Edith Stein (later known as Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), a profound spiritual writer, was born in 1891 in Breslau, Poland to a large Jewish family.
By the age of 14, she lost interest in Judaism and even stopped believing in God. Despite her lack of faith, Edith became a brilliant student and philosopher, and particularly took an interest in phenomenology (the study of consciousness); she earned her doctorate in philosophy at the age of 25.
After witnessing the great faith of her Catholic friends, Edith became interested in Catholicism and started reading all she could about it. In 1922, she converted to Catholicism and was baptized in Cologne, Germany. About 11 years later, Edith became a Carmelite nun and took the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She taught at a Dominican school and gave lectures at the “Educational Institute” in Munich.
Anti-Jewish pressure from the Nazis forced her to resign both positions, and she was moved to the Netherlands. When the Nazis conquered and occupied the Netherlands, they arrested all Dutch Jews who had become Christians… this included Teresa Benedicta. She and her sister Rose were sent to Auschwitz concentration camp, where they died in a gas chamber on August 9, 1942.
Teresa Benedicta was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in 1987 and canonized by him in 1998. Edith Stein’s memory stands as a light undimmed in the midst of evil, darkness, and suffering. Her writings fill 17 volumes, and include Essays on Women, On the Problem of Empathy, and Life in a Jewish Family (her autobiography).
"Just take everything exactly as it is, put it in God's hands and leave it with Him. Then you will be able to rest in Him - really rest - and start the next day as a new life."
St. Maximilian Kolbe (August 14th)
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15th, Solemnity)
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St. Bartholomew (August 24th, Feast)
St. Monica (August 27th)
St. Augustine (August 28th)
"You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in You." -St. Augustine (paragraph one of his Confessions)
St. Augustine is one of the great Latin Fathers and Doctors of our Church, son of St. Monica, and
is a beautiful reminder that it is never too late to turn and follow The Lord's Will for our lives.
Check out the chorus and second verse of “Alive Again” by our Catholic brother Matt Maher and compare it to the quote in the picture above from St. Augustine’s “Confessions.” Click Here for the link to the song!