Virgin · Remembered on February 8
St. Josephine Bakhita
St. Josephine Bakhita is remembered on February 8 in Bless’s calendar of saints. Traditionally invoked as patron of Sudan and victims of human trafficking.
| Remembered on | February 8 |
|---|---|
| Title | Virgin |
| Died | 1947 |
| Patron of | Sudan, victims of human trafficking |
| Next on Bless’s Today screen | None left in the published calendar (through December 31, 2028) |
Life
Kidnapped in Darfur at about seven, sold five times, tortured — she forgot her own name; ‘Bakhita,’ the lucky one, was the slavers’ irony. Brought to Italy, she met a Master ‘who is gentle,’ won her freedom in court, and spent fifty years as a Canossian sister famous for kindness. She forgave the men who had kidnapped her so completely that she would have knelt to kiss their hands.
Patron of
Tradition invokes St. Josephine Bakhita as patron of Sudan and victims of human trafficking.
Patronages are traditional, not an official list. All patron saints in Bless, A to Z.
In the calendar
The upcoming dates, through December 31, 2028, when Bless’s Today screen shows St. Josephine Bakhita. Where the US calendar keeps another celebration that day, it is named instead and no rank is given.
Readings
No dates are left in Bless’s published calendar, which runs through December 31, 2028. St. Josephine Bakhita keeps February 8 in Bless’s calendar of saints: see the saints of February.
All the saints of February Born on February 8? A saint for every day
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