Model of Hope- St.Josephine Bakhita
Hope ! Hope !! Hope!!! Yes, hope ..echoed around Italy and the world. Pope Benedict XVI released his second encyclical, “Spe Salvi" , Christian Faith, on November 30. In this encyclical Pope given a model of hope- St.Josephine Bakhita. Iam very much inspired by this saint. So I would like to share about her. Why iam inspired by an African Saint? Because our sisters are missionaries in Africa. Most often they used to say, inspiring events from the life of St. Bakhita. Three years ago I watched a movie of Bakhita. It depicts her a symbol of hope in the midst of darkness. Last two years I conducted my annual retreat in the Canossian Charity Sister’s Generalate in Rome. Here I got opportunity to know more about her life. Yesterday I went there and I got a life history of Bakhita- A song of Freedom.
It is written by Maria Luisa Dagnino , a Canossian Charity sister. It depicts very clearly the life of Bakhita. Why Pope say she is a model of Hope? This book reveals that . Iam very happy to share about my beloved saint. Born in Olgossa in the Dafur region of southern, Sudan , Josephine was kidnapped at the age of seven , sold into slavery and given the name Bakhita, which means fortunate. She was re-sold several times, finally in 1883 to Callisto Legnani, Italian consul in Khartoum, Sudan. Two years later he took Josephine to Italy and gave her to his friend Augusto Micheli. Here she became babysitter to Mimmina Michieli , whom she accompanied to Venice’s Institute of the Catwchumens, run by the Canossian Sisters. On December8, 1896, sr. Josephine Bakhita consecrated herself to God. In 1902, she was transferred to the city of Schio (Verona). Here she spread hope and love to all. She soon became well loved by the children attending the sisters school and the local citizens .
She died on 8th February 1947. This book deals with many inspiring events in her life. I would like to quote final words of her. “Iam going slowly , slowly towards eternity…Iam going with two suitcases. One contains my sins and the other, which is much heavier, contains the infinite merits of Jesus Christ. When I appear before the judgement seat of God, I will cover my ugly suitcase with the merits of Jesus”.
Further readings:
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0706836.htm
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1453
http://www.stthomasirondequoit.com/SaintsAlive/id369.htm
It is written by Maria Luisa Dagnino , a Canossian Charity sister. It depicts very clearly the life of Bakhita. Why Pope say she is a model of Hope? This book reveals that . Iam very happy to share about my beloved saint. Born in Olgossa in the Dafur region of southern, Sudan , Josephine was kidnapped at the age of seven , sold into slavery and given the name Bakhita, which means fortunate. She was re-sold several times, finally in 1883 to Callisto Legnani, Italian consul in Khartoum, Sudan. Two years later he took Josephine to Italy and gave her to his friend Augusto Micheli. Here she became babysitter to Mimmina Michieli , whom she accompanied to Venice’s Institute of the Catwchumens, run by the Canossian Sisters. On December8, 1896, sr. Josephine Bakhita consecrated herself to God. In 1902, she was transferred to the city of Schio (Verona). Here she spread hope and love to all. She soon became well loved by the children attending the sisters school and the local citizens .
She died on 8th February 1947. This book deals with many inspiring events in her life. I would like to quote final words of her. “Iam going slowly , slowly towards eternity…Iam going with two suitcases. One contains my sins and the other, which is much heavier, contains the infinite merits of Jesus Christ. When I appear before the judgement seat of God, I will cover my ugly suitcase with the merits of Jesus”.
Further readings:
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0706836.htm
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1453
http://www.stthomasirondequoit.com/SaintsAlive/id369.htm
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