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Edith Stein: The Untold Story of the Philosopher and Mystic Who Lost Her Life in the Death Camps of Auschwitz

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Edith Stien was a Jew who in the 1920's of Germany converted to Catholicism and then became a nun much to the dismay of her orthodox mother. Those who are have heard of Edith Stien know that ultimately she was martyred in Auschwitz because of her outspokenness against the Nazi's as well as the fact that the Catholic Church in occupied Holland was the only large church organization willing to preach against the nazi regeim.

What must people don't know about Edith Stien was what an incredibly couragous and brillant woman she was even long before she was martyred. As this book tells the story , often in her own words and in the words of those that were close to her, she was a college professer, philosopher, and political activist at a time when a professional woman was at best a grade school teacher or nurse. Even as a nun she worked on her philosophy and her writing.

Waltraud Herbstrith does an excellent job portraying the complete Edith Stien, Her faith Her family and her intellect. An excellent book.

This book is an excellent introduction to the life and thought of Edith Stein (St. Theresa Benedicta). Waltraud Herbstrith presents a biography that encompases the philosophical, spiritual, and personal aspects of her subject with great care. I came away from this book with a true appreciation for Edith Stein, in particular her writings on women and her deep love of God.

I consider this a "must read" for anyone interested in great women in history. The spiritual insights, life story, and heroic sacrifices of this brilliant woman, who was both a Jew and a Carmellite nun are amazing. Look closely at the cover art, as my interpretation was that Edith Stein possessed the "ear of God." The only complaint I have is the print was far too small. If it comes in a large print edition, you might be wise to order it. My eyesight is fairly normal.

Sister Waltraud Herbstrith, O.C.D.,wrote one of the most thoughtful books this reviewer has read. Edith Stein was born and raised as an Otrhodox Jew, converted to Catholicism, and became a cloistered Carmelite Nun. The book details Edith Stein's outstanding scholarly achievements, compassion, and rare courage. This book conveyed a rare look at an unalloyed heroine who was not a self appointed martyr, but whose resolve and compassion plus intellectual prowess made Edith Stein an exemplar of what men and women should aspire to. This review is divided into two sections. One deals with Edith's religious conversion and intellectual achievements,and the other deals with Edith Stein's charity, compassion, and courage.

Edith Stein (1892-1942)was born into an Orthodox Jewish family. She showed academic promise and quickly made her way into the German university system at a time when such admission was rare for German women. Miss Stein had a passion for truth which altered her academic career. She first wanted to focus on psychology, but she was disappointed when she discovered that what were then considered modern psychologists were more concerned with manipulation( too often naive self serving nonsense) than with an honest search for truth. She changed her focus and studied philosophy under Husserl (1859-1938)and studied phenomenolgy. She considered the study of phenomena as an avenue of truth(not the only avenue). She realized that while phenomonlogy was a means of honest intellectual endeavor, she also understood that metaphysical and ontological thinking provided a means of truth and understanding.

Edith Stein's studies resulted in her advanced Ph.D. Degree. She became a well known and respected German scholar. Her studies also led her spiritual and religious convictions which led to her conversion to Catholicism which disappointed her family who were never bitter. The family members were alert enough to realize that Edith Stein had changed, and they left her conversion at that. Edith Stein also became something of a Catholic mystic after having read the works of Ste. Teresa of Avela (1515-1582) and St. John of the Cross (1542-1591). While Edith Stein was satisfied with Catholic mysticism, she learned Scholastic Philosophy by translating the work of St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274). She then tried to make clear that Ultimate Truth, God, or whatever terms are used can be gained by both mysticism/faith and reason. Her book titled FINITE AND INFINITE BEING was highly acclaimed by German scholars and philosophers.

Edith Stein's personal life and compassion are also detailed in this book. Prior to her conversion to Catholcism, she considered Lutheran Protestantism until she read Soren Kierkegaard's (1813-1855) work. Edith Stein thought this book far too pessimistic. Kiergegaard's view that somehow men are helpless victims in front of an angry God made men to futile to achieve which was a view that Edith Stein rejected. While Edith Stein was a first rate scholar, she certainly was no snob. During W.W. I, she served as a volunteer nurse with the Austrain army and served admirably in this capacity in spite of the blood, death, and tragedy. When Edith Stein took religous vows and became a cloistered nun, she was never too busy to help the less fortunate. She kept herself busy with scholarly work, the Rule of the Order, and assisting when she could.

The last years of Edith Stein's life were marked by danger and her courage. Edith Stein never sought martyrdom, but she expected the worst given her understanding of events in Germany in the late 1930s and early 1940s. She was sent to the Netherlands only to confront danger there when the Germans defeated the Dutch in 1940. She had a chance to emigrate to Switzerland, but she refused when her sister was denied entry. She was arrested on Aguust 2, 1942, and the best records state her death on August 9 1942. According to eye witness accounts, Edith Stein faced her arrest and death with courage, dignity, and calm resolve. On the way to her death, she tried to help the spirits of those who were justifiably terrified.

This book is a testimony to a great woman and indirectly the Catholic Church. The Catholic authorities recognized and encouraged both mysticism and reason in approaching Ultimate Truth. One of the reasons for Edith Stein's arrest and death was the fact that German authorities were outraged by Pope Pius XII's condemnation of their race/religious persecutions. The German authorities moved against Dutch Catholics when Dutch Catholic Bishops and priests excorated German policies from the pulpit and Catholic publications. Readers should note that some of the Duthch Protestant were just as adament in their denounciations of German tyrannical policies.

The undersigned recommends this book to those who are Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, etc. The book not only deals with intellectual achievement,but it also deals with what some call the interior life. The review and the book are not meant to convert anyone to "the other side." The book only deals with the intellectual and spiritual journey of an Orthodox Jewish woman who made a committed change in her life. Readers can find those who were Christian who converted to Judaism. What the book demonstrates that regardless of religious sects, men and women of good will can find a common bond that helps them to understand each other as well as an honest search for decent character and truth.

James E. Egolf
December 30, 2008

This is a well written, thoroughly researched biography of this Saint. It deipcts her virtues and warm and balanced personality, showing clearly the good contributions of her Jewish upbringing in her moral and personal formation, and her growth in Christian life and charity, but it's a modern historical biography rather than a devotional hagiography. Edith Stein was a woman of considerable learning and intelligence, who sought Truth with passion, this led her to be baptized a Catholic Christian which she considered the fulfillment of the Jewish faith, and to become a Discalced Carmelite nun and to humbly and willingly follow Christ in the Way of the Cross to the fate of a death in Auschwitz, a victim of Nazi retaliation against the Catholic Church for speaking up in defense of the Jews. This biography moves at an even pace and never bogs down or gets on a soapbox.

The author, Waltraud Herbstrith, is a Carmelite nun, who did not know Sister Teresia Benedicta a Cruce (Edith Stein) personally but certainly understands being a Carmelite nun, and interviewed many who did know the Saint personally. Herbstrith also shows good understanding of the difficult philosopical topics (Phenomenology in the school of Husserl, and later the Scholastic thought of Saint Thomas Aquinas) that Edith Stein pursued and wrote about and was known and respected for, explaining them on the level of a general readership. This is a great book to read to be introduced to this popular Saint who was a woman intellectual and feminist, a humble cloistered nun, and a Christian martyr who was happy to be a Jew.