The Inspiring Story of Anna Zelíková, the Young Girl Who Found “Heroism in Little Things”

Born in 1924 in the Czech Republic, Anna Zelíková died of tuberculosis at the age of 17 whispering “I trust.”

Anna Zelíková was born on July 19, 1924 into a Catholic family in Napajedla, Moravia. The Sisters of the Holy Cross had a great influence on her religious upbringing.

From an early age, she wanted to sacrifice herself completely to God to win many souls to heaven. St. Therese of Lisieux and St. John Bosco were her saintly role models.

On Holy Thursday in 1938, learning of the killing of unborn children, she offered herself to God as an atoning sacrifice for these sins. On Good Friday, before the Blessed Sacrament, she renewed the offering wholeheartedly.

At that moment, she coughed up blood from her lungs. However, her serious illness filled her with inner happiness.

A year later, she wanted to enter the Carmelite Monastery in Prague, but was unable to due to illness. So she was accepted as a Third Order Carmelite. She received the name of Mary from the Sacred Heart of Jesus and made her vows in 1941, also receiving the scapular.

Anna died on Sept. 11, 1941 with a happy smile and the words: “My heart beats for Jesus… I love him so much… I have faith.”

In 1991, her canonization cause was officially opened, and she obtained the title of “Servant of God”.

Anna wrote in her Diary:

“True beauty is hidden in faithfulness in the little things. I’ve always wanted to make great and heroic gestures of love, and when I saw that I wasn’t capable of it, I was saddened.

“Now I find heroism right in the little things, and therefore, I don’t have the slightest regret about being able to do something or not. All I can give to God now is my heartbeat and my smile. I have nothing left but love and trust”.

Prayer for Private Devotion

Almighty eternal God,
graciously glorify the miracles of Anna Zelíková,
your faithful servant, a model of submission to your will,
a humble sacrifice of love and peace for souls.

Benevolently hear our prayers
and the prayers of all those who run to her
with confidence for help, so that the more surely,
following her example, they may follow you,
who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Amen.

Prayer source: Archdiocese of Olomouc

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