Edith Stein Book

Front Cover

Title: Edith Stein: Philosopher, Carmelite Nun, Holocaust Martyr
Author: Jean de Fabregues
Translated from the original French by Donald M Antoine
English Edition (c)1965 by Society of St. Paul (Daughters of St. Paul)
This copy: 1993 printing
103 total pages

Strangely, I did not plan to read this book nor did I seek it out. A few weeks ago, I was at a used book sale and spied it. I immediately thought of my niece, Maria, who had written a blog post or two about Edith Stein. On the spur of the moment, it occurred to me to buy it and send it to her.

When I was not able to immediately mail it to her, I was moved to read it since I really had no knowledge of Edith Stein other than she was a "recent" Roman Catholic Saint. It took me almost two weeks to get through the book. It was not an easy read for me. There was a considerable mention of psychology and philosophy of which I was unfamiliar. Another aspect that challenged me was the saintly treatment of the subject. The character of this book was not portrayed as a real person but transcendent.

A short, easy overview of Edith Stein is at EWTN as well as this one. EWTN appears to have numerous writings on Edith Stein.

The best part of the book for me was the last chapter (9): "The Message of Edith Stein." Below are some excerpts that moved me:

[Conversion] means "a turning toward." For the religious, conversion is a turning toward the Love which is the creative act of the entire universe, expressed at every moment in keeping the universe and all creatures in the sate of being.

To convert [to Catholicism] is to understand the beginning and the end of every created being.

One cannot enter into being, without sympathy, without participation and communion.

She [Edith] wanted to enter into existence with others, in the fellowship of destinies which do not have their full existence, which only come to fully know themselves as beings if each projects on the other the "image" of a love that becomes knowledge because it is participation in a birth in being.

If we do not welcome others in existence with love, we reduce them to nothingness, we annihilate them, while reducing our own selves to nothingness 

If [love] disappears, all that could be is reduced to the nothingness of darkness. But with an act of love, all comes into being.

Our being is not ours; it is parceled out one instant at a time.

 "I (Edith) find myself constantly on the verge of annihilation and I must receive being at every instant."

 And so I finished reading the book and shipped it off to my niece. I wonder what she will make of it?

I feel that the book has had a strange effect on me. I am intrigued with Edith's view of being, God, and the Cross of Christ. These are all mysteries to me. However, there is an intersection here.

I am currently plowing through the Book of Deuteronomy. The "Great Commandment" [Deut 6:4-5] runs through this book:

"Listen, Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You must love the LORD your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength."

On the surface, this seems rather prudent but how does one actually LIVE this?

Similar, at church we are studying the Epistle to the Philippians. Today's sermon was on Phil 1:21

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

For a Christian, the above seems prudent and yet idealistic. How does one arrive at both these places? All these (three topics) seem to me to be connected somehow. I am trying to connect the dots. I am so flawed and imperfect and ignorant that the above seem impossible for me. I am aware that with God all things are possible, but....

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Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Stein
https://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/TERESBEN.HTM
https://www.ewtn.com/faith/edith_stein.htm
http://classic.net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Deu&chapter=1
http://classic.net.bible.org/passage.php?search=Deuteronomy%206:4-5&passage=deuteronomy%206:4-5
http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/new_testament_studies/VOL08/VOL08D_introduction.html
http://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/philippians/1-21.html
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Written Sunday 26 February 2017