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Edith Stein: The Life and Legacy of the Jewish Philosopher Who Became a Catholic Saint
*Includes pictures
*Includes a bibliography for further reading
*Includes a table of contents
“As a child of the Jewish people who, by the grace of God, for the past eleven years has also been a child of the Catholic Church, I dare to speak to the Father of Christianity about that which oppresses millions of Germans. For weeks we have seen deeds perpetrated in Germany which mock any sense of justice and humanity, not to mention love of neighbor. For years the leaders of National Socialism have been preaching hatred of the Jews...But the responsibility must fall, after all, on those who brought them to this point and it also falls on those who keep silent in the face of such happenings.” – Edith Stein
To say Edith Stein lived a remarkable life would be a dramatic understatement. Born in Breslau (then part of Germany) at the end of the 19th century, Edith was raised as an observant Jew, only to turn her back on religion right around the time World War I devastated the continent. In the wake of the war, during which she earned a doctorate and began working as an assistant at the University of Freiburg, she began reading the works of the legendary St. Teresa of Ávila, one of the most influential Catholic saints in history.
As Stein continued to be influenced by St. Teresa, she was baptized as a Catholic in 1922 and began to turn her attention to becoming a nun. When she ultimately decided that would not be her path, she began to teach at a Catholic school in Speyer, a position she held until 1931. As it turned out, that period of time coincided with the rise of the Nazis, with Adolf Hitler working his way up the ranks of the Weimar Republic before taking full power in 1933.
As the Nazis seized the reins in Germany and began implementing antisemitic policies, Stein’s Jewish background made her a target regardless of her conversion, and she had to quit teaching as a result of not being “Aryan” enough to qualify for a civil servant position. In the wake of that, she pursued her original dream by joining a Discalced Carmelite monastery in Cologne by the end of 1933, and she took the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
Edith and her sister Rosa would remain at Cologne until 1938, when their Jewish background compelled them to flee to a monastery in the Netherlands as antisemitic persecution intensified in Germany. They were two of countless Jews who fled Nazi Germany or attempted to ahead of World War II, but as fate would have it, they didn’t get far enough away. In the midst of World War II, the Germans occupied the Netherlands along with most of the rest of Western Europe, and in 1942 Stein and her sister would be sent to Auschwitz, where they became victims of the Final Solution.
In the wake of her death, Stein was lionized as a martyr, and eventually she was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1998. Meanwhile, her works were gradually published in the decades after the war, and her philosophical teachings became influential in their own right. Edith Stein: The Life and Legacy of the Jewish Philosopher Who Became a Catholic Saint examines Edith’s conversion, her work as a nun, her philosophy, and her fate. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about Edith Stein like never before.
*Includes a bibliography for further reading
*Includes a table of contents
“As a child of the Jewish people who, by the grace of God, for the past eleven years has also been a child of the Catholic Church, I dare to speak to the Father of Christianity about that which oppresses millions of Germans. For weeks we have seen deeds perpetrated in Germany which mock any sense of justice and humanity, not to mention love of neighbor. For years the leaders of National Socialism have been preaching hatred of the Jews...But the responsibility must fall, after all, on those who brought them to this point and it also falls on those who keep silent in the face of such happenings.” – Edith Stein
To say Edith Stein lived a remarkable life would be a dramatic understatement. Born in Breslau (then part of Germany) at the end of the 19th century, Edith was raised as an observant Jew, only to turn her back on religion right around the time World War I devastated the continent. In the wake of the war, during which she earned a doctorate and began working as an assistant at the University of Freiburg, she began reading the works of the legendary St. Teresa of Ávila, one of the most influential Catholic saints in history.
As Stein continued to be influenced by St. Teresa, she was baptized as a Catholic in 1922 and began to turn her attention to becoming a nun. When she ultimately decided that would not be her path, she began to teach at a Catholic school in Speyer, a position she held until 1931. As it turned out, that period of time coincided with the rise of the Nazis, with Adolf Hitler working his way up the ranks of the Weimar Republic before taking full power in 1933.
As the Nazis seized the reins in Germany and began implementing antisemitic policies, Stein’s Jewish background made her a target regardless of her conversion, and she had to quit teaching as a result of not being “Aryan” enough to qualify for a civil servant position. In the wake of that, she pursued her original dream by joining a Discalced Carmelite monastery in Cologne by the end of 1933, and she took the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
Edith and her sister Rosa would remain at Cologne until 1938, when their Jewish background compelled them to flee to a monastery in the Netherlands as antisemitic persecution intensified in Germany. They were two of countless Jews who fled Nazi Germany or attempted to ahead of World War II, but as fate would have it, they didn’t get far enough away. In the midst of World War II, the Germans occupied the Netherlands along with most of the rest of Western Europe, and in 1942 Stein and her sister would be sent to Auschwitz, where they became victims of the Final Solution.
In the wake of her death, Stein was lionized as a martyr, and eventually she was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1998. Meanwhile, her works were gradually published in the decades after the war, and her philosophical teachings became influential in their own right. Edith Stein: The Life and Legacy of the Jewish Philosopher Who Became a Catholic Saint examines Edith’s conversion, her work as a nun, her philosophy, and her fate. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about Edith Stein like never before.
72 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 10, 2022
This is a decent enough overview of the life of Edith Stein, the Jewish convert to Catholicism, co-founder of the school of philosophy known as phenomenology, prolific scholar, and Carmelite nun. She was arrested by the Nazis and transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau and gassed, along with her sister Rosa, as an act of retaliation for the Christian churches speaking out against the persecution of Jews. Granted, Stein fell into various categories hated by Nazi worldview: a woman of prodigious intellect with no interest in domesticity, of Jewish birth, and a committed Catholic. Sadly, it's hard to see how she could have survived this period of history as long as she lived in Nazi-occupied territory.
There are some curious aspects to this book, including strange anachronisms in the wording at times, which are somewhat irritating. For example, when listing Stein's intellectual interests in terms of disciplines, the book lists 'Women's Studies' as an interest, despite the fact that this discipline didn't exist while Stein was alive (at least, not at universities). Stein's impressive intellect and opinion that women should be able to pursue any occupation they wished makes her an early feminist, perhaps, and a subject of study in current Women's Studies courses. However, listing her as having an interest in this area makes the book seem slightly lacking in the rigour that ironically Stein possessed in her own academic pursuits.
This is not a bad starter book for those who wish to learn about Stein, but there are probably better sources for those who want a more in-depth view of her life and its historical context.
There are some curious aspects to this book, including strange anachronisms in the wording at times, which are somewhat irritating. For example, when listing Stein's intellectual interests in terms of disciplines, the book lists 'Women's Studies' as an interest, despite the fact that this discipline didn't exist while Stein was alive (at least, not at universities). Stein's impressive intellect and opinion that women should be able to pursue any occupation they wished makes her an early feminist, perhaps, and a subject of study in current Women's Studies courses. However, listing her as having an interest in this area makes the book seem slightly lacking in the rigour that ironically Stein possessed in her own academic pursuits.
This is not a bad starter book for those who wish to learn about Stein, but there are probably better sources for those who want a more in-depth view of her life and its historical context.
January 16, 2021
Edith Stein is the story of a young woman who agonized over the great issues of her time and her faith. Born in Breslau (Germany), she earned a doctorate and worked as an assistant. It was difficult for a woman to get a job teaching in a university, she was relegated to the post of assistant to a male doctor (of letters). Edith had cast off her Jewish faith in her teens but started reading the works of St. Teresa of Avila (an influential Catholic nun and saint).
Edith was obviously a deep thinker; she also wanted to marry, like her peers. In 1922, she was baptized as a Catholic, looking to become a nun. Edith's confessor/spiritual director discouraged her from becoming a nun but encouraged her to accept a teaching position in Speyer, at a Catholic school. By living in the convent with a small salary, she could experience the religious way without making a full commitment (to see if that was what she really wanted to do).
After 8 years of teaching, Stein went to Cologne, asking to join the cloistered life of a Carmelite monastery. When her mother died, Edith's sister Rosa converted to Catholicism. When the Nazis rose to power, the nuns tried to protect Edith by sending her out of Germany. However, Edith and Rosa were apprehended in the Netherlands and taken to Auschwitz, where they died soon after.
Edith was a profoundly gifted writer and speaker. When she was cloistered, she was allowed to continue her scholastic writing and submit it for publication. She also converted works from Latin to the vernacular so others could understand what older Christian doctors of the faith had written. She was canonized as a martyr by Pope John Paul II.
Edith was obviously a deep thinker; she also wanted to marry, like her peers. In 1922, she was baptized as a Catholic, looking to become a nun. Edith's confessor/spiritual director discouraged her from becoming a nun but encouraged her to accept a teaching position in Speyer, at a Catholic school. By living in the convent with a small salary, she could experience the religious way without making a full commitment (to see if that was what she really wanted to do).
After 8 years of teaching, Stein went to Cologne, asking to join the cloistered life of a Carmelite monastery. When her mother died, Edith's sister Rosa converted to Catholicism. When the Nazis rose to power, the nuns tried to protect Edith by sending her out of Germany. However, Edith and Rosa were apprehended in the Netherlands and taken to Auschwitz, where they died soon after.
Edith was a profoundly gifted writer and speaker. When she was cloistered, she was allowed to continue her scholastic writing and submit it for publication. She also converted works from Latin to the vernacular so others could understand what older Christian doctors of the faith had written. She was canonized as a martyr by Pope John Paul II.
July 1, 2020
Very brief overview of the life of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, also known as Edith Stein. I wanted to get to know her more after reading an article in The Word Among Us magazine. This inexpensive ebook was a good start,but I need something deeper. Seems to have a solid bibliography, so I am now working off that.
Her story is unique... Born into a Jewish family, became an atheist as a teen , then a learned philosopher. Converted to catholicism, much to the extreme disappointment of her mother. Wrote profound works on philosophy and saints... And feminism! . Entered the Carmelite order, continued to study and write in her spare time. Was found by the SS and died at Auchwitz in 1942.
Her story is unique... Born into a Jewish family, became an atheist as a teen , then a learned philosopher. Converted to catholicism, much to the extreme disappointment of her mother. Wrote profound works on philosophy and saints... And feminism! . Entered the Carmelite order, continued to study and write in her spare time. Was found by the SS and died at Auchwitz in 1942.
May 17, 2021
I have been half aware of wanting to get a good introduction to Edith Stein's life and thought for quite a while and this definitely did that. It gave me perspective on which of her works to tackle if I get a chance in the next few years as I start seriously digging out and firming up my foundation in philosophy.
April 2, 2025
This is a very brief overview of her life. Very brief. I really wanted more depth, so I will have to keep looking. This book does a good job of detailing what was going on in Germany at the time, so it was instructive to see how those events fit into her timeline.
May 28, 2025
This person is incredible! How is there not more written about her and her contributions to philosophy as well as the end of her life in Auschwitz. This is a short book but very potent and a great introduction to this amazing Saint.
February 3, 2022
A brief introduction to St. Edith Stein. A good place to begin learning about her and her influence.
September 18, 2022
An interesting, if brief, overview of Edith Stein and her work on phenomenology.
January 16, 2023
Very short read but educational
February 16, 2023
Gave a good overview of St Edith Stein's life
March 29, 2023
Introductory book
It is a good starting book to learn about the life of St. Edith Stein and the times she lived in. Now I want to get to know her philosophy and her work.
It is a good starting book to learn about the life of St. Edith Stein and the times she lived in. Now I want to get to know her philosophy and her work.
May 11, 2023
A good starter book for learning about a remarkable woman and saint. Her essays on womanhood should be next on your list :)
November 25, 2023
A very interesting little book. Often heady reading as the author discusses some of Stein's philosophical beliefs, but it is short and gives good context for the story of her conversion.
August 16, 2023
Good overview and introduction to this remarkable woman
March 12, 2024
A great, quick read giving some background on Edith Stein. Exactly what I needed before diving into more of her works.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews