← [[11-19-st-raphael-kalinowski|Nov 19, St Raphael Kalinowski]] | [[maps/ocds-propers|Table of Contents]] | [[11-29-blesseds-denis-berthelot|Nov 29, Blesseds Denis & Redemptus]] → # November 25, Blessed Anne, of Jesus, Lobera Torres > **November 25** > **BLESSED ANNE OF JESUS LOBERA TORRES** (Ana de Jesús) — [[anne-of-jesus-blessed]] > **Virgin** > **Optional Memorial** > *Added to the OCD Proper Calendar by Prot. N. 62/24 (2024)* Anne (Anna Lobera Torres) was born at Medina del Campo, Valladolid, Spain, on 25 November 1545. In 1570 she was received into the first monastery of the Discalced Carmelites at Avila by Saint Teresa herself, whom she later accompanied to Salamanca and Beas. In returning to Granada to found a monastery, she obtained from Saint John of the Cross his commentary on the Spiritual Canticle, which he dedicated to her. After several migrations and misfortunes, in 1604, together with Blessed Anne of Saint Bartholomew, she founded Discalced Carmelite monasteries in France and Belgium. She died in Brussels on 4 March 1621, after years of great interior and physical suffering. She was beatified by Pope Francis on 29 September 2024. # From the Common of Virgins, or of Holy Women: Religious **Prayer** O God, who gave Blessed Anne of Jesus the grace of knowing the mystery of Your Love, revealed in Christ Jesus, your Son; grant us, we pray, through her intercession, that, loving you faithfully and above all things, we may always be in communion with you and our brothers and sisters. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. ## Office of Readings **The Second Reading** From the prologue of *The Spiritual Canticle* by Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church *(The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross, Washington DC, 2017, pp. 469–471)* *The abundant love of mystical intelligence* These stanzas, Reverend Mother [Anne of Jesus] were obviously composed with a certain burning love of God. The wisdom and charity of God is so vast, as the Book of Wisdom states, that it reaches from end to end, and the soul informed and moved by it bears in some way this very abundance and impulsiveness in her words. As a result, I do not plan to expound these stanzas in all its breadth and fullness that the fruitful spirit of love conveys to them. It would be foolish to think that expressions of love arising from mystical understanding, like these stanzas, are fully explainable. The Spirit of the Lord, who abides in us and aids our weakness, as St Paul says, pleads for us with unspeakable groanings in order to manifest what we can neither fully understand nor comprehend. Since these stanzas, then, were composed in a love flowing from abundant mystical understanding, I cannot explain them adequately, nor is it my intention to do so. I only wish to shed some general light on them, since Your Reverence has desired this of me. It is better to explain the utterances of love in their broadest sense so that each one may derive profit from them according to the mode and capacity of one’s own spirit, rather than narrow them down to a meaning unadaptable to every palate. As a result, though we give some explanation of these stanzas, there is no reason to be bound by this explanation. For mystical wisdom, which comes through love and is the subject of these stanzas, need not be understood distinctly in order to cause love and affection in the soul, for it is given according to the mode of faith through which we love God without understanding Him. I will then be very brief, although I do intend to give a lengthier explanation when necessary and the occasion arises for a discussion of some matters concerning prayer and its effects. Since these stanzas refer to many of the effects of prayer, I ought to treat of at least some of these effects. Yet, passing over the more common effects, I will briefly deal with the more extraordinary ones that take place in those who with God’s help have passed beyond the stage of beginners. I do this for two reasons: first, because there are many writings for beginners; second, because I am addressing Your Reverence, at your request. And our lord has favoured you and led you beyond the state of beginners into the depths of his divine love I hope that, although some scholastic theology is used here in reference to the soul’s interior converse with God, it will not prove vain to speak in such a manner to the pure of spirit.Even though Your Reverence lacks training in scholastic theology, through which the divine truths are understood, you are not wanting in mystical theology, which known through love and by which these truths are not only known but at the same time enjoyed. **Responsory** Cf. Rom. 8, 26–27.28 **R/.** The Spirit comes to help us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought: * The Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words; and God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit. **V/.** We know that all things work together for good for those who love God. * The Spirit. ## Sources - OCD General Curia. Prot. N. 62/24. *Decree on the Celebration of Blessed Anne of Jesus in the Proper Calendar of the Order of Discalced Carmelites*. 2024. - Catholic Church. (1993). *Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours of the Order of Discalced Carmelites*. Institutum Carmelitanum, Rome. - OCD General Curia Calendar: https://carmelitequotes.blog/discalced-carmelite-calendar/ - Decree text: https://www.carmelitaniscalzi.com/en/anne-of-jesus-62-24/