A 26-year-old woman from the state of Minnesota joins another 100 U.S. born men and women on the path to canonization as a century after her death, she continues to inspire “the faithful in every state of life to deepen their relationship with Jesus in the Church.”
By Kielce Gussie
Only three people born in the United States of America have been officially canonized saints in the Catholic Church: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Katharine Drexel, and St. Kateri Tekakwitha. But, the list of men and women on the road to canonization is much longer.
There are currently at least 100 causes of canonization opened for U.S.-born men and women. One of the newest additions to that list is Servant of God Sr. Annella Zervas.
Born in 1900 and raised in Minnesota, this child of immigrant parents became renowned for her piety as a young girl, as she would walk a mile every day to attend Mass during her time at a school in North Dakota.
Sr. Annella Zervas with her family (Sister Annella Guild)
“What is the message of Sister Annella’s life for us today?” Bishop Andrew Cozzens of the Diocese of Crookston asked during his homily at the opening Mass for the Cause of the Servant of God Annella Zervas. “All of us have our part to play in living the Gospel of Suffering.”
An inspiration to all walks of life
Speaking with Vatican News, Amanda Zurface, the postulator for this diocesan phase of the canonization process, described Sr. Annella Zervas as someone who continues to inspire “the faithful in every state of life to deepen their relationship with Jesus in the Church.”
A young Anna Cordelia Zervas – born in 1900 in Minnesota, U.S. (Sister Annella Guild)
Born Anna Cordelia Zervas, she entered the Benedictine convent in St. Joseph, Minnesota at only 15 years of age and took the name Annella. While she is remembered for her kindness, sense of humor, and deep devotion to the Eucharist and the Blessed Mother, her special way of enduring suffering left a lasting legacy.
“She really embraced suffering through the Christian vision of redemptive suffering”, Zurface explained. Diagnosed with a painful skin disease (Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris) and stomach problems, Sr. Annella spent about four years living with violent chills, high fevers, intense itching, and the daily loss of an abundant amount of skin.
Rather than complain, Sr. Annella asked for the grace to accept “what God would permit.” Zurface noted that the Servant of God’s short life “remains a powerful witness to the redemptive value of suffering and to the beauty of complete trust in God’s plan for our lives” for all people.
How the ordinary can become extraordinary
Though Sr. Annella only lived to age 26, Zurface reflected on how her brief life can be an inspiration to young people today—100 years after her death. “Her short life really shows how ordinary life can become quite extraordinary when it’s completely given to God”, she explained.
Sr. Annella is an example of how to live as “sons and daughters of God and as faithful children of the Church” because her life was “filled with joy, kindness, prayer, and a love for God.” She kept her sense of humor, even in the midst of her illness. This positivity, Zurface pointed out, “is quite rare because when we’re suffering in our day-to-day, we do not often find it humorous.”
Yet, Sr. Annella lived the belief that peace and joy can be found amid trials. During his address to the U.S. bishops during the consultation phase to open the cause in November 2024, Bishop Cozzens also highlighted her witness to the importance of Eucharistic adoration, particularly for young people as many discover their vocation there.
“For our young people today, Sr. Annella’s life is a beautiful reminder that we’re called to become saints,” Zurface noted.
On the road to canonization
Currently, Sr. Annella’s cause is in the early stage, what is called the diocesan phase, which opened on October 8, 2025. A tribunal of officials have since been conducting interviews and the historical commission has been researching archives and gathering documents—all with the goal of forming a complete picture of Sr. Annella’s life.
Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston, MN, at the opening Mass of Sr. Annella’s cause (Sister Annella Guild)
This means learning more about “her reputation of holiness and whether she lived what the Church calls heroic virtue”, Zurface explained. Once that phase is completed, the cause is then forwarded onto the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Rome. In Rome, the diocesan findings are reviewed and collected into a document called the Positio, which will then be studied by theological experts. At that point, “if they judge that she’s truly lived a life of heroic virtue,” Zurface said, “the recommendation is then presented to the Holy Father, who can then declare her venerable.”
From Minnesota to Rome: A centenary of legacy
While Sr. Annella never left the United States, her postulator stressed that “part of telling her story means sharing the broader story of the Catholic faith.” So to accomplish both, while commemorating the centenary of Sr. Annella’s death, the Sr. Annella Guild—dedicated to promoting her cause—is hosting a pilgrimage to Rome.
“Rome, as the heart of the Catholic Church, is the most fitting place to mark the centennial of her death…to encounter the roots of our Catholic faith, to pray where St. Peter and St. Paul gave their lives, to stand in the places where the early Christians worshipped”, Zurface highlighted.
Sr. Annella was a member of the Benedictine Sisters in St. Joseph (Sister Annella Guild)
As the list of canonized saints is expanding to include more international candidates, Zurface stressed how “today, there’s a particular need for examples of holiness close to home.” People like seeing examples of holiness “who lived in our culture, faced our own challenges, and showed us how to live as Christians in the midst of them.”
