Anna de Lobera Torres was born in Medina del Campo (Castile) on 25 November 1545 and died in Brussels on 4 March 1621.

In 1570, with the religious name of Anna of Jesus, she was introduced personally by St. Teresa into the first monastery of the Reform in Avila.  During the same year, she followed the Holy Mother to Salamanca, and made her First Profession there on 22 October 1571.  She was again conducted by St. Teresa for the foundation of Beas in Andalusia and then, under holy obedience, went on to open a foundation in Granada (1582).  This was the only Monastery during the lifetime of Teresa that was not founded by the Saint herself.  We are also aware  St. John of the Cross’ deep esteem for Anna.  He called her a “seraphim” and dedicated his Commentary on his Spiritual Canticle to her.  In 1586 Anna founded the Monastery in Madrid, where she worked very hard to have the first edition of the works of St. Teresa published (1588) and where she had her first struggles to defend the Norms for the Teresian Constitutions.  From there she proceeded to Salamanca (1584) where she was elected Prioress in 1586.

In 1604, under the guidance of Pietro Berulle, she moved into France with Blessed Anna of St. Bartholomew and four other Nuns.  She founded the monasteries of Paris (1604) and Pontoise and Dijon (1605).  Following on a disagreement with Berulle who seemed to want to diverge from the ideals of St. Teresa for French Carmels, plus her desire to be directed by Discalced Carmelite Friars, Anna accepted an invitation from the Archdukes of Belgium to move into Flanders.  There she founded the Monasteries of Brussels, Louvain and Mons (1607).  She retired to Brussels where she experienced intense interior and physical sufferings before dying there in 1621.  She had acquired the reputation of great sanctity, which was embellished by numerous graces and miracles. 

Her Cause for Beatification was introduced immediately after her death, but for various reasons, only arrived at a recognition of her heroic virtues on 28 November 2019.  On 14 December 2023, His Holiness Pope Francis recognised a miracle which occurred at the moment of  the death of Anna of Jesus and was attributed to her intercession.

The solemn ceremony of her Beatification by Pope Francis took place in Brussels on 29 September 2024.