Edith Stein, Edith Stein poetry, Christian, Christian poetry, Catholic poetry,  poetry,  poetry Edith Stein
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Poems by Edith Stein
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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


Recommended Books: Edith Stein

The Hidden Life: Hagiographic Essays, Meditations, Spiritual Texts (The Collected Works of Edith Stein) Edith Stein: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series) Knowledge and Faith: (The Collected Works of Edith Stein) Edith Stein: A Biography / The Untold Story of the Philosopher and Mystic Who Lost Her Life in the Death Camps of Auschwitz On the Problem of Empathy: (The Collected Works of Edith Stein)
The Science of the Cross: (The Collected Works of Edith Stein)



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.
Edith Stein