We wish to give thanks to the Lord for the gift of Josephine Bakhita’s life: a gift from God to our Canossian religious family and to the whole Church, on the anniversary of her canonisation, 1 October 2000.
The saints are a beacon along the path of those who sincerely desire to pursue holiness. Today, we wish to share with the world the holiness of our Canossian sister, Saint Josephine Bakhita, the universal sister—everyone’s sister—who won so many hearts through the humility and simplicity of her life. Those who live for the Lord and for their brothers and sisters—especially for the most vulnerable, for those who have no voice and for those in greatest need—cannot go unnoticed. Their holy lives continue to draw attention even today, reminding us that this journey cannot be improvised: it must be travelled day by day, giving our lives to the Lord and, through Him, to all those whom He allows us to meet along the way.
Bakhita experienced the horror of slavery and human trafficking firsthand—a wound that, sadly, remains open in our world, albeit in new and silent forms. She was able to transform the deepest suffering into forgiveness and gratitude, thus becoming a sign of hope for so many victims of human exploitation. For this reason, in her memory, the Church has also proclaimed her the patron saint of victims of human trafficking.
Today, we wish to recall the words of Saint John Paul II in his homily on the occasion of the canonisation of our universal sister:
“I am also pleased to greet the Sudanese Bishops and faithful who have travelled to Rome for the canonisation of Sister Josephine Bakhita. In a special way, I greet the Daughters of Charity, the great Canossian family to which Josephine Bakhita belonged”.
“Her message is one of heroic goodness, reflecting the goodness of our heavenly Father. She has left us a testimony of evangelical reconciliation and forgiveness, which will surely bring comfort to the Christians of her homeland, Sudan, who have been so sorely tried by a conflict that has lasted for many years and has claimed so many victims. Their fidelity and hope are a source of pride and thanksgiving for the whole Church. In this time of great tribulation, Sister Bakhita goes before them on the path of imitation of Christ, of deepening their Christian life and of unwavering attachment to the Church”.
This holy daughter of Africa truly revealed herself to be a daughter of God: God’s love and forgiveness became tangible realities that transformed her life in an extraordinary way. She came to feel gratitude towards the slave traders who captured her and towards those who mistreated her because, as she would later say, if those things had not happened, she would never have become a Christian or a sister in the Canossian community.
On this day, we join our prayers for peace throughout the world and for all those who are still victims of human trafficking and modern slavery, so that, like Bakhita, they may encounter along their journey someone who will restore their dignity and freedom, and so that there may never be a shortage of hands and hearts willing to set them free.
And you, who are reading these words: what does Bakhita’s holiness say to you today? Do you believe that holiness is reserved only for “a chosen few”, or are you too called to follow, with simplicity and in your everyday life, your own path towards holiness?
Saint Josephine Bakhita, Universal Sister
