Born in 1869 in the Darfur region of Sudan, she was kidnapped by Arab slave traders at the age of 9 and sold into slavery. She was forced to walk 600 miles to southern Sudan, where she was bought and sold multiple times, facing numerous indignities and brutal treatment.

St. Bakhita’s life as a slave was marked by extreme hardship and suffering. She was subjected to physical and emotional abuse, including being branded and tattooed with a razor, and having salt poured into her open wounds to ensure scarification. She also faced countless beatings and lashings from her owners. Despite these hardships, St. Bakhita never lost her faith and eventually found refuge with the Daughters of Charity in Venice, where she was baptized and took on the name “Josephine.”

St. Bakhita’s story is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to persevere in the face of adversity. Her hardship and suffering were immense, but she never lost her faith and instead found a way to thank God for it. Her story serves as an inspiration to many, and her legacy continues to live on as a symbol of hope and resilience.