Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

Truly a saint for our time, having lived in the last century. Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was born Edith Stein in 1891 to Jewish parents. She was very intellectual, being educated at major German universities. She converted to Catholicism and in 1933 she joined the Discalced Carmelites taking the name, Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She was arrested on August 2, 1942 by the nazi regime and with other Catholics of Jewish extraction she was transported by cattle train to the death camp at Auschwitz and that is where she died in the gas chambers in that same year (Magnificat, 119-20). Sister Teresa Benedicta gave up everything for the sake of Christ and the gospel. The red vestments we wear today tells that she died a martyr and was not afraid. That phrase is key because it is a universal statement, "Do not be afraid." As the opening prayer at Mass states, "May her prayers be a source of help for us, and may her example of courage and chastity be our inspiration" (120). Let us make that our prayer as we pray for the intercession of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross and follow the examples given to us by the holy women and men of the church. God Bless You!!!