Edith Stein Ex Libris

Each volume in the Ex Libris series provides a glimpse into the writings of a renowned Catholic author, introducing the spirituality and thought of a great man or woman of faith. Saint Edith Stein (1891-1942), also known as Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, was born in Breslau, Germany, of devout Jewish parents. In adolescence, she became an atheist. She went on to study philosophy with one of the greatest thinkers of the time, Edmund Husserl, and became a prolific writer and lecturer. Her search for truth led her to become Catholic, and she later joined the Carmelite Order, where her writings took on a more theological and spiritual tone. In these excerpts from the writings of Edith Stein, discover the authentic beauty of her honest pursuit of truth, her sincere desire to sacrifice for the good of others, and her joyful and generous correspondence with friends. Questions for personal study and group discussion are also included. Book jacket.

Edith Stein is still the least known of German-Jewish women in whose life the history of the 20th century can be epitomized. Edith was brought up in a north German Jewish household that was gradually losing its ancient faith as it became assimilated into its Christian surroundings. Under Edmund Husserl at the University of Goettingen she explored the philosophy of phenomenology as a substitute for her lost Jewish faith, and eventually she became a convert to Christianity, taking the vows of one of its strictest orders, the Carmelite nuns. There she worked to reconcile her Christian faith with her continuing belief in phenomenology.

More than a popular biography of a Carmelite saint by one of the leading experts on Edith Stein, this volume also shows us the people and places she knew, with over 100 photos. An excellent book for anyone seeking a brief and readable introduction to Edith Stein's personality and life.

Edith Stein comes alive through these warm, totally attentive letters. She joins a deeply sensitive heart with her keen intelligence, revealing herself to be a wise mentor and a caring friend available to anyone who approached her. Here we learn what was truly important to her: the total well-being of those who treasured her letters enough to preserve them even while suffering the havoc of war and oppression. This volume offers the first English translation of the majority of her surviving letters, with 4 photos and a fully linked index of recipients.

Joyce Avrech Berkman interprets Edith Stein’s autobiography as time and space bound, yet arrestingly transgressive. She probes the origins, nature, and afterlife of Stein’s work, which sheds light on Stein’s response to Nazi antisemitism and the roots of her key philosophical and spiritual concerns.