This system has helped people for decades
Julia Greeley is yet another former slave who's on the path to canonization. The African-American philanthropist known as Denver's "Angel of Charity" was beatified in 2016.
Sources: (Listverse) (The Holy See) (Catholic Online) (New Advent) (Catholic News Agency) (BibleGateway) (Rome Reports) (Regis University)
See also: The brutal ways saints have died
Blessed Francisco de Paula Victor was born a slave in Brazil in 1827. He trained as a tailor but ended up joining a seminar and becoming a priest. Francisco de Paula Victor did, however, face discrimination for being a black slave, with parishioners even refusing to receive Holy Communion from him.
Padre Victor eventually conquered the hearts of his congregation and dedicated his life to helping the poor. The "Apostle of Charity" was beatified in 2015.
Pope Saint Callixtus, aka Callistus I, was born a slave in Rome in the 2nd century.
Denounced as a Christian, he was sentenced to work in the mines of Sardinia. He eventually returned to Rome, where he was ordained deacon, then bishop, and, finally, pope.
Pope Saint Callixtus was martyred around 222 or 223 CE.
Saint Onesimus is the only slave saint to appear in the New Testament. He went on to become the bishop of Ephesus.
Saint Onesimus was the slave of Philemon (from the Bible), but eventually escaped, converted to Christianity, and started serving Paul the Apostle.
Saint Raymond Nonnatus continued to preach, despite numerous attempts at shutting him up (including padlocking his mouth). He died in 1240, and was canonized by Pope Alexander VII in 1657.
Saint Raymond Nonnatus joined the Mercedarian Order, where he obtained the freedom of Christians who had been captured and enslaved by the Moors. Nonnatus ran out of money while he was in North Africa freeing enslaved Christians, so he offered himself in exchange.
Paul then wrote to Philemon asking him to take Onesimus back without punishment and to free him because he was now a Christian. It's not entirely clear what happened, but it's believed Onesimus was set free.
Saint Exuperius, his wife Saint Zoe, and their sons were a family of slaves owned by a pagan in Pamphylia (present-day Turkey) during the 2nd century.
Raymond Nonnatus was born in Catalonia, Spain, in 1204. His nickname "Nonnatus" (Latin for "not born") was given to him because he was born by caesarean section.
The entire family, including sons Cyriacus and Theodolus, were martyred in 127 CE, after refusing to engage in pagan rites.
Years later, Isaac Jogues decided to go back to New France, even though the Jesuits’ relationship with the Iroquois were at its worse. Isaac Jogues was martyred by the Mohawk in 1646.
Jogues was traveling when he was attacked and captured by members of the Mohawk Nation. Jogues was beaten, got his thumbs cut off, and spent two years in captivity. But he eventually managed to escape and make his way back to France.
Isaac Jogues was a French Jesuit priest. In 1636, he went on a mission to the New World with the goal to preach to the First Nations of the Iroquois.
An Italian court ruled that Bakhita had never been legally enslaved, so she was free. After being baptized by the Patriarch of Venice (the future Pope Pius X) Bakhita joined the Cannossian Sisters. She was canonized in 2000.
In 1884, Bakhita was sold to Turina Michieli from Venice. While her mistress traveled, Balhita stayed with the Cannossian Sisters, and then refused to leave the convent.
Seraphia was the slave of a Roman noblewoman named Sabina in the early 2nd century. Sabina was a widow who later converted to Christianity.
Josephine Bakhita was born in Darfur, Sudan, circa 1869. At nine years old she was sold into slavery. Years later, Bakhita ended up being sold to the Italian vice-counsel Callisto Legnani, who took her to Italy with him, following unrest in Sudan.
Being a Christian was illegal, so Seraphia ended up being sentenced to death. One year later, Sabina met the same fate and was also killed for her faith.
Sabina buried Seraphia in her own family tomb, and when she died she was buried next to her former slave. Both Saint Seraphia and Saint Sabina are venerated as Christian martyrs.
Toussaint went on to become a famous hairdresser and philanthropist. When Mrs. Berard died, he became a free man. Pierre Toussaint made a fortune and went on to support numerous charities and buy the freedom of other slaves.
Pierre Toussaint is known to have attended mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral every day for 66 years. He was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II in 1996, and is one step closer to sainthood.
Saint Patrick is venerated to this day and is the patron saint of Ireland.
Pierre Toussaint was born a slave in Haiti in 1766. Following a slave revolt in 1787, the French aristocratic Berard family fled to New York and took Toussaint with them.
Saint Patrick was taken by raiders from his home in Roman Britain to Ireland. There he lived in captivity for years, where he found God.
Saint Patrick managed to escape Ireland, and when he returned home he became a priest. He then returned to Ireland to spread God's word.
Catholic saints come from all sorts of backgrounds, and it turns out there are few who were actually slaves. Slavery dominated the world for centuries, with people being traded and owned against their will, and many being born into such conditions. The history of slavery and Christianity is indeed complex, but a few former enslaved men and women did manage to leave a legacy in the Church.
In this gallery, you'll get to know the slaves who became saints (and a few who are on the path to being canonized). Click on to get to know them.
Slaves who became Catholic saints
And those on the path to sainthood
LIFESTYLE Catholicism
Catholic saints come from all sorts of backgrounds, and it turns out there are few who were actually slaves. Slavery dominated the world for centuries, with people being traded and owned against their will, and many being born into such conditions. The history of slavery and Christianity is indeed complex, but a few former enslaved men and women did manage to leave a legacy in the Church.
In this gallery, you'll get to know the slaves who became saints (and a few who are on the path to being canonized). Click on to get to know them.