Born into a Jewish family in Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland) on October 12, 1891, Edith Stein's life is a  remarkable testament to the transformative power of faith. A  brilliant student, she  earned a doctorate  in philosophy and  gained recognition for her scholarly work. Despite her early achievements, Edith experienced a profound spiritual awakening that led her to explore Catholicism.

In 1922, her conversion was catalyzed by reading the works of Saint  Teresa of Ávila. She was baptized into the Catholic Church in 1922, taking  the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. Her faith journey took her from  the academic world to the Carmelite convent, where she embraced a life of  prayer and contemplation.

Saint Edith Stein’s commitment to her faith and her deep intellectual and  spiritual insights were tested during the tumultuous times of World War II.  As a Jewish convert in Nazi-occupied Europe, she faced increasing danger.  In 1942, she was arrested and ultimately perished in Auschwitz in 1942, a  martyr of the Holocaust.

Canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1987 and later declared a co-patroness  of Europe, Saint Edith Stein’s legacy continues to inspire. Her writings,  encompassing philosophy, theology, and spirituality, reveal a profound  understanding of the human soul and God’s grace. Her life stands as a  beacon of faith, wisdom, and courage, guiding all who seek a deeper  relationship with God.

Prayer: Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, you saw human suffering  firsthand and allowed your reflections on that experience to open your mind  and heart to a deeper understanding of the truth. You found the deepest  truths in the life of Saint Teresa of Ávila and unhesitatingly entered the  Church and convent. Please pray for me, that I will always be open to the  deepest and most mysterious truths of our faith, especially the mystery of  the Cross, so that I will live Christ’s Cross in my own life to the fullest extent  that I am able. Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, pray for me. Jesus, I  trust in You.