Witnesses of the Canossian Charism

The slave who became a universal Sister

Born in Sudan in 1869, Josephine Bakhita experienced the violence of kidnapping and slavery from a young age. Sold several times in the markets of El Obeid and Khartoum, she bore the wounds of an inhuman experience in her body and soul. The name “Bakhita,” meaning “lucky one,” was imposed on her by her captors.

The turning point came when she was purchased by the Italian consul Calisto Legnani and arrived in Italy. Here, she experienced kindness and respect for the first time, slowly discovering a new experience of life and God. After a period in the catechumenate, she received the Sacraments of Christian initiation and chose to consecrate herself in the Institute of Saint Magdalene of Canossa, taking religious vows in 1896.

In Schio, where she lived for many years, she became known to everyone as “Mother Moretta.” Her humility, constant smile and profound faith captivated the hearts of all who met her. Beatified by John Paul II in 1992 and canonized in 2000, Bakhita remains a universal symbol of freedom, reconciliation and hope.

Pioneer of the Canossian Missions
Born in Milan in 1811, Luigia Grassi grew up with a deep Eucharistic devotion and discovered her vocation early on through her encounter with the Daughters of Charity. She entered the Institute in 1833 and distinguished herself for her apostolic zeal and organizational skills.

As Superior in Pavia, she was involved in the great missionary outreach that would take the Canossian Sisters beyond Italy’s borders. Thanks to her determination and ecclesial support, the first missionaries set out for Hong Kong in 1860: a decisive moment in the Institute’s international expansion.

M. Grassi organized numerous missionary expeditions, supervised the formation of the Sisters, and founded new communities, becoming a point of reference for missionaries around the world. Her life, marked by tireless dedication, continues today through the process of recognition of her sanctity.

The path of love lived to the full
Born in Turin and raised in Milan, Teresa Pera stood out from a young age for her intelligence, humility and spiritual depth. She entered the Canossian Institute in 1895 and chose a simple yet radical phrase as her life’s program: “I choose the most direct path, that of love.”

After years of waiting and discernment, she left for Hong Kong as a missionary in 1900, where she remained until her death. She lived her mission with great responsibility and a spirit of service, facing even her illness with extraordinary serenity and fidelity to duty.

Those who knew her remember her quiet strength, her obedience and her ability to transform suffering into offering. At her death, many remembered her with simple and sincere words: “She was a saint.”