St. Josephine Bakhita – patron saint of trafficking victims

No matter what religion you are, or even if you are of no particular religious persuasion, there are always people you can look to for inspiration. In the Christian tradition, we refer to these great people of faith as saints, and we look to them to help pattern our lives.

February 8th has been designated by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the International Union of Superiors General as an annual day of prayer and awareness against human trafficking. February 8th is the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, who was kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery in Sudan and Italy.

We first meet Bakhita in a rural village of Sudan when she is captured by slave traders. After years of being beaten and abused, a white merchant Federico Marin buys her from her current owner and brings her to Italy. Once in the Marin household, the daughter of the master, Aurora, takes a strong liking to Bakhita and chooses her as her nanny. Bakhita is treated like an outsider and accused of being wicked by other servants because of her black skin. Despite this, Bakhita proves to be generous to everyone she encounters even if they have wronged her. Befriending a priest, she discovers a life of hope and religious support. The hardest hurdle Bakhita must overcome is that of acquiring her freedom to help others.

She learned from Canossian nuns that she was created in the image of God and possessed human dignity. Once she asserted herself and refused to be enslaved, Josephine became a Canossian sister and dedicated her life to sharing her testament of deliverance from slavery and comforting the poor and suffering. She was declared a Saint in 2000.

On February 8th, Catholics all over the world are encouraged to host  or attend prayer services to generate greater awareness about human trafficking. Through prayer, we not only reflect on the experiences of those that have suffered through this affront to human dignity but also comfort, strengthen, and help empower survivors. As Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, former Chairman of the Committee on Migration, has stated: “On February 8th, we will lift our voices loudly in prayer, hope, and love for trafficking victims and survivors. If just one person realizes from this day that they or someone they know is being trafficked, we will have made a difference.”

Print out a copy of the following prayer, and join with others praying for her help eradicating this terrible problem.