“On February 8th, the first International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking will be held. The event will coincide with the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese slave who became a Canossian Sister after she was freed. She was canonized in 2000 by St. John Paul II.
Entitled “A Light Against Human Trafficking”, the day is promoted by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the International Union of Superior Generals (UISG).” Source: http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/first-international-day-of-prayer-against-human-trafficking-to-be-held-on-sunday
St Josephine Bakhita of the Canossians was not the only one to achieve sanctity despite her horrendous experience.
As we have shared over the past two years, the Visitation Order also hosted young women refugees from similar situations and these women also attained heights of holiness, though not canonized officially.
You can read about both Marie Kaisale and Sr. Laurensine Fremiot of the Visitation communities here: http://visitationspirit.org/2014/02/the-st-bakhitas-of-the-visitation-order/
This year we share the story of Mary, also from Africa who was kidnapped and forced into labor. This young child was freed by a now beatified priest, Fr Blaise Verri, and brought to the Visitation Order’s Founding Community of Annecy on 1869.
Here are highlights of her story:
Worthy Father Blaise Verri , successor to the venerable Father Nicholas Olivieri , known by his zeal for the salvation of souls in the work of pious redemption, was for Visitation’s little Mary an instrument of infinite mercies of the Lord. He brought her to Annecy France in 1869 . His first thought was to place her in the new convent of the Immaculate Conception, but the driver of the bus responded strongly to this idea: “No , not Immaculate Conception, Visitation .”
This reminded Fr. Verri of a story he heard about the Founder of Visitation, St. Francis de Sales, when he wanted to cross the Rhone and the boatmen gave advice which St Francis meekly followed. ***
Taking this as a sign, Fr Verri proceeded to the Visitation Monastery. Little Mary was between 9 and 10 years old when the Visitation Nuns took her into their Monastery.
BAPTISM
Mary was deemed capable of receiving baptism on Holy Saturday. She answered all the catechetical questions firmly and clearly despite her limitations in the French language, with a touching expression in her voice.
She spent her days in much prayer. Similar to the neophyte who did not believe she could lose the grace received in Baptism , she said,
astonished , long after the receipt of this sacrament : “Today I had ideas that are not of God.”
The memory of her country , which we believe to be the deserts of the Sahara, made her better understand the infinite value of redemption and the special election of which she was the object. When she spoke of God, her face lit up with heavenly joy.
RELIGIOUS LIFE
After five years of living with the Sisters and now about 15 years old, Mary felt called to the religious life. The Superior gave much time to test her vocation, and one year passed before Mary spoke of it again.
But in the beginning of 1875 Mary entered the novitiate. From the earliest days she appeared as a fully formed religious virtues , no
practice was painful to her mind and heart. Attentive to all the explanations that were given to novices,she soon became a model of fidelity.
SICKNESS
The last three years of her life were a continual prayer on the altar of sacrifice, where she constantly sacrificed to the Lord all the more
light satisfactions of body and mind. A few days before her birthday, our little sister Mary suffered from severe headache accompanied by pain almost universal. Sr. Director sent her to bed early, and gave her a hot water bottle she had to apply. Always attentive to the recommendations of the novitiate , she never failed to make the sign of the cross before taking medicine presented to her . One day after she took a strong unpleasant medicine , her Directress told her that later on give she would give her something better.” Oh ! No, Mary replied quickly , not what I like, but what you want .”
This privileged soul , just at the dawn of life, would soon enjoy noon glory. Mary was prepared for the reception of the Holy Viaticum. this visit of her God filled her with joy. She told our very honored Mother who liked to multiply his visits to her : “ My Mother , I do not hope to die , because I am not sick enough for that , but if God gives me this mercy , I beg you to give me the holy habit.”
VOWS
When we had no more hope of recovery, she was given the favor she aspired above all, to make her holy vows .
She went to God on February 8th (now the Feast Day of her compatriot St. Bakhita, and the FIRST INTERNATIONAL DAY of Prayer and Awareness of Trafficking ) singing the eternal mercies of Himwho had called her to the light of his love, to bring her into the Eternal Glory and His Sacred Heart.”
Source:
***On reaching Lyons St Francis de Sales gave a fresh proof of his meekness and patience-; for- on going down to the banks of the Rhone to make an arrangement with the boatmen who were to convey him. to Avignon,and not having the necessary passport, he had towait a full hour exposed to a strong north wind,whilst Roland his servant went to Yilleroi, Governor of Lyons. So far from complaining, he calmly said to the Canon de la Roche, that they must be content to will whatever God willed ; and yet delay was extremely inconvenient to him, as it was of importance that he should reach Avignon before the royal family of Savoy.