Thanks. I remember having taught a unit about St. Josephine to my 6th graders a couple years back. Her lesson of forgiveness is a real challenge!
Not to get off track, but this is similar; have you heard the story of Imaculee Ilibagiza??
www.immaculee.com
I heard this woman speak on Dennis Miller ~ Dennis was speechless, it wasn’t really an interview. He simply let her tell her story ~ and she had me in tears. After the interview, other people called in and said the same thing. Her story was so powerful.
This woman’s voice had an amazing quality. Like Bakkita, she forgave her tormentors (they had also murdered Imaculee’s entire family.)
I don’t know that did such a good job of teaching the story of Bakkita. That she was able to forgive ~ that she would “kiss their feet” with gratitude the people that tortured her was really just a little too much for me.
I did the best that I could with the lesson and left it with the Holy Spirit to do the rest.
I had heard the name of Imaculee Ilibagiza, but don’t know much about her story.
Yes St. Josephine Bakhita’s story is one of forgiveness and then making a beautiful life with the tortured body she had left.
This article had more details about how she worked in cooking, cleaning, doorkeeper and pray-er. What an inspiration.