St. Anna Schaffer (1882-1925)

Saint Anna Schaffer was a “victim soul” from Germany who suffered much during her short life. She bore the stigmata, the wounds of Christ.

Anna was born in Mindelstetten in Bavaria. She was much like the other children, her mother recalled, but was drawn to prayer. At age 11, she received her first Holy Communion, telling Our Lord, “Do with me as you want … if you will it my Jesus, let me become an expiatory sacrifice to atone for all dishonor and all offenses which are committed against you.”

At 14, she worked as a maid to help support the family. At 16, she had a vision in which Jesus warned her that she would endure much suffering in her life. A few years later, her legs were badly burned in a workplace accident. Despite many skin grafts and surgeries, they never healed.

Anna was bedridden but used her time to grow closer to Christ. A local abbot brought her daily Communion, which was essential to her growth in holiness. She was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1925. On October 5 of that year, she died after receiving Holy Communion and declaring, “Jesus, I live for you.”