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Edith Stein: The Life and Legacy of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
In the wake of World War I when neither Jews nor women were widely accepted in academia, Edith Stein rose to prominence as a leading philosopher who thrived in the intellectual community in Germany. She shocked both her Jewish family and her academic friends when she fell in love with Jesus Christ and became a Roman Catholic More shocking still, eleven years later, Edith entered the cloistered Carmelite order to follow a life of mystic and contemplative prayer, changing her name to Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. Edith Stein s surrender to grace is all the more visible because of the dark night that enveloped the period of history in which she lived and died when millions of men and women, including Edith Stein herself, were systematically murdered by the Nazi regime in the name of diligent ethnic cleansing. Today, as the meaning of feminism is lost in a world of relativism, Edith Stein provides a model for a true feminist woman who authentically integrates faith, family, and work. Award-winning journalist Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda brings new light to this complex woman, her culture, and the pivotal period of history in which she lived and died. More than a biography, these pages paint a multifaceted portrait of Edith Stein as seen by scholars, friends, and relatives and by Catholics and Jews alike. You ll gain new insights into the complex aspects of her life and death, as well as the impact of her character and personality on those who knew her. But most of all, you will enter into the interior life of this woman of Jewish descent who transformed her entire life because of her encounter with Jesus Christ, an encounter that led her from the depths of atheism to the heights of sainthood.
224 pages, Paperback
Published August 24, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 29, 2023
When the Definitive class of our Carmelite community chose this book to read for formation, I admit I was disappointed. Not that I do not like Edith Stein; I love her—as a woman, saint, Carmelite, role model, mentor—she excels in all those areas and more.
No, it was that I had previously read a biography about Edith by the same author, Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda and two years ago our group had finished an excellent biography about Edith, Edith Stein: The Life of a Philosopher and Carmelite. Couldn’t we read about someone else or perhaps, read something Edith herself had written?
As I was not in on the decision-making process, we pressed on with this book. And now, I am very happy we did, because this book was a significant advancement over Ms. Scaperlanda’s earlier work (which was also excellent) and it filled in historic and other background information not covered in Sr. Posselt’s (her prioress) biography written in 1947*.
It includes an explanation of phenomenology as a twentieth-century philosophical movement which grew out of, and in response to, what is known as “modern philosophy.” As modern philosophy had boxed itself into an egocentric corner (thanks to Descartes) which has come to think it cannot know the world outside its own mind, it therefore limits perceptions of that world. All else is an illusion. Public space is diminished by the vast chasm between our own private worlds.
Phenomenology was an attempt to liberate the mind and philosophical thought from this kind of ‘modern’ thinking. Edith was drawn to this type of thinking and to Professor Edmund Husserl’s teachings at Gottingen which was then on the cutting edge of the study of this philosophy. The author discusses not only Edith’s groundbreaking writings, but also the constraints she was up against as a woman and a Jew writing at that time in Germany. That she was allowed to study at all was a huge breakthrough for the time.
This biography retraces some familiar ground through Edith’s service as a nurse during World War I, her return from the war to resume her studies and her eventual break from Husserl, although they were to remain friends until his death, her professional and personal admiration of him undaunted.
For those not familiar with Edith’s conversion, it is beautifully described here, perhaps even better than I have read anywhere else. Although most narratives explain that it occurred after her all night read of St. Teresa of Avila’s Autobiography, few mention that she never explained exactly what it was about that book which moved her. Instead, she replied, “secretum meum mihi” or, “my secret is mine.” According to her Jewish niece, there was no logical progression in Edith’s thinking which led her from phenomenology to Christianity, much less Catholicism, but there seems to be much debate about this, and this ‘secret’ will have to remain a subject for speculation and discussion, or, as I prefer, meditation.
After her conversion, Edith’s greatest struggle was to minimize the hurt she caused her beloved Jewish mother by becoming Catholic. To that end, she sacrificed her own desires to immediately enter a Carmelite convent, something she knew her mother would never understand. So, from her Baptism into the Catholic faith in 1922 and her entrance into Carmel in 1934, she taught in a Dominican girl’s school, wrote extensively and lectured all over Germany. It was only with the rise of Hitler into power that she saw it was time for her to enter Carmel as all employment doors had been closed to Jews throughout Germany. Even so, her mother could not understand Edith’s choice and their relations remained strained until her mother died in 1936, her mother never understanding how she could abandon her Jewish faith.
The book does not conclude with her death at Auschwitz but goes on to discuss Edith’s impact in the world and especially the controversy surrounding her beatification and canonization which still are not understood by many—perhaps most—Jewish people. Whereas Catholics see her as a means of unifying the two faiths, Jews see her as divisive. She left Judaism and was no longer Jewish, so how can they see her as one of their own anymore? It is indeed tragic that even after all these years, after all these deaths, and especially as Edith saw her death as a sacrifice for her people, that sacrifice is rejected, but so it is.
The book goes into more detail than this review allows for, but I highly recommend it as the author does not take sides or offer trite solutions, she simply describes it.
Excellent!
*The ideal is to read BOTH books.
I read Maria's other book about Edith Stein, Edith Stein: St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross many, many years ago and now we are reading this one in formation. So far it is excellent with far more detail than her previous book.
No, it was that I had previously read a biography about Edith by the same author, Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda and two years ago our group had finished an excellent biography about Edith, Edith Stein: The Life of a Philosopher and Carmelite. Couldn’t we read about someone else or perhaps, read something Edith herself had written?
As I was not in on the decision-making process, we pressed on with this book. And now, I am very happy we did, because this book was a significant advancement over Ms. Scaperlanda’s earlier work (which was also excellent) and it filled in historic and other background information not covered in Sr. Posselt’s (her prioress) biography written in 1947*.
It includes an explanation of phenomenology as a twentieth-century philosophical movement which grew out of, and in response to, what is known as “modern philosophy.” As modern philosophy had boxed itself into an egocentric corner (thanks to Descartes) which has come to think it cannot know the world outside its own mind, it therefore limits perceptions of that world. All else is an illusion. Public space is diminished by the vast chasm between our own private worlds.
Phenomenology was an attempt to liberate the mind and philosophical thought from this kind of ‘modern’ thinking. Edith was drawn to this type of thinking and to Professor Edmund Husserl’s teachings at Gottingen which was then on the cutting edge of the study of this philosophy. The author discusses not only Edith’s groundbreaking writings, but also the constraints she was up against as a woman and a Jew writing at that time in Germany. That she was allowed to study at all was a huge breakthrough for the time.
This biography retraces some familiar ground through Edith’s service as a nurse during World War I, her return from the war to resume her studies and her eventual break from Husserl, although they were to remain friends until his death, her professional and personal admiration of him undaunted.
For those not familiar with Edith’s conversion, it is beautifully described here, perhaps even better than I have read anywhere else. Although most narratives explain that it occurred after her all night read of St. Teresa of Avila’s Autobiography, few mention that she never explained exactly what it was about that book which moved her. Instead, she replied, “secretum meum mihi” or, “my secret is mine.” According to her Jewish niece, there was no logical progression in Edith’s thinking which led her from phenomenology to Christianity, much less Catholicism, but there seems to be much debate about this, and this ‘secret’ will have to remain a subject for speculation and discussion, or, as I prefer, meditation.
After her conversion, Edith’s greatest struggle was to minimize the hurt she caused her beloved Jewish mother by becoming Catholic. To that end, she sacrificed her own desires to immediately enter a Carmelite convent, something she knew her mother would never understand. So, from her Baptism into the Catholic faith in 1922 and her entrance into Carmel in 1934, she taught in a Dominican girl’s school, wrote extensively and lectured all over Germany. It was only with the rise of Hitler into power that she saw it was time for her to enter Carmel as all employment doors had been closed to Jews throughout Germany. Even so, her mother could not understand Edith’s choice and their relations remained strained until her mother died in 1936, her mother never understanding how she could abandon her Jewish faith.
The book does not conclude with her death at Auschwitz but goes on to discuss Edith’s impact in the world and especially the controversy surrounding her beatification and canonization which still are not understood by many—perhaps most—Jewish people. Whereas Catholics see her as a means of unifying the two faiths, Jews see her as divisive. She left Judaism and was no longer Jewish, so how can they see her as one of their own anymore? It is indeed tragic that even after all these years, after all these deaths, and especially as Edith saw her death as a sacrifice for her people, that sacrifice is rejected, but so it is.
The book goes into more detail than this review allows for, but I highly recommend it as the author does not take sides or offer trite solutions, she simply describes it.
Excellent!
*The ideal is to read BOTH books.
I read Maria's other book about Edith Stein, Edith Stein: St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross many, many years ago and now we are reading this one in formation. So far it is excellent with far more detail than her previous book.
July 18, 2025
This was helpful in getting to know Edith. This book used lots of primary sources, statement from her family, and brought to light the perspective of her Jewish family on their relative’s canonization. I would recommend but with the caveat that these chapters could have been formatted a little better. The timeline was lost at times.
January 8, 2023
An honest, well-outlined account of the life and conversion of St Teresa Benedicta which I am sure she would approve of if she were to read it! The description of parallel timelines between the saint and Hitler was definitely interesting and chilling.
Must read for anyone wanting to learn more about the life and inspirations of St Teresa Benedicta.
Must read for anyone wanting to learn more about the life and inspirations of St Teresa Benedicta.
October 23, 2020
Loved learning more about Sr. Benedicta of the Cross; wasn't much a fan of how this was written. It felt like it was a lot of strung together quotes from other resources. Now it's time to read something from her own hand to really get to know her.
March 2, 2019
This book served as a helpful introduction to the life and work of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, also known as Edith Stein, a 20th century German Jewish woman who converted to Catholicism and eventually became a Carmelite nun. She was one of the millions who was put to death in the death camp of Auschwitz. She was eventually declared a saint by the Catholic Church and was appointed by St. Pope John Paul II as one of the patron saints of Europe alongside Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Brigid of Sweden. Edith was also a philosopher, writer, and teacher, and is notable for her Essays on Woman as well as her writings on many other subjects.
August 19, 2021
This is exactly what a good introductor biography should be: just enough detail to put the story in context but not so much as to drag the reader down. I've know of Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) but I was slow to get to know her. This biography is the best place to start. Along with her life, conversion, entrance into the Sisters of Carmel and her death there is some great commentary about why her canonization was so controversial and why Jews have trouble understanding her, particularly in light of the Holocaust. Excellent read.
February 10, 2020
This was a good read. I enjoyed it overall ~ I was looking more for a book about the overall life of Edith and her work concerning phenomenology. This was more about her beatification and canonization of Edith as a saint.
July 2, 2020
Another Hero
Not many people do I allow to become heroes on my wall, but now I have another to add: Edith Stein welcome to my wall. Now, your story has become part of the fabric of my life...my story!
Such a wonderful introduction to Edith Stein....now on to read her books!
Not many people do I allow to become heroes on my wall, but now I have another to add: Edith Stein welcome to my wall. Now, your story has become part of the fabric of my life...my story!
Such a wonderful introduction to Edith Stein....now on to read her books!
December 31, 2024
This REALLY is my last book of 2024.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said in Matthew 16:24-26:
"Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?"
This story is about a Jewish philosopher, Edith Stein, who became a leading and one of the most sought-after philosophers in Europe during the 1920s and 30s. She was born Jewish and became an atheist. She started studying Thomism and phenomenology and converted to Catholicism. Eventually, she could no longer ignore the call to a religious vocation and became a Carmalite Nun. She died in an Auschwitz gas chamber in 1942, as Sister Teresia Benedicta a Cruce. She was canonized in 1998.
The story is what happens in the middle of all of that. That's where the miracle of "understanding meets grace" happens. The why and the how and the aftershock. The middle is where you find her purpose, and the answers to your questions, especially the one that asks: "Why did an incredibly gifted intellectual CHOOSE to give up EVERYTHING rational, join a convent of nuns just to end op dieing in a concentration camp?
Our Lord Jesus Christ said in Matthew 16:24-26:
"Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?"
This story is about a Jewish philosopher, Edith Stein, who became a leading and one of the most sought-after philosophers in Europe during the 1920s and 30s. She was born Jewish and became an atheist. She started studying Thomism and phenomenology and converted to Catholicism. Eventually, she could no longer ignore the call to a religious vocation and became a Carmalite Nun. She died in an Auschwitz gas chamber in 1942, as Sister Teresia Benedicta a Cruce. She was canonized in 1998.
The story is what happens in the middle of all of that. That's where the miracle of "understanding meets grace" happens. The why and the how and the aftershock. The middle is where you find her purpose, and the answers to your questions, especially the one that asks: "Why did an incredibly gifted intellectual CHOOSE to give up EVERYTHING rational, join a convent of nuns just to end op dieing in a concentration camp?
September 1, 2023
Book 48 of 2023 — Edith Stein: The Life and Legacy of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross by María Ruiz Scaperlanda
This most excellent biographical book only served to reaffirm my choice of classroom patroness! As the only 2 female teachers in our middle school building, I wanted a female saint for our shared classroom. St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross has been of great interest to me since reading her short biography in The Springs of Carmel. She has proven to be an excellent choice for me!
This book follows the same style as Ms. Scaperlanda’s book on Blessed Stanley. I loved the history of St. Teresa Benedicta’s life. There was also an excellent section on her legacy. The question of how she is remembered — as Edith Stein, the Jew or as St. Teresa Benedicta, the Catholic nun. A beautiful contemplation on the quite difficult to reconcile life of this brilliant and beautiful woman.
I hope to read more of Ms. Scaperlanda’s wonderful writing in the future! ❤️
5⭐️/5
This most excellent biographical book only served to reaffirm my choice of classroom patroness! As the only 2 female teachers in our middle school building, I wanted a female saint for our shared classroom. St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross has been of great interest to me since reading her short biography in The Springs of Carmel. She has proven to be an excellent choice for me!
This book follows the same style as Ms. Scaperlanda’s book on Blessed Stanley. I loved the history of St. Teresa Benedicta’s life. There was also an excellent section on her legacy. The question of how she is remembered — as Edith Stein, the Jew or as St. Teresa Benedicta, the Catholic nun. A beautiful contemplation on the quite difficult to reconcile life of this brilliant and beautiful woman.
I hope to read more of Ms. Scaperlanda’s wonderful writing in the future! ❤️
5⭐️/5
June 10, 2024
I wanted so much more from this book. It has plenty of events, dates, and quotes, but no analysis or contemplation. The facts are interesting, but the novel lacks the emotional and spiritual elements which make books about religious people so beautiful and inspiring — and something I really wanted to hear from the story of Edith Stein. Too little focus is given to the internal conflict and personal conversion she experienced. The portrait the author paints doesn’t feel like the true Edith Stein, but only a face-value portrayal of her. The reader does not get to know Stein as a person — only as an unconnected and outwardly observer rather than as one who saw every side of her, including her struggles and possible doubts, and experienced her development into the woman and saint who comforted her people in such extreme tragedy. Overall, a bit disappointed with the novel.
March 3, 2022
The true story of a German-born intellectual academic Jewish woman professor of philosophy who in the 1920s read the works of St. Teresa of Avila and thereby experienced God's calling and converted to the Catholic Church in 1922, becoming in 1933 a Carmelite nun who's written philosophical works have been influential in Christian thought. Sadly the fact she had converted did not prevent her and her sister Rosa Stein to be arrested by the Nazis and Sent to Auschwitz were they were both murdered.
January 26, 2023
Edith Stein was born a Jew and converted to Catholicism. She then was killed in Auschwitz by the Nazis for being a Jew. The history was fascinating as was learning about her family and how they handled it when Edith converted. Edith was declared a saint by Pope John Paul II and there are similarities between the two individuals. The book was good. What I did not like was the criticism as to whether or not Edith should have been declared a saint.
March 9, 2025
I can’t remember that last time I read a non-fiction book, but my desire to learn more about those within my faith during Lent, as well as the little I learned about Edith Stein in Bible Study, made me want to give this a chance. I flew through this book! I felt that it was very piecewise, but info was pulled from several significant works. This was a nice introduction to the history and life of Edith Stein, and I look forward to reading more about her.
September 5, 2024
It was a good account of Edith Stein’s life, but I didn’t come away with an understanding of her spirituality. If I prayed to ask her to help me be more like her in her relationship with Jesus, I’m not sure what that kind of relationship that would be other than Holy.
June 26, 2018
An excellent introduction for anyone wishing to learn about this discalced Carmelite saint and scholar.
February 11, 2019
Didn't give me the kind of insight into this marvelous modern-day saint that I was hoping for.
February 28, 2020
wonderful lady, boring book. It was just the author's compilation of a lot of other people research on her
May 14, 2022
A good book to get to know Edith Stein.
July 14, 2022
LOVE SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!
May 25, 2023
This book did what it needed to do.
August 18, 2023
A beautiful and inspiring saint.
February 16, 2022
I fell more in love with Edith Stein through this book. A great critique of Edith is included, as well as a real dive into Jewish and Catholic relations. Scaperlanda teaches us about Edith's prestige in philosophy, as a teacher, author and keynote speaker in post WW1 & early Nazi Germany - and as a Jewish woman no less! This book covers Edith's conversion to Catholicism and loss that comes when you follow God's will. It also includes excerpts of poems, essays and books written by Edith, her family and peers.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews