Saintly Saturday - St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

Born on October 12th, 1891, in Breslau, Edith Stein was the youngest of eleven in a Jewish family. At just fourteen, she abandoned her faith in God. She enrolled in the University of Breslau, and later transferred to the University Gottingen. Her interest was in philosophy and women’s issues, though she chose to study history and German. After serving as a nurse during World War II, Edith became the assistant of the philosopher, Edmund Husserl. She continued this job until 1918, when she wanted to work independently. Edith spent the summer of 1921 with a pupil of Husserl’s. There she read the autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila and remarked to herself, “This is the truth.” She was confirmed and baptized in 1922. After her conversion, Edith wanted to enter a Carmelite convent, but was discouraged by her spiritual mentors. Until 1933, among other things, Edith taught, translated the writings of Cardinal Newman and Thomas Aquinas, held a lectureship position, and wrote works of her own. She was finally permitted to enter the Carmelite Convent of Cologne, in 1933, and Sr. Teresa Bededicta of the Cross made her final profession in 1938. That same year, the Nazi anti-Semitism peeked, and Teresa smuggled across the border to the Carmelite Convent in Echt. She and her sister, who had also converted, were arrested on August 2nd, 1942 and deported to Auschwitz on the 7th. It is believed that they were gassed, along with many other Jews, just two days later. 

Pope St. John Paul II beautified Teresa in 1987, and her feast is celebrated on August 9th.

    St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, pray for us!