saint edith stein

Edith Stein: Seeker of Truth in a World devoid of Light, Part II

The Pontiff of the Catholic Church who canonized Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was a man who lived in the vicinity during the time when St. Teresa’s martyrdom took place, the Polish Pope, John Paul II. His homily given on the day Edith Stein was made a saint sums up this extraordinary woman’s life quite fittingly:

“A woman in search of the truth has become a saint and martyr through the silent workings of divine grace…With her whole being she sought the truth, of which she wrote: “No spiritual work comes into the world without great suffering. It always challenges the whole person”. For a long time Edith Stein was a seeker. Her mind never tired of searching and her heart always yearned for hope. She traveled the arduous path of philosophy with passionate enthusiasm. Eventually she was rewarded: she seized the truth. Or better: she was seized by it. She discovered that Truth had a name: Jesus Christ.”

May each of us, no matter our creed, follow Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross’s example by giving our best to seek and hopefully find our own version of divine Truth.

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

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

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"