Saturday 9 August 2008

A blessed feast day, Europe


Today is the feast day of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein). In Europe, it has the Liturgical rank of a Feast, as St Teresa Benedicta is one of the six patron saints of Europe. Catholic Mom of 10 has posted a biographical account of her today.

St Teresa Benedicta is my favourite saint, perhaps because I find myself able to identify with many aspects of her personality. Ten years ago this October, I spent a weekend in Rome for her canonisation. I remember during the offertory of the Mass running in my mind's eye through the places associated with St Teresa Benedicta - and I could visualise a number of them, either because I had visited them or from photographs - and finding it quite a moving moment.

The icon above tries to show aspects of St Teresa Benedicta's life. The books represent her search for the truth, and you should be able to spot St Teresa of Avila's Life, the book she read that finally brought St Teresa Benedicta to the Catholic Church. The Cathedral of Speyer, very close to which St Teresa Benedicta spent a number of years as a teacher/teacher trainer is in the background. The prison huts of Auschwitz-Birkenau are also there. The Carmelite habit represents her religious vocation, and the palm her martyrdom. On the habit you can also see the Star of David, representing her Jewish background and the harrassment she suffered from the German authorities in Holland before her arrest.
God of our fathers, you led the holy Martyr Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Edith Stein, to a knowledge of your crucified Son and called her to follow his example in death. By her prayers, bring all to recognise their Saviour in the Crucified Christ and through him, to arrive at the vision of your glory.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Zero says
I switched on computer to wish you a very happy favourite saint's day -i would have commented in yesterday's spot but you were quick off the mark with your post today!