She set out for Antwerp to visit the Mother Anne de Saint Barthelemy, a saintly woman, who, warned of her coming by a vision of Saint Theresa, consented to receive her into the Carmel of which she was the Superior.
Then obstacles arose, the work of the Devil.

Having returned to her guardian, pending her reception at the convent, she suddenly fell paralyzed, losing all at once her hearing, speech, and sight.

She nevertheless succeeded in making it understood that they were to carry her, as she was, to the convent, where she was left half dead.

There she fell at the feet of Mother Anne, who blessed her, and raised her up cured.
Then her novitiate began.
In spite of her delicate frame, she endured the most terrible fasts, the most violent scourging; she bound her body in chains with points on the links, fed on the parings thrown out on plates, drank dirty water to quench her thirst, and was so cold one winter that her legs froze.
Her body was one wound, but her soul was glorious; she lived in God, who loaded her with mercies and communed with her sweetly; her probation was near its end, and again, just when she became a postulant, she fell dangerously sick.

There were doubts as to her being admitted to the Order, and again Saint Theresa intervened and commanded the Abbess to receive her.
She took the habit, and then fell a prey to the temptation of despair, which has assailed some Saints; after this came a sense of dryness and desertion, which lasted for three years.