Saint of the Day: Blessed Anne of Saint Bartholomew

Winchester, VA – Born in Spain in 1549, Ann was orphaned at ten by a brutal Spanish plague. She was graced from youth with an extraordinary spiritual life complete with visions and revelations. Her vocation as a religious was given to her in a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and at 21 she entered the first of Saint Teresa of Avila’s Discalced Carmelite monasteries, St. Joseph’s. A hard-working lay-sister, she faithfully found the time for her dedicated prayer late at night. She was chosen to be St. Teresa’s personal assistant, nurse and secretary, and later held her as she passed into eternity. She proceeded to make more Carmelite foundations and died at Antwerp in 1612. Blessed Anne of St. Bartholomew, pray for us!