down to them to kiss their hands, because, if it had not have been for them, I would not have become a Christian and religious woman'."

Bakhita is the first person ever from Sudan to be canonized, or even beatified. She has been a symbol of faith and unity for Christians in this war-ravaged country for long time, and 8 February is celebrated all over the Christian parts of Sudan. There are already several portraits of her in the Cathedral of El Obeid. Her canonization has given great pride to the Christian community of Sudan.

- What can this African Saint teach us people of today? Mundo Negro asks. The editor José Luis Lisalde answers by saying that "Bakhita taught us the path of liberation. The path she followed and that lead her from slavery to freedom still has to be walked by so many people that are subject to a variety of forms of slavery."

Josephine Bakhita
Bakhita means "fortunate one" - a name given her by the slave raiders that forcefully removed the nine year old girl from her family and the small Darfur village of Olgossa in today's Southern Sudan. After being brought to Khartoum, hence under Egyptian control, Bakhita was traded to five different slave holders and severely mistreated.

Her fortune started when she was sold to the Italian Consul Calixto Leganini. As the Mahdist troops reached Khartoum in 1884, Bakhita was allowed to follow her fleeing patron to Italy. When the Italian master wanted to return to Africa, she refused, and was granted the right to stay in Italy by the courts, as it was pointed out that slavery did not exist in the country, and she was free to stay.

In 1889, Bakhita began her religious "career" and took the name Josefina Margarita Afortunada when she was baptised in Venice 9 January 1890. She obtains Catholic schooling in Italian monasteries, and is sent to her mission in Schio, Northern Italy in 1902. Her, she delivers humble services, including child nursing and teaching.

From 1912 and onwards, she is obligated to travel around Italy and tell her life story, though she finds it difficult to talk about it. Her bibliography was published in 1930, and she became a famous woman. Bakhita dies in Schio in 1943, where she was put on lit-de-parade for three days. Thousands passed her bier to express their mourning and respect. Josephine still is remembered and respected as "Our Black Mother", nostra Madre Moretta, in Schio.

Read also the afrol Biography on Josephine Bakhita.

Sources: Mundo Negro, Vatican, Katolsk Tidsskrift, Kirchenlexikon, etc.

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