The First International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking

Today is the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, who died sixty-eight years ago today. Worshippers at Catholic parishes have been praying (and will be praying, for those of us attending this evening) targeted intercessions in the prayer of the faithful. As I began to write this post, there was then concluding the celebration of a Special Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to mark the First International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking. We couldn't all make it, of course, but the USSCB has created a prayer card.

Let us pray:

St. Josephine Bakhita, you were sold into slavery as a child and endured untold hardship and suffering.

Once liberated from your physical enslavement, you found true redemption in your encounter with Christ and his Church.

O St. Bakhita, assist all those who are trapped in a state of slavery;

Intercede with God on their behalf so that they will be released from their chains of captivity.

Those whom man enslaves, let God set free.

Provide comfort to survivors of slavery and let them look to you as an example of hope and faith.

Help all survivors find healing from their wounds.

We ask for your prayers and intercessions for those enslaved among us.

Amen