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| Image: Portrait c. 1600 |
She was born in Spain, to a family of seven children. At the age of ten, she became an orphan due to the plaque which killed her parents. She became a shepherdess to her brother’s sheep. She had many visions since a young child, one of which was that of Our Lady who told her she would become a nun. She tried to enter a monastery but was turned away due to her young age. Her family tried to arrange a marriage for her years later, but she finally entered the Carmelite monastery at the age of 21. It was the same monastery which Saint Teresa of Avila lived. Saint Teresa taught her how to write and she became Saint Teresa’s personal secretary and assistant. She travelled with Saint Teresa of Avila for five years, helping her to establish new foundations. Saint Teresa died in 1582 in Anne’s arms. After Saint Teresa died, Anne helped to found several other monasteries in France and became prioress to three of them. She also found a monastery in the Netherlands where she remained until she died. There has been over 150 approved miracles with many more that haven’t been officially approved that were attributed to her intercession.
