Blessed Anne, or Ana, as she was born as, was an early member of St. Teresa of Àvila’s Discalced Carmelite order. Ana was born in October of 1550, the youngest child of a large Catholic family.

Her three brothers, three sisters, and their parents all attended Mass frequently as a family. Her parents instilled a life of faith in their young children, praying the rosary together, instructing their children in Catholic doctrine, and teaching their children to provide for and care for the poor they offered hospitality to in their home.

Ana was drawn to the love expressed by Christ in his passion, and she meditated upon his suffering for us often. Ana desperately wanted to imitate Christ. When Ana was only nine years old, her mother passed away. Only a year later, Ana’s father died as well, leaving young Ana in desolation.

Left in the care of her brothers, Ana deeply desired to join the religious order, but her elder brothers would not hear of it, convinced that Ana would not be able to persist in religious life, and leave them, embarrassed, with a spinster sister.

Ana languished, miserable and alone. She fell ill, and nothing could cure her. Her relatives worried about her health, but no cure could help her. Finally, they carried her to a hermitage dedicated to St. Bartholomew, and Ana was cured.

At long last, Ana entered the Carmelite convent as a secular member. She entered in 1570 and remained the infirmarian at the Carmelite convent until 1605. Ana cared for St. Teresa faithfully on her deathbed. Teresa died in Ana’s arms.

In 1605, the French Carmelites appointed Ana the superior of the convent in Pontoise. This was a highly unusual step, as Ana was a “secular Carmelite,” meaning she was not part of the choir, and removed from the convent’s life of prayer. She was consecrated as a religious sister and took over the convent at Pontoise. Ana became the prioress of several different convents: Tours, Flanders, and finally Antwerp, where she died on June 7, 1626. Her spiritual writings and letters are preserved in Antwerp and Paris.

Pope Benedict XV beatified Ana on May 6, 1917.

Blessed Anne of St. Bartholomew, companion to St. Teresa of Avila—pray for us!