Homily: Feast of St. Theresa Benedicta of the Cross

Feast of St. Theresa Benedicta of the Cross (Mt. 16:24-28)

St. Theresa Benedicta was born in 1891 in Germany. Her Baptismal name was Edith Stein, she was a Jew. At the age of 14 she stopped believing in God. But she did not quit searching for truth in her life. She read widely. She began to study Philosophy. This led her more and more toward Christianity.

She was baptized in 1922. She began to read the writings of St. Theresa of Avila. As she did, she began to be more interested in Carmelite spirituality. She joined the convent, and she continued to teach and write about religion and philosophy. Her instructors and peers admired her intellect. In the end she wrote seventeen volumes of material.

When the Nazis came to power, they restricted her teaching. When they began arresting Jews it was decided that Sister Theresa should be moved out of the country for her own safety. She was sent to the Netherlands. Since she was a baptized Christian and a religious it was thought that she would be spared from any persecution.

The Nazis occupied the Netherlands. In 1940 the Nazis arrested all Jews who had become Christan in retaliation for the Dutch Bishops denouncing their barbarism. Sr. Theresa was arrested and sent to the concentration camp at Auschwitz. She died there in the gas chamber in 1942.

Sr. Thresa Benedicta never stopped searching for truth. When she found it, she did not back away from her convictions. She respected her Jewish heritage but here prayer and reflection led to her Christian vocation. Further spiritual growth led to her religious vocation. She laid down her life for what she believed.

Reflection Questions:

1.    Did I know that Jewish Christians were arrested and died in the concentration camps? Does that shock me?

2.   Edith Stein was an accomplished philosopher. Do I admire her courage as she succeeded despite being a woman and a Jew?

 Dear Parishioners,

           This Sunday we will be having Coffee and Doughnuts after the 7 and 9:15 a.m. Masses. We thank the volunteers who came forward to sponsor this social event Stop in and enjoy the fellowship in the St. Damien Center. Get to know other parishioners.

          May Our Lady pray for us for the world this day,

          Fr. Mark