Elizabeth Felber was born in the Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland on Jan. 21, 1843. Having suffered the loss of her mother at an early age, she became all the more tenderly devoted to her father, her sisters and brothers. On Jan. 22, 1859, the day after her 16th birthday, she left her comfortable farm home to enter the small Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration at Maria Rickenbach, founded only a few years before. 

Her sterling character and virtuous life, enhanced by a good education and many talents, were to make her a real asset to the community. Particularly useful was her skill in embroidery and fine sewing for the making of church vestments and linens.

Mature for her years, Elizabeth readily fulfilled responsible tasks. For some time she helped in the kitchen, where hard physical labor and a somewhat meager diet taxed her frail constitution. But she worked diligently and conscientiously, in a spirit of generous self-sacrifice. 

After a few months she was admitted to the novitiate, and made her first profession of vows on May 31, 1860, receiving the name of Anselma. She was not quite eighteen years old. At that time she expressed her gratitude in this prayer: "0 Jesus, how can I contain all the joy you are lavishing on me? Give me the grace to be a worthy spouse and to love our Holy Rule as the way you want me to come to you. 0 Jesus Eucharistic, set my heart on fire with love of you in your most Holy Sacrament." Love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament was indeed to be the keynote of her life. For Him no sacrifice would be too great, no labor too strenuous, no suffering too severe.

Sr.M. Anselma's genuine qualities quickly won the love and confidence of her sisters and superiors. Only two years after her profession she was entrusted with the office of Assistant to the Prioress. No one resented this, young though she was, and she fulfilled the office capably and conscientiously for twelve years. Then God had other plans for her.

In the summer of 1874, the call came from the Benedictine Fathers of Engelberg, who had recently made a foundation in the United States, for Sisters from Maria Rickenbach to come and assist them in their mission. Among the five Sisters sent was Sister M. Anselma, who was appointed the Superior. Though it wrung her heart to leave her native country, her beloved convent and family, she courageously accepted this assignment, trusting in God for the accomplishment of His holy will. She was only thirty-one years old, and not too robust.

The five pioneers arrived in Maryville, Missouri, on Sept. 5, 1874, and were immediately involved in the work of educating and imparting religious and moral training to the young. However, their objective was the establishment of perpetual adoration. A year or so later they extended their activities to Conception, which became the nucleus of the Congregation of Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.

One of their most difficult and trying experiences was to master the English language, which for Mother M. Anselma was a real cross, as her time was so taken up with her duties that she had little time for study. Sister Rose, a Benedictine Sister from Ferdinand, Indiana stayed with them for a year or more to teach them English and to help in the opening and conduct of a school. After a few years the Maryville group broke off and established convents in South Dakota, Oregon and elsewhere, devoted to teaching and nursing. The community at Conception grew rapidly, and in April, 1882 moved to a new location near Clyde.

The prolonged hardships, labors and trials of the pioneer years took their toll of the Sisters' health, particularly that of Mother M. Anselma. For some years her lungs had been affected by tuberculosis, but the disease progressed gradually and no one paid much attention, least of all Mother herself. Even her frequent coughing spells were no cause of alarm, and though she often felt miserable, she remained steadfastly on duty. But on August 13, 1883 she suffered a severe attack of choleric dysentery. She herself was convinced that her end was near, and the doctor and infirmarian were apprehensive because of her extreme weakness. But the community could not and would not believe that their Mother was in a grave condition and cherished the hope that she would rally in a few days as she had done so often in the past.

Though Mother survived the crisis on the ninth day, her condition suddenly worsened and in the early morning of August 26, 1883 she went home to God. She had received the anointing of the sick some days previously from Abbot Frowin Conrad. Though she had been unconscious, she revived long enough to express a desire for Holy Communion and to receive Holy Viaticum. Not only the Sisters, but the monks of Conception and the entire community were grief stricken over her loss. Because of extremely warm weather and lack of embalming facilities, it was necessary to have her funeral the very next day. People came from far and near to express their grief and their sympathy. Mother had reached the age of forty years and seven months. Rumor has it that Mother had offered her life as a sacrifice for the recovery of Father Pius Conrad, their confessor, who had been critically ill. If so, it would seem that the sacrifice was accepted, for Father Pius recovered shortly, while Mother’s life came to an end.

Mother M. Anselma's one great desire had been to establish perpetual adoration at this American foundation. This was achieved gradually as more members were admitted, and finally became a reality on March 28, 1878. Though we have no written testimonial of her sentiments at that time, she had as it were sung her "nunc dimittis" some time before, when she felt her life's work had been accomplished. In Nov. 1877 she wrote to Abbot Anselm at Engelberg: "We are expecting three more candidates at Christmas. If they persevere, we can keep perpetual adoration day and night, which America needs so much. Then my life's work will be finished! For what is there left for me to do after that! What I strove for above everything else will have been accomplished - and LET NO ONE VENTURE TO INTERRUPT THE PERPETUAL ADORATION!"

In an earlier letter to Mother Gertrude Leupi she wrote: "Jesus calls me to adoration. I will remember all of you.    May His Divine Heart put you at ease in my regard for all future times. I trust in the strength of His Heart. For Him I live, for Him I die. I am HIS forever!"