In 1948 Aurora Marin arrives with her family at the convent of the Canossian Sisters of Schio, Italy, where Sister Bakhita has just died. Aurora was hoping to see her before she died. She gathers her children around the picture of Bakhita and tells them of the incredible life of the woman that had raised her as her nanny.
Born in a village in Sudan, kidnapped by slavers, often beaten and abused, and later sold to Federico Marin, a Venetian merchant, Bakhita then came to Italy and became the nanny servant of Federico's daughter, Aurora, who had lost her mother at birth. She is treated as an outcast by the peasants and the other servants due to her black skin and African background, but Bakhita is kind and generous to others. Bakhita gradually comes closer to God with the help of the kind village priest, and embraces the Catholic faith.
She requests to join the order of Canossian sisters, but Marin doesn't want to give her up as his servant, treating her almost as his property. This leads to a moving court case that raised an uproar which impacts Bakhita's freedom and ultimate decision to become a nun. Pope John Paul II declared her a saint in the year 2000. Directed by Giacamo Campiotti (St. Giuseppe Moscati, Doctor Zhivago) and stars Fatou Kine Boye, Stefania Rocca, Fabio Sartor, Ettore Bassi, and Francesco Salvi. Includes a 16 page collector's booklet by Daria Sockey.
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Questions for journalling and further reflection
Where do I see the dignity of every human person affirmed—or denied—in today’s world, and how does St Bakhita’s life challenge my response?
St Bakhita forgave those who caused her immense suffering. What does forgiveness mean to me, and where might God be inviting me to take a small step toward healing or mercy?
Bakhita once said that even her kidnappers were instruments of God’s grace in her life. How do I make sense of suffering in my own story, and where might God be present within it?
How does St Bakhita’s journey from slavery to freedom shape my understanding of true freedom—spiritual, emotional, and social?
In what ways am I called to stand in solidarity with people who are oppressed, trafficked, or silenced today? What practical actions can I take?
St Bakhita discovered her identity as a beloved child of God. What voices shape my sense of worth, and how does God speak truth into who I am?
Bakhita lived a quiet life of service after extraordinary suffering. How does her example challenge modern ideas of success, power, and recognition?
DiscussSong - Bakhita - I am Loved
Final Prayer
Loving and faithful God, we thank you for the life of Saint Josephine Bakhita—kidnapped into slavery and stripped of her name, yet never beyond your loving gaze; freed from chains and introduced to you through the Christian faith, she discovered her true identity as your beloved child; called into religious life, she served quietly and joyfully as a Canossian sister; and through extraordinary forgiveness, she became a living witness to hope, dignity, and mercy—may her story inspire us to trust you in suffering, work for freedom and justice, and live with hearts shaped by your love. Amen.
