Originally published at National Catholic Register
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) at its fall 2024 plenary assembly voted on Wednesday to advance the canonization causes of two faithful American women: Benedictine Sister Annella Zervas and Servant of God Gertrude Agnes Barber.
The bishops voted overwhelmingly in favor of advancing the causes of both Zervas and Barber following presentations on their behalf by Bishop Andrew Cozzens of the Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota, and Bishop Edward Lohse of Kalamazoo, Michigan, the latter of whom appeared on behalf of Bishop Lawrence Persico of Barber’s native Erie, Pennsylvania.
The assembly cast a 206-7 vote in favor of Sister Zervas and a 205-6 vote in favor of Barber, a laywoman, teacher, and special-needs advocate.
Sister Zervas: Eucharistic Devotion, Entrusting Suffering to God
“[Zervas’] Catholic faith, courage, and complete surrender to God offer us an extraordinary example of wholeness,” Bishop Cozzens told the assembly during his presentation.
Though she was born in Morehead, Minnesota, a city in the Diocese of Crookston, the influence of Sister Zervas “has spread beyond Minnesota,” Cozzens said.
According to the Minnesota bishop, Zervas fostered early devotion to the Eucharist as a young girl and, “drawn to frequent Communion,” would often walk to daily
