AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

A light against Human Trafficking... 

The International Day of Prayer and Reflection "Against Human Trafficking" takes place every year on February 8th, the day in which we celebrate the liturgical memory of St. Bakhita, a Sudanese nun who as a child had the dramatic experience of being kidnapped and enslaved and became the universal symbol of the Church's commitment against trafficking. It is promoted by the International Unions of Superiors and Superiors General.

"I encourage those who work helping the men, women and children who are enslaved, exploited, abused as instruments of work or pleasure, who are often tortured and mutilated. It is my hope that government leaders may work decisively to remove the causes of this disgraceful scourge, it is a scourge unworthy of society. May each one of us feel committed to being a voice for our brothers and sisters, who have been humiliated in their dignity." (Pope Francis )

Prayer of pope Francis

Saint Josephine Bakhita, you were sold into slavery as a child

and endured unspeakable hardship and suffering.

Once liberated from your physical enslavement,

you found true redemption in your encounter with Christ and his Church.

O Saint Josephine Bakhita, assist all those

who are entrapped in slavery;

Intercede on their behalf with the God of Mercy

so that the chains of their captivity will be broken.

May God himself free all those who have been threatened, wounded or mistreated

by the trade and trafficking of human beings.

Bring comfort to survivors of this slavery

and teach them to look to Jesus as an example of hope and faith

so that they may find healing from their wounds.

We ask you to pray for us and to intercede on behalf of us all:

that we may not fall into indifference,

that we may open our eyes and be able to see the misery and wounds

of our many brothers and sisters deprived of their dignity and their freedom,

and may we hear their cry for help.

Amen.