Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Behind in your reading?


I finally picked up my copy of July/August Ligorian. It has some wonderful stories. The cover displays a beautiful picture of St. Paul and the cover story "The Jubilee Year of Saint Paul." There is a "Department" called Catholic Calendar and during the months of July and August the Church celebrate the live of 32 Saints. August holds a wealth of holy men and women, two of which are martyrs for the faith in our time, Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe and Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein).

In the article, written by Norman J. Muckerman, C. SsR., Edith Stein was the 11th child in a Jewish family. She studied philosophy, earned her PhD and became a professor. She was introduced to Catholic thought by a fellow professor Max Scheler. So interested was she in this new "philiosophical world" that she had to learn more. So it was that she read the autobiography of Saint Teresa of Avila and it became a turning point in her life. She was baptized, taught in Catholic schools for a number of year and then entered the Camelite monastery. Seeking to protect her from the Nazis and their widespread persecution her community sent her to Holland where she "lived, suffered, and prayed for the next eight years." She was later captured and sent to Auschwitz with her sister, Rosa, also a convert where they were put to death in the gas chambers.

Needless to say, I know very little about the life of this courageous lady and perhaps it is time I made an effort to become more acquainted with her. Have you met a saint today? I did and now just like any new friendship, it's time to learn more about her.

Wishing all a Grand day!

~~~*~*~~~

Thanks be to God.

9 comments:

  1. I’m reading the gospels each night, over and over. Other books include: God’s Secret Agents by Alice Hogge (the story of English Catholics fighting to defend their souls in the time of Elizabeth 1) non fiction; The Temptation of Christ; a very old and rare book I was fortunate enough to find in my local used and rare shop called The Catholic Church and Art by Ralph Adams Cram in the The Calvert Series edited by (non other than) Hilaire Belloc; and finally Fr. Richard John Neuhaus’s Catholic Matters. Normally I have some fiction on the go but at present I don’t.

    I love library books and second hand books.

    ReplyDelete
  2. St. Teresa of Avila has always somewhat intimidated me... which is exactly the reason I need to know her better. I'm due to beef up my spiritual reading ~ maybe St. Teresa is where I should start!

    ReplyDelete
  3. In an account I read recently, Edith Stein, upon finishing the book about St Teresa of Avila , said: This is the truth, and immediately felt the desire to learn more about and ultimately convert to Catholicism.

    One day, one book, just think of that...

    I know what you mean, Cathy, about August saints and feast days!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've encountered snippets about Edith Stein here and there, but now I'd like to delve a little more deeply into her life. They say she may have been in Auschwitz at the same time as Etty Hillesum, who although not Catholic, either, was totally in love with God, as written in her Diary (An Unfinished Life). What a beautiful book that is! I highly recommend it to all!

    ReplyDelete
  5. pia, well over a year ago you shared with me a quote I thought was marvelous from Etty - do you recall that? - - apology to GrandmaK for hijacking the comments :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Like Lisa, I need to get on the stick...as far as my faith reading goes.
    Wasn't I going to read 3 books about faith this summer?
    Yeesh.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a lovely thought! When I was in school, the nuns introduced us to so many nuns. Of course my favourite is St Paul!

    ReplyDelete
  8. You all are a delight!! Thank you for your visit. And hijacking is not a crime here.

    ReplyDelete

Your insightful comments are appreciated and I want all to feel comfortable and welcome.