If you're looking for a more modern saint who rose above great odds to embrace faith, St. Josephine Bakhita is one! Her memorial day is February 8.
Born in Sudan in 1869, St. Josephine Bakhita was kidnapped and sold into slavery as a young girl. After being traumatized and traded many times, she landed in Italy and found her way to both freedom and faith. Her story is an incredible one, that, when told with enough delicacy for the sensitivities of the children you have, can truly inspire.
Quick Background on St. Josephine Bakhita
Before teaching your children about St. Jospehine Bakhita, you may wish to listen to a brief biography about her from Franciscan Media or to watch this brief overview of her life from Catholic Online.
Born in Sudan in 1869, St. Josephine Bakhita was kidnapped and sold into slavery as a young girl. After being traumatized and traded many times, she landed in Italy and found her way to both freedom and faith. Her story is an incredible one, that, when told with enough delicacy for the sensitivities of the children you have, can truly inspire.
Quick Background on St. Josephine Bakhita
Before teaching your children about St. Jospehine Bakhita, you may wish to listen to a brief biography about her from Franciscan Media or to watch this brief overview of her life from Catholic Online.
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10 Ways to Connect Kids with Saint Josephine Bahkita
2. Pray in honor of St. Josephine Bakhita using a prayer found on Catholic Culture.
Loving God, rewarder of the humble, you blessed St. Josephine Bakhita with charity and patience. May her prayers help us, and her example inspire us to carry our cross and to love you always. Pour upon us the spirit of wisdom and love with which you filled St. Josephine Bakhita.
By serving you as she did, may we please you by our faith and our actions. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Also, pray for the people of Sudan and - if your children are at an appropriate age - for all who suffer trauma like St. Josephine Bakhita did as a child.
4. Enjoy a "Snack Time with the Saints" by borrowing an idea from A Circle of Saints and serving up apple slice crescent moons, a clementine or orange slice sun, and star shaped snacks, too, remembering how St. Josephine Bakhita said:
6. Go on a nature walk to spy other beautiful things created by our Master and, as you do, chat about other saints who came to know God through nature. Perhaps also draw parallels to other saints who were kidnapped and enslaved before they fully knew God but found themselves praying out in nature, like St. Patrick.
7. Share some quotes from St. Josephine, chatting about them or using them for copywork.
Seeing the sun, the moon and the stars, I said to myself, ‘Who could be the Master of these beautiful things?’ I felt a great desire to see him, to know him and to pay him homage.
6. Go on a nature walk to spy other beautiful things created by our Master and, as you do, chat about other saints who came to know God through nature. Perhaps also draw parallels to other saints who were kidnapped and enslaved before they fully knew God but found themselves praying out in nature, like St. Patrick.
7. Share some quotes from St. Josephine, chatting about them or using them for copywork.
The Lord has loved me so much: we must love everyone… we must be compassionate!
I have given everything to my Master: He will take care of me… The best thing for us is not what we consider best, but what the Lord wants of us!
I received the Sacrament of Baptism with such joy that only angels could describe…
O Lord, if I could fly to my people and tell them of your Goodness at the top of my voice: oh, how many souls would be won!
If I were to meet the slave-traders who kidnapped me and even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands, for if that did not happen, I would not be a Christian and Religious today…
Mary protected me even before I knew her!
When a person loves another dearly, he desires strongly to be close to the other: therefore, why be afraid to die?
Death brings us to God!
The suffering caused by illness is more meritorious than any self inflicted mortification.
8. Color or paint free coloring pages of St. Josephine Bakhita, such as the ones offered at Snowflake Clockwork, Catholic Playground, and Waltzing Matilda.
9. Sew, cook, or embroider in memory of the fact that St. Josephine Bakhita supported her faith community by cooking, sewing, embroidery, and being a doorkeeper for 45 years.
10. Make a Sudanese-inspired dish. Our family may try Sundanese Spinach, Peanut, and Sweet Potato Stew or Sunday Sudanese Lentils.
Just for Grown Ups and Mature Children
You may also wish to view one of the films available about St. Josephine Bakhita:
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| Source: Amazon |
(also free with membership on Formed.org)
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| Source: Amazon |
St. Josephine Bakhita, pray for us.
