Saint Teresa Benedicta Of The Cross

(EDITH STEIN) (1891-1942)

August 9

“Come,” Edith gently whispered, taking her sister Rosa’s hand, “let us go for our people!” These were Edith Stein’s last words as the Nazis, enraged at the Dutch bishops’ condemnation of their genocide, took into custody all Catholic converts from Judaism. Born Jewish, but nonpracticing from her teens, Edith’s search for truth led to a doctorate in philosophy, a brilliant career as professor and author and, finally, to the Autobiography of Saint Teresa of Ávila, which she read in one sitting, then declared, “That is the Truth!” Baptized on January 1, 1922, observed then as the feast of Jesus’ initiation into the covenant of Abraham, confirmed on February 2, the feast of Jesus’ Presentation in the Temple, Edith entered the cloistered Carmelites in Cologne, transferring to a convent in Holland when she realized that, because of the Nazi persecution of the Jews, her presence could imperil the safety of the other nuns. She died in the gas chambers of Auschwitz as a daughter of Israel and of the Church.