ANNA di SAN BARTOLOMEO, blessed. - Discalced Carmelite, in the world Anna García, b. 1 Oct. 1549 at Almendral (near Ávila), d. at Antwerp on 7 June 1626. She entered on 2 Nov. 1570, as the first lay sister, the first reformed monastery at Ávila, and St Teresa, appreciating her natural as well as supernatural qualities and gifts, took her as her inseparable companion on her journeys and wished to die in her arms. A. was among the first Discalced Carmelites to go to France (1604), where she founded two monasteries, at Pontoise (1605) with Anna di Gesù, and at Tours (1608). She then went to Belgium, where she founded the monastery of Antwerp (6 Nov. 1612) and, through her prayers, saved the city from the danger of falling into the hands of the Huguenots (1622, 1624); for this deed she was acclaimed by the people as “Liberator of Antwerp.” At her death innumerable favours and miracles followed; she was beatified by Benedetto XV on 6 May 1917; her feast is celebrated on 7 June.
Ambrogio di Santa Teresa