Homily: August 9, 2024 Feast of the st. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)

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 “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

Today we remember Edith Stein, or better known as St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She was born into a Jewish family in 1891 but later converted to the Catholic faith in 1922, after reading the autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila. She completed reading the book overnight and declared: “This is the Truth”.

She was so inspired that she joined the Discalced Carmelite monastery and made her perpetual vows in 1938, taking on the religious name ‘Teresa Benedicta of the Cross’.

One of her books, titled The Science of the Cross, is a profound spiritual and theological reflection on the mystery of the Cross, based on the writings of St. John of the Cross. It was her last work, after which she was taken by the Nazis and martyred at the Auschwitz concentration camp. She was canonized as a martyr and saint in 1998.

In her book, Teresa Benedicta compared entering the night as carrying the cross, it is a passage which the soul must pass through to reach union with God.

Edith Stein saw the Truth in the cross. As a Christian with Jewish roots, she was constantly being sought out by the Nazis. Yet it didn’t bring fear, but liberation. For she knew that by carrying her cross, she will reach union with God.

She said: “Do not accept anything as the truth if it lacks love, and do not accept anything as love which lacks truth.”

Truth is love nailed to the cross.

However, this world and everything it strives to do is to avoid suffering, to escape the crosses. Technological advancements continue to bring greater convenience and more exciting entertainment, luring the soul to seek temporal comfort and avoid suffering. That is the constant lie presented by the world.

The truth and only way to live fully is to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Jesus. There is no comfort or entertainment in this. There is suffering which brings peace and freedom from sin.

St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross stands before us as a beautiful and courageous model who embraced the cross of Christ without hesitation, and with much love.

Let us pray for our own complete conversion, and the conversion of poor souls who are blinded by the lies of the world to avoid the cross and seek worldly comfort, may we see the Truth and embrace the cross, like Edith Stein.

St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, pray for us! Amen.


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