Early Life
Sr. Anna Ali of the Most Holy Eucharist, born Hadija Abdulrahmani on 29th December 1966 at Kipkelion in Kericho District, Kenya, was the first-born child of Mr. Ali Abdulrahmani and Mrs. Prisca Nyambura. She grew up in a family with diverse religious backgrounds. While her father was a Muslim, her mother was a devout Catholic, and she had the liberty to practice her faith and raise her children in the Catholic tradition. Sr. Anna Ali had two brothers, Abdulrahmani (now known as Emmanuel, who converted to Catholicism) and Antony Njoroge Amusi, a Catholic. She also had two sisters, Caroline Asha and Mariamu Wairimu, both Catholics.
Sr. Anna Ali’s spiritual journey began early. Despite her father naming her according to Muslim tradition, her mother ensured that she and her siblings attended catechism classes at the Catholic Church in Kipkelion. It was during these formative years that Sr. Anna Ali experienced her first deep encounter with God. On 15th April 1979, during the Easter Vigil, she was baptized and received her First Holy Communion at Kipkelion Catholic Church. This moment marked a profound change in her life, filling her with an inner joy and peace that sparked her desire to serve God. This longing to dedicate her life to religious service only grew stronger with time.
Sr. Anna Ali’s confirmation by Bishop Raphael Ndingi at Kipkelion Catholic Church was another significant milestone. She took the name Scholastica, further solidifying her commitment to her Catholic faith.
Education and Early Challenges
Sr. Anna Ali pursued her education at Kipkelion Primary School and later at Koru Girls Secondary School, an institution run by the Catholic Sisters of Mercy. She completed her secondary education up to Form 4, successfully passing her examinations. However, her youth was marked by a severe illness that lasted for about seven years. She suffered from unexplained bleeding from her fingers and toes, a condition that defied medical solutions despite numerous hospital visits.
In 1983, driven by faith and desperation, Sr. Anna Ali attended a healing crusade in Nairobi led by a Catholic bishop. Despite past disappointments, she held onto hope. During the healing prayers, she joined the choir and later fell unconscious as the bishop prayed for her. When she regained consciousness, she found that the bleeding had stopped, a miraculous healing that reinforced her faith and desire to serve God.
Religious Life
In 1986, Sr. Anna Ali entered the convent, joining the Pious Union of Jesus the Good Shepherd Congregation. She made her first religious profession in the Chapel of Visitation Sisters of Mother Claudia Russo in Rome on 7th September 1991, taking the name Sr. Anna Ali. She was among the first African sisters to be received into the union. However, her journey was not without further trials. Despite being healed from her initial illness, she experienced significant weakness in her right hand in late 1990, impairing her ability to write down the messages dictated by Jesus. This condition worsened following an accident in Perugia in 1991, where she dislocated her right elbow.
Early Apparitions and Messages
a) The Beginning of the Apparitions: The first significant apparition occurred on 16th April 1987. During this encounter, Jesus communicated a clear and powerful message to Sr. Anna: “Be a servant of Love, don’t hide My glory. Pray for the scandals of the world. Glorify My name every day. Don’t be afraid to say My name. The devil will come to trouble you. I want your life to be a prayer for the Church and poor sinners; for the many who are suffering as I was suffering, for Me.” This message set the tone for her subsequent experiences and her mission.
b) The Divine Master’s Path: On 24th April 1988, Jesus revealed to Sr. Anna that her mission involved walking along His painful path for the good of souls. He expressed His desire for her to long to leave the world to be with Him forever and to recognize Him in her greatest sufferings. This message underscored her calling to make Jesus known in the Sacrament of His Love and to intercede for souls through her prayers.
Photographs of Jesus
a) The Allowance of Photographs: One of the most extraordinary aspects of Sr. Anna's visions was the allowance by Jesus to be photographed. This was an unprecedented event, meant to provide tangible evidence of His real presence and to strengthen the faith of souls. The Lord Himself provided explanations for these manifestations, stating, “I am above this earth. I allow Myself to be seen after many warnings,” (3rd April 1988). He made Himself visible to bring back souls and to give a warning of mercy.
b) The Capturing of the Divine Presence: Whenever Jesus appeared, He brought with Him a powerful light and a sweet fragrance that filled the room and lingered long after His departure. These divine manifestations were captured in photographs, which have become a significant part of Sr. Anna's legacy. The cameras used during these apparitions ceased to function after taking the photographs, symbolizing the sacredness of the events.
The Effusion of Tears of Blood
a) The Phenomenon: Starting on the Feast of Corpus Christi in 1988, Sr. Anna began to experience the effusion of tears of blood from midnight every Wednesday to the whole of Thursday. This phenomenon, a deeply mystical experience, was a sign of her union with the suffering Christ and His sorrow for the sins of the world.
b) The Lord’s Explanation: Jesus explained that these tears were a manifestation of His broken heart, particularly due to sacrilegious communions and the irreverent handling of the Holy Eucharist. He conveyed that these acts of profanation deeply wounded Him and that Sr. Anna's tears of blood were a call to repentance and reparation for these grave sins.
Series of Visions
a) The Blessed Hosts: In the apartment at Porta Angelica, Rome, Sr. Anna witnessed a series of visions involving Blessed Hosts. On several occasions, miraculous Hosts appeared suspended in the air, signifying the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. These visions reinforced the importance of reverence and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
b) The Adorable Jesus: The second apparition, known as the Adorable Jesus, occurred in August 1987 in the parlour at Porta Angelica, Rome. This vision was remarkable for its uniqueness and grandeur. Sr. Anna captured a photograph of Jesus during this apparition, which has been preserved as a testament to her mystical experiences.
c) Jesus in Tears of Blood: Another significant vision was the apparition of Jesus in tears of blood, captured on the Feast of Corpus Christi in 1988. This vision deeply impacted Sr. Anna and those around her, emphasizing the Lord’s sorrow for the world's sins and His call for reparation.
The Substance of the Divine Appeals
a) Call to Priests and Consecrated Souls: Throughout her visions and messages, Sr. Anna received specific appeals from Jesus, directed particularly at priests and consecrated souls. Jesus expressed His profound sorrow for the offenses committed by those who had dedicated their lives to Him. He called for humility, repentance, and a return to genuine devotion.
b) Warning Against Sacrilege: A recurring theme in the Divine Appeals was a stern warning against sacrilege, particularly the profanation of the Holy Eucharist. Jesus lamented the actions of Freemasons and apostate priests who desecrated the Eucharist, urging them to repent and turn back to Him.
c) Divine Justice and Mercy: The messages frequently echoed the New Testament’s warnings about Divine Justice following Divine Mercy. Jesus expressed His desire to pour out His mercy on humanity but also warned of the consequences of continued disobedience and sin.
d) The Treasure of the Eucharist: Central to the Divine Appeals was the emphasis on the Holy Eucharist as the infinite treasure of humanity. Jesus sought to draw attention to the immense value and sacredness of the Eucharist, urging the faithful to approach it with reverence and love.
e) Parental Responsibility: Jesus also highlighted the role of parents in guiding their children’s spiritual lives. He warned that many were heading towards perdition due to the negligence or poor example set by their parents.
Final Vows and Later Life
In 1996, Sr. Anna Ali left the Pious Union of Jesus the Good Shepherd and became a hermit under the spiritual guidance of Rev. Bishop Cornelius arap Korir of the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret. She took private final vows and assumed the title Sr. Anna Ali of the Most Holy Eucharist, as instructed by Jesus in a Divine Appeal message on 15th October 1998.
For 25 years until her death, Sr. Anna continued to shed tears of blood every Thursday from midnight of every Wednesday to the whole of Thursday, a sign of her deep mystical union with the suffering Christ. Her life was a testament to her unwavering faith and dedication to her divine mission.
Birth to Eternal Life
Sr. Anna Ali of the Most Holy Eucharist was born to eternal life on 6th June 2012. Her body was laid to rest on 16th June 2012 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish, Burnt Forest, in the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret, Kenya. Her life and the Divine Appeals she received continue to inspire devotion to the Eucharist and call for repentance and deeper faith in Jesus Christ. Her story is a powerful reminder of the presence of God’s love and mercy, even in the midst of suffering.
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