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| Excerpts from Bakhita's story are taken from manuscripts told by Bakhita herself to her Sisters in Venice between 1910 and 1929. |
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Madame Turina took Bakhita back with her to Mirano. She was a
willing servant and the Michieli family grew fond of her.
A year later the family was blessed with the birth of a beautiful little girl, Mimmina. Bakhita became a nanny to the darling child, and they a strong attachment developed between them. |
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As a nanny I joined in all the children's games that the little girl played. She adored me and would never leave alone even for a moment. And I, too, loved her very much. Amid all this laughter and fun and games, the torture and suffering I had undergone seemed to belong to a very distant past. After two years the Michieli family decided to return to Africa and they took me with them so that I could take care of the child. This gave me the chance, just for a while, to see my country again. In fact, when Signora Michieli had to return and take care of business in Italy, Mimmina and I went back with her. As Signora Michieli had to consult her husband before finishing off the business matters, she decided to send Mimmina and me to be looked after by the Canossian Sisters at their college in Venice. As she was leaving, Signora Michieli told me, "Right! This is your home now, Bakhita!" Little did she know how true this would become. "My home? Have I finally come home?" Just saying it made me feel strangely happy. In fact, it was this place that really changed my life. |
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It was February 1889. The Mother Superior, Sister Maria Fabretti, was touched by Bakhita's simplicity. Kindly and patient she gradually unfolded the story of our salvation. Bakhita drank every word of her religious teacher. Often moved to tears, she would exclaim, "How I love to think of God as our Father in heaven, who loves and watches over the orphaned and the poor, who loves masters and slaves alike, who understands the suffering of each soul, and for each He has reserved a place in heaven!" Signor Illuminato, the Michieli's business manager, presented Bakhita with a silver crucifix.. "Take this," he said, "It's a present for you. It will remind you that Jesus died on the cross for you as well!" |
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| What a precious gift...I guarded it jealously and when I was alone in my room I used to look at it secretly. It made me cry. Because I never owned anything, I was afraid that they would take it away from me... | |
| I joined the Catechemen's Institute run by the Canossian Sisters, to be taught about the Catholic faith. I was assigned to Sister Maria Fabretti. I can't think of her without crying. She was so kind, considerate and loving. I still become moved, today, when I think of her. Some time later, she asked me if I wanted to become a Christian and, when she saw how much I really did, she patiently helped me to reach my goal. That's how I came to know God whose presence I had always felt... |
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