Blessed Anne of St. Bartholomew

Today is the feast of Blessed Anne of St. Bartholomew in the Discalced Carmelite calendar. She was born Ana Garcia in Amendral, Castile in 1549. She spent her youth as a shepherdess, herding her father's flocks. The notes on her life in "Carmel, it's History, Spirit and Saints" says that "while in the fields of Amendral she enjoyed the companionship of Our Lord, Who Himself instructed her in all things temoral and spiritual."

Bl. Anne entered Carmel and made her vows in the hands of St. Teresa. As she was illiterate, she entered as a lay sister. St. Teresa nevertheless selected her to be her companion on her journeys and her secretary. "The saint chose her to be her secretary and commanded her to write, which she did at once by obedience." (ibid.) Bl. Anne was present at St. Teresa's death and died, quite literally, in her arms.

After St. Teresa's death, Bl. Anne was sent as one of the foundresses of the Discalced Order to France, and eventually, Belgium. She was made choir sister and became prioress and foundress of several houses, among them Pontoise, Tours, and Antwerp.

She died on the feast of the Holy Trinity in 1624.