Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Christian : Catholic

20th Century

Germany
(Europe)

Edith Stein

Timeline (1891 - 1942)

Poems by Edith Stein
Books - Links

Edith Stein, Edith Stein poetry, Christian, Christian poetry, Catholic poetry, poetry, poetry

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Edith Stein, also known by her monastic name of Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, was a mystic, philosopher, and Carmelite nun who died at Auschwitz. Edith Stein was born in 1891 in Breslau, Germany to Jewish parents. From an early age, she displayed intellectual gifts and a hunger for learning. When World War I broke out she had to stop her education, but resumed her studies when the fighting stopped. She received her doctorate in philosophy suma cum laude from the University of Freiburg.

In 1922, Edith Stein converted to Catholicism after reading the autobiography of Saint Teresa of Avila.

She soon became a celebrated philosopher, author, translator, and lecturer. She was a strong advocate for women in the professions and higher education.

As the initial restrictions on Jewish life began to take effect under Nazi rule, Edith Stein found she could no longer continue her public life because of her Jewish parentage. She took vows as a Carmelite nun, and retired to Cologne (Koln), Germany, adopting the relgious name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.

The Nazi persecution of Jews grew more organized and violent. Sister Benedicta recognized that her presence posed a danger to her fellow nuns, and she fled to a monastery in Holland.

When the Nazis invaded Holland, Sister Benedicta was arrested and sent in the trains to the death camp at Auschwitz. There she died in the gas chambers on August 9, 1942.

She was canonized as a saint in 1998.

Poems by Edith Stein

	I Will Remain With You...
	Novena Of The Holy Spirit

Recommended Books

	Edith Stein: A Biography / The Untold Story of the Philosopher and Mystic Who Lost Her Life in the Death Camps of Auschwitz, by Waltraud Herbstrith / Translated by Bernard Bonowitz Amazon.com
	Edith Stein: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series), by Edith Stein / Translated by John Sullivan Amazon.com
	The Hidden Life: Hagiographic Essays, Meditations, Spiritual Texts (The Collected Works of Edith Stein), by Edith Stein Amazon.com
	Knowledge and Faith: (The Collected Works of Edith Stein), by Edith Stein / Translated by Walter Redmond Amazon.com
	On the Problem of Empathy: (The Collected Works of Edith Stein), by Edith Stein Amazon.com
	The Science of the Cross: (The Collected Works of Edith Stein), by Edith Stein / Translated by Josephine Koeppel Amazon.com

Related Links:

	Edith Stein http://www.ewtn.com/faith/edith_stein.htm Online biography and bibliography, as well as an audio program.
	Edith Stein - Convert, Nun, Martyr http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0001.html Biography and exploration of her ideas.
	Edith Stein: Our Newest Saint - Oct 1998 St. Anthony Messenger Magazine http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Oct1998/feature2.asp Biographical sketch of the saintly life of Edith Stein
	The Life and Texts of Edith Stein http://www.geocities.com/baltimorecarmel/stein/ An excellent resource of links to online biographies and writings of Edith Stein.
	The Hidden Life: Edith Stein http://www.karmel.at/ics/edith/stein.html The text of Edith Stein's writings, gathered under the title The Hidden Life.

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

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Edith Stein

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Sacred Poetry from Around the World