On the Evils of Curiosity [II]

[Rich]

On the Evils of Curiosity [II]

Do not court the favour of powerful patrons, nor popular favour, not
even the particular affection of friends. All these things are
distractions, and fill the heart with uncertainty. If you will but
await My coming, and throw open the door of your heart, I Myself will
speak to you, and reveal to you My secrets. Be ready; watch and pray.
Above all, be humble.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3, Ch 24

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February 8th - St. Josephine Bakhita
(1869-1947)

Even in eras and nations where slavery has been practiced, the Church
has considered those baptized to be spiritually free. As St. Paul
wrote to the Galatians, “There does not exist among you Jew or Greek,
slave or freeman, male or female. All are one in Christ Jesus.” (3:28).

Thus slavery, both ancient and modern, has not prevented Christians
from reaching high positions in the Church, or from being proclaimed
saints. For instance, Pope St. Pius I (2nd century) and Pope St.
Callistus (third century) were former slaves, as were the martyrs St.
Blandina of Lyons (2nd century) and St. Felicitas of Carthage (fourth
century). All four of these were white. But black slaves have likewise
been canonized: St. Benedict the Moor and St. Martin de Porres, for
instance.

On May 17, 1992, Pope John Paul II declared “blessed” a black nun who
had been enslaved in her native Sudan when a small child. Her
experiences as a slave, her conversion to Catholicism, and her saintly
life as a nun make a fascinating story.

Born in 1869 in what is now southern Sudan, East Africa, Blessed
Josephine (Giuseppina) spent her first six years in her native
village. One day, however, when she happened to walk a little outside
the village boundaries, she was kidnapped by slave traders.

By 1875, the trade in black slaves had been largely phased out in
African law. Egypt, which then exercised political control over the
Sudan, had lately signed a treaty declaring slavery illegal. But
abuses die hard, and “bootleg” enslavement still continued. To the
little six-year-old, the experience of kidnapping was so traumatic
that she forgot her own name. The kidnappers therefore gave her the
name “Bakhita.” They did not know how well they chose: “Bakhita” is
Arabic for “the fortunate one.” While little Miss Bakhita was
unfortunate in being made a chattel slave, in the long run she was the
recipient of God’s most fatherly attention.

The young bondswoman became the chattel, now of one master, now of
another. Most of her owners, it would appear, were Muslims. One of her
purchasers, a general in the Turkish army, had her “branded” like his
other slaves. The branding was entrusted to a woman expert in the
procedure. She inflicted 114 razor cuts on the breasts, arms and
abdomen of the 13-year-old. Then she rubbed salt and flour into the
wounds so that they healed into a permanent seal of ownership.

Throughout her early life, however, this black pagan girl demonstrated
an inborn goodness and gentility that protected her virtue. Although
she exemplified the enslaved at their most voiceless, she possessed
what could only be called a “naturally Christian” soul. The last
couple that owned her made no mistake in appointing her “nanny” to
their little daughter. Having moved to Venice, Italy, they enrolled
the daughter in a course of religious instruction conducted by the
Canossian Sisters, a branch of the Sisters of Charity. Bakhita
accompanied the child to each catechism class. At last the pagan slave
from Sudan encountered Catholic doctrine and Catholic nuns, and found
both deeply impressive.

Then a new crisis occurred in Bakhita’s eventful life. Her master and
mistress decided to return to Sudan. What should their nanny do? If
she returned with them she knew that her economic condition would
always be guaranteed, and she might even be able to rediscover her own
family. On the other hand, she was still a catechumen, not yet a
Catholic, and deeply desirous of baptism. Furthermore her association
with the Canossian Sisters, by now so dear to her, would come to an
end. During her period of indecision the question of her legal status
as a slave was also raised before an Italian tribunal. Having studied
the case carefully, the judge reached the decision that since Sudan
had enacted a law forbidding slavery not long before her birth, the
young black woman had actually never been a slave.

Bakhita at length made a most Christian decision. She chose to remain
in Italy, be baptized a Catholic, and leave all else in the hands of
God. The Canossians saw her through the course of studies. In 1890 she
was baptized “Giuseppina” (Josephine). Her next step was logical. In
1893 she sought admission into the Canossian Sisters, and in 1896 she
took final vows as a member of their community, During the next half
century, Sister Bakhita proved herself a model religious, ever humble,
ever grateful. Nobody realized better than she that were it not for
the incredible trials of her youth she would never have come to know
God.

Pope John Paul II beatified Sister Josephine in 1992. Only eight years
later, during the Great Jubilee, he canonized her. The space between
beatification and canonization was unusually brief. In declaring her a
saint the Pope was doubtless influenced in part by the fact that in
the year 2000 Sudan was still a land fraught with conflict and
notorious for its disregard of civil rights.

The principal reason for his choice, however, seems to have been to
hold up to the world Josephine, “The Fortunate One”, as the recipient
of God’s ever-fatherly love. In his canonization homily the Pope cried
out for more saints. “Choose them, Lord! You can raise up saints. Take
them from all lands … Lord, give us saints!”
–Father Robert F. McNamara

Saint Quote:
Man's salvation and perfection consist in doing the will of God; which
he must have in view in all things and at every moment of his life:
the more he accomplishes this Divine will, the more perfect he will
be. To do the will of God man must despise his own: the more he dies
to himself, the more he will live to God.
-- Blessed Peter Claver

Bible Quote:
Dearly beloved, think not strange the burning heat which is to try
you: as if some new thing happened to you. But if you partake of the
sufferings of Christ, rejoice that, when his glory shall be revealed,
you may also be glad with exceeding joy. (1 Peter 4:12-13) DRB