Saint Bakhita | A cartoon video to introduce her to children
The video cartoon on St. Josephine Bakhita made by Missio Ragazzi of the Missio Foundation of the CEI: a tool for animation
In memory of St. Josephine Bakhita, a video cartoon was made by Missio Ragazzi of the Missio Foundation of the Italian Episcopal Conference in order to acquaint children and young people with the life of this young African woman who, although enslaved, found her freedom in Jesus.
On the eve of her feast day, which coincides with World Anti-Trafficking Day, spazio + spadoni is pleased to repropose it for you, because the images and the autobiographical narrative can certainly convey even better the strength of a saint who was able to break the chains not with force, but with forgiveness, not with hatred, but with mercy.
History
“Bakhita” means ‘lucky,’ but it was not really her name. It was given to her by two slave traders on the day they kidnapped her, when she was 7 years old, near home because, she, out of trauma and exhaustion, had forgotten it and could not respond.
In her country (Sudan), but also in the rest of Africa, between the 16th and 19th centuries, the terrible practice of slavery was widespread: men, women and children were sold to go to work on plantations or in the homes of white people.
Deprived of freedom and rights, they became real commodities.
Bakhita was resold several times, beaten, tortured, until she was noticed by the Italian consul in Sudan, Calisto Legnani, who rescued her by taking her to Italy, where she went to work for the Michieli family; there, Mr. Illuminato Cecchini, a person of great faith who read the Gospel to her and introduced her to Jesus, worked as a factor. One day, he also gave her a crucifix.
And she prayed thus, “After so many terrible masters, who despise, mistreat, kill, you Jesus will be my good master because you created and loved me from the beginning. Reading the Gospel, I who have suffered so much feel understood by you who have experienced incredible violence in your own skin, even to the point of sacrifice for love of all humanity.”
After meeting the Canossian Sisters, she was baptized, received all the sacraments and decided to serve the Lord forever. But what defines her most is her immense mercy, her ability to forgive her enemies, the fact that she prayed so much for them, that they would convert.
The video
The video can be a valuable opportunity to listen to his testimony, and not only for the little ones. It is also highly recommended for parishes, catechetical groups and oratories, as an animation tool for children.
May St. Josephine Bakhita (1869 – 1947) become an example for us. And watch over all the new slaves of today.