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I decided not to give in. I felt that from now on this was my home, my life. When Signora Turina saw how stubborn I was she became furious. She called me ungrateful, she threatened me and she begged me. But I had made up my mind.

The matter was brought to the highest religious and civil authorities. The Royal Procurator, the Patriarch of Venice and the Superior of the House came to the conclusion that since there was no such thing as slavery in Italy, Bakhita was free to do whatever she felt was best.

Bakhita had made the choice of her life. She had given up all to secure all.

Signora Turina was angry, upset and crying. She left, taking Mimmina with her even though my little friend didn't want to leave my side. I suffered so much to see Signora Turina so bitter and sad, but more so to see how upset my dear Mimmina was. I looked at the crucifix and felt calmness and strength to resist.

It was 29 November 1889.

Bakhita was baptised on 9 January 1890 in the chapel of the Canossian convent.

Later it was at the hands of the same Patriarch of Venice, Cardinal Domenico Agostini, that I received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion, all on the same day. What a feast it was! And so many people! The church was packed...

I later visited the palace of Cardinal Luigi of Canossa, nephew of the Foundress of the Canossian Daughters of Charity, the Sisters running the Institute where I was staying.

Soon, I began to realise that there was a great desire growing inside me: to live for Jesus. Oh, if only I could have just flown back home to visit my people! I could have let my nearest and dearest know all about the love of God, and share this Good News with all my African brothers and sisters! How comforted they would have been to know that there was Someone who loved them and was thinking of them!

Josephine's fears that the colour of her skin could be an obstacle to being admitted into the congregation were soon set aside.

One day I plucked up the courage to ask the Sister, "Would I be allowed to become a nun? I'm African, so perhaps they won't want me."

The Superior, Mother Previtali, said to me, "No, Bakhita, skin colour and where you come from don't matter to the Lord. What counts is love, love of God and neighbour."

It was on 8 December 1896 that Sister Josephine took her vows in the mother house of the Canossian Institute in Verona. Before this decisive step, she was examined by none other than the Patriarch of Venice, Joseph Sarto, who later became Pope Pius X and after his death was proclaimed saint.

'Bakhita' means the 'Lucky one'. Wasn't she really lucky?

The following year Sister Josephine was posted to Schio, where she spent her days like a good religious: praying, working and serving her neighbour whole-heartedly.

I glanced for one last time at the crucifix in the house where I had become a daughter of God, and I looked at the baptismal font before embracing my dear Sisters who had helped me so much. The Lord was with me and would be wherever I went. And so I left.

I found Schio to be a very beautiful town, nestling as it does, between the mountains and the River Leagra. The people struck me as hardworking and friendly, and they welcomed me with a bit of curiosity, but lots of affection. The Canossian Sisters' Institute served as both a school and an orphanage for girls of every age. Later the First World War broke out. This war, like all others, struck the innocent most of all. During this war period the Convent was partly taken over to look after wounded soldiers. I looked after them too. There was so much blood, so much pain, so much suffering!

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