When Anna Muller left her family and homeland in Germany in 1927 and crossed the ocean it was a journey of faith and love to enter our congregation. That same childlike trust and love for her God accompanied our dear Sr. M. Crescentia all through life and prepared her for the end of her earthly pilgrimage. When that sacred moment arrived she passed very peacefully from death, her final act of adoration on earth, into eternal life and the most intimate experience of Perpetual Adoration.

Anna Muller was born June 15, 1908 in Bitz, Bayern, Germany, the fifth of six children born to Alois and Mary (Scharl) Muller. Two of her brothers died in early childhood. Theirs was a happy, united family until World War I brought poverty and distress. \

Anna was 16 years old when her mother died. Shortly after this great loss Anna felt a strong desire to give herself to God in religious life. She entered the convent of St. Walburg in Eichstatt. While she was a novice she heard about the charity received through the "Caritas" work of Fr. Lukas Etlin and the Convent of Perpetual Adoration in Clyde, Missouri, U.S.A. 

It seems Fr. Lukas suggested that the Convent at St. Walburg might show their gratitude by sending a few members to the struggling U.S. community. Anna always had a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, so a life of Perpetual Adoration was very attractive and she believed this invitation was meant for her. She traveled to America and entered Clyde as a postulant on May 4, 1927. On March 4, 1928 she again became Novice Anna. On September 1, 1929, she professed temporary vows and received the name of Sr. M. Crescentia, the date of perpetual vows was October 27, 1934.

Whether serving the community in the bakery, kitchen, garden, orchard, paint shop, barn, shoe repair shop, chicken house, or Altar bread Department, her spirit of joy or mischief went with her. During the many years she lived in our Mundelein monastery she became very active in the charismatic movement and this deepened her joyful spirit and filled her with spiritual energy, without replacing her feisty disposition. When someone asked her why her behavior did not always reveal her dedication to this movement she simply responded: "But think how much worse I would be if I were not charismatic!" Among other gifts of the Spirit, joy was one of Sr. M. Crescentia's special virtues, a joy that often sparkled through her eyes, along with a variety of facial expressions to mark every mood or situation. One special joy in her life came in June 1968 when she was able to return to Germany for a home visit after 41 years.

Because of her time spent in the Abbey at Eichstatt, Sr. M. Crescentia had great faith in St. Walburga oil and was often able to provide it for others, or apply it to them herself for a cure. Her faith was simple and genuine. And along with her deep devotion to the Holy Eucharist, she obviously had a special reverence for all priests. Our chaplains at Clyde will always remember her attentive care for them, preparing special breakfast, and sneaking in an extra banana for the road.

Sister moved into St. Benedict Health Care community in St. Louis in 1989 where through her playfulness and even her feisty moods, she delighted the hearts of the nursing staff and her sisters in community who visited with her. Even when you were unable to understand her German, it was often possible to communicate with Sr. M. Crescentia through her eyes and her playful smile. As she was dying, before she drew her last breath at 7:55 p.m. her face was brightened with a last brief smile.

Mass of Christmas Burial was celebrated in the St. Louis monastery chapel on Saturday, March 30th, with the prayer vigil the evening before. At this vigil the Sisters shared many delightful and humorous memories of Sr. M. Crescentia. She certainly did seem to enjoy life, and she touched many hearts in loving ways.

The remains were taken to Clyde on Palm Sunday so our dear Sister had her own triumphant procession toward Mount Calvary. On Monday morning, April 1, 1996, after the celebration of the Eucharist, our dear Sr. M. Crescentia was laid to rest in Mt. Calvary cemetery.