Cardinal Nichols on Day of Prayer against Human Trafficking

Instituted in 2015, the "International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking" is held on the Feast Day of Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese slave girl, who became a Canossian nun, and was declared a Saint in 2000.

Crime against humanity

Pope Francis, who has repeatedly denounced human trafficking as a shameful crime against humanity, said this day offers us all the opportunity to help those who fall victim to the traffickers “to break the heavy chains of exploitation and reclaim their freedom and dignity”.

To mark the occasion, English Cardinal Vincent Nichols is taking part in as special prayer service at a school in London on Monday, to highlight the importance of working to combat human trafficking….

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The cardinals says this day has special resonance for him because his diocese and the whole bishops conference is “putting a lot of effort into this work” of combatting human trafficking.

He says he’s attending an assembly led by students at the Cardinal Pole Catholic School in east London which has a hall dedicated to St Josephine Bakita. During the service, he says, they’ll be reflecting on the life of the saint and the importance of working to end trafficking which Pope Francis has called “an open wound in the flesh of humanity”.

Prayer for victims of trafficking

Cardinal Nichols concludes with the prayer for all trafficking victims, which is used as the collect on February 8th:

O God, who led Saint Josephine Bakhita from abject slavery

to the dignity of being your daughter and a bride of Christ,

grant, we pray, that by her example

we may show constant love for the Lord Jesus crucified,

remaining steadfast in charity

and prompt to show compassion.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen

For further details on the life of St Josephine Bakhita and ways of celebrating her feast day, see the website of the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales

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