A WOMAN FOR ALL SEASONS

Edith Stein, a German Jew born in 1891, studied philosophy and philology at the universities of Breslau and Goettingen (the latter practically a Hall of Fame for World Class mathematicians) before World War I and obtained a doctorate in philosophy at Freiburg after it.

After reading the autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila, Edith was baptized a Catholic in 1922. She became a distinguished author and teacher, but with the ascendancy of the Nazi party, she entered a Discalced Carmelite monastery in October, 1933. In April, 1934 she received the Habit and became Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. On Easter, 1935 she professed her final vows.

As an ethnic Jew Sister Teresa Benedicta came to understood that her presence was dangerous to the monastery and asked permission to transfer to a different country. On the final night of 1938 she crossed secretly into neutral Holland and joined the convent at Echt.

Unimpressed by declarations of neutrality, The Nazi's invaded her new country, however, and when the Dutch bishops protested the deportation of Jews and the removal of Jewish children from Catholic schools, all Catholics of Jewish descent in the country were arrested. Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was forced from her monastery on 2 August 1942 and murdered in the Auschwitz gas chambers seven days later. Prophetically, perhaps,she had added "of the Cross" to her name.

Is this not a spell-binding tale of achievement, internal conflict, spiritual resolve, heroism - something to inspire everyone? For the clincher consider that on 11 October 1998, she was canonized by Pope John Paul II and is now SAINT Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.

Would the life, death, and posthumous events in the earthly affairs of this contemporary saint not make a fascinating film? If I were familiar with the background of those times, I could write the play or screenplay myself. How can Horrywood have overlooked a true story of such power for so long? Her tragic life was consummated 68 years ago, and she has been recognized as a Saint - an action not lightly undertaken in the Catholic Church - a dozen years ago. Add to this the certified miracles necessary to her elevation. (Do not sneer at this process; Joan of Arc was not canonized until 1920.)

In a sequel post we shall examine possible reasons for this negligence, but 9 August is Edith Stein's Saint Day in the hagiography, and whatever your religious sentiments, remember on that day a true Woman for all Seasons, a bona fide Saint.