Every June 7, Blessed Ana de San Bartolomé, a religious Carmelite, mystical and disciple of Santa Teresa de Jesús, is remembered. Sister Ana promoted, with great fruits, the expansion of the Carmelite Reform Barefoot in France and the Netherlands.
It was proclaimed “Liberator of Antwerp” (Belgium) since the ancient city of Flanders, which had been the scene of the clashes between Catholics and Protestants for a good part of the 16th century, won in peace and prosperity thanks to the foundation of the Carmelita Desalzo monastery led by Beata Ana.
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The monastery gave the city new life, which was once called “the most beautiful of cities” in the previous centuries. Subsequently, Antwerp would be saved from destruction at the hands of the Dutch, thanks to the fact that Catholics there were entrusted to Beata.
Aciagos times
Ana de San Bartolomé was born on October 1, 1549 with the name Ana García Apple in Almendral de la Cañada (Toledo, Spain).
He lived during the period called the Spanish “Golden Age”, when in America the first great evangelizing efforts were carried out in the new continent. Spain freed a hard and bloody battle within the framework of what is known as “wars of religion” caused by the progress of Protestantism.
For its part, the Catholic Church boosted the counter -reform, which had its peak moment in the council of Trent. The Council gave – among other measures – an impulse to the reform of religious orders as a means to renew Catholicism and deal with Protestant ideas.
Under the sponsorship of the Apostle Bartolomé
In that context the young Ana was growing and maturing the idea of a possible call to religious life. However, at a given time his health was affected and became seriously ill. Among his brothers and relatives, a great concern was raised, so they decided to pray a novena to the Apostle San Bartolomé to ask for their healing.
On August 24, 1570, the day of the apostle party, Ana was taken to a hermitage dedicated to him and married. That same year, completely recovered, entered the convent of San José de Ávila as sister Lega and chose San Bartolomé as her patron saint, whose name would take as a barefoot Carmelite.
Santa Teresa de Ávila and the spirit of reform
Being novice, he met Santa Teresa de Jesús, promoter of the Reform of Carmel. The doctor of the Church approved her profession and took the votes on August 15, 1572. Then she made her her private secretary.
He learned to write neatly miraculously. He always stood out for his extraordinary charity, for his mystical union with God and for his kindness with neighbor.
After the death of Santa Teresa, Sister Ana de Bartolomé began the journey that would take her to France, Belgium and the Netherlands founding convents, leaving in many beautiful testimonies of her virtue.
In his autobiography, written by obedience, he recorded the abundant thanks of those he enjoyed during his life, especially the mystical gifts that the Lord granted him. There is no lack of the count of his struggles against the attacks and temptations of the devil.
He had the gift of bilocation. When he learned that his confessor, Fr. Juan de San Cirilo, was about to die, prayed for him and suddenly he saw his side, giving advice to his nurse. He also had the gift of knowledge of souls, who took advantage of him a lot to give spiritual advice and attend with his prayer who were approaching him.
Epilogue
In 1624 Sr. Ana de San Bartolomé suffered a stroke, from which he could not fully recover. On June 7, 1626, after receiving extremeunciation and holy communion, he fell into ecstasy for a few minutes and delivered his soul in peace.
Ana de San Bartolomé was beatified in 1917 by Pope Benedict XV.
More information in the life of Ana de San Bartolomé here:
Central writing
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