I have always been fascinated by authoritative figures within the realm of organized religion who come from backgrounds that are anything but religious or where they begin life following a faith with a foundation that seems almost diametrically opposed from the one they come to eventually embrace. Thus is the case with a Jewish woman born as Edith Stein who would eventually become the Catholic saint named Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.

Within Catholicism’s School of Saints, Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross is truly unique. Although reaching the highest level of Catholic spirituality, as a canonized saint Edith’s identity is still closely intertwined with her religion of birth given the fact Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross’ life ended in Auschwitz, the most notorious of Nazi extermination centers established during the Second World War which were built with the intent of annihilating the Jewish people as a whole.

Read more "Edith Stein: Seeker of Truth in a World devoid of Light, Part I"