Published: 2023-10-04

Edith Stein (Teresa Benedicta of the Cross ) – a saint for our times

Szczepan T. Praśkiewicz

Abstract

With reference to the centenary of Edith Stein’s baptism, celebrated in 2022, and 80 years after her death in the gas chamber, the article recalls the essential elements of the message of this Daughter of Israel and Daughter of the Carmel, the order in which she took the religious name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. It first presents this holy martyr as a patron saint of the Christian-Jewish dialogue, then patron saint of Europe, proclaimed by St John Paul II, and eventually also as patron of women. A significant part of the article is an examination of the possibility of St Edith Stein to be the fifth woman and the third Discalced Carmelite to receive the title of Doctor of the Church, with an indication that she could be recognised as Doctor Crucis in this group. The study ends with a reflection about Edith Stein as a defender of truth. After all, she said it herself that all those who seek truth, seek God, and that the defence of truth becomes the defence of God’s laws.

Download files

Citation rules

Praśkiewicz, S. T. (2023). Edith Stein (Teresa Benedicta of the Cross ) – a saint for our times. Silesian Historical and Theological Studies, 55(1), 89–102. https://doi.org/10.31261/SSHT.2022.55.1.06

Cited by / Share

Vol. 55 No. 1 (2022)
Published: 2023-10-04


ISSN: 0137-3447
eISSN: 2956-6185

Publisher
Instytut Gość Media/Księgarnia św. Jacka

This website uses cookies for proper operation, in order to use the portal fully you must accept cookies.