Gospel in Art: Feast of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)

The Edith Stein Chapel, St Michaelis Kirche in Breslau © Christian Art

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 9 August 2024
Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus told this parable to his disciples: 'The kingdom of heaven will be like this: Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps, but they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps. The bridegroom was late, and they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight there was a cry, "The bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him." At this, all those bridesmaids woke up and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, "Give us some of your oil: our lamps are going out." But they replied, "There may not be enough for us and for you; you had better go to those who sell it and buy some for yourselves." They had gone off to buy it when the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding hall and the door was closed. The other bridesmaids arrived later. "Lord, Lord," they said "open the door for us." But he replied, "I tell you solemnly, I do not know you." So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour.'

Reflection on the side chapel

Today, we celebrate the Feast of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, also known as Edith Stein (1891-1942). A Carmelite nun, martyr, and patron of Europe, she was born into a devout Jewish family. She had a distinguished academic career as a philosopher, including a doctorate from the University of Freiburg. After reading the autobiography of Saint Teresa of Ávila, she converted to Catholicism and was baptised just over 100 years ago, in 1922. She later became a lecturer at the Institute for Pedagogy in Münster, but was dismissed in 1933 because of the Nazi regime's anti-Semitic laws.

She then entered a Carmelite monastery in Cologne, adopting the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. To protect her from the escalating Nazi threat, her order moved her to the Netherlands. Following a public condemnation of Nazi racism by the Dutch Bishops' Conference on 20 July 1942, however, the authorities ordered the arrest of all Jewish converts to Christianity. Teresa Benedicta was taken to Auschwitz and killed on 9 August 1942. She was canonised by John Paul II in 1998 and declared a co-patroness of Europe the following year.

The photo I share is of the altar in the Edith Stein Chapel at the Church of St Michael the Archangel (St Michaelis Kirche) in Breslau. This church was her preferred place of worship during her visits to Breslau, from her baptism in 1922 until her last visit in 1933 before entering the Carmelite monastery. At the centre of the chapel is a marble altar inscribed with the date of her death and the words "Ave crux, spes unica" (Latin for "Hail to the Cross, our only hope", a quotation from the Latin hymn, Vexilla Regis). The altar also houses an urn containing earth and ashes from Auschwitz-Birkenau, along with other relics, including a fragment of her habit.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-25-1-13-2024/