#exaltationoftheholycross — Public Fediverse posts

The cross is again raised before us. It is the sign of contradiction. The Crucified looks down on us: “are you also going to abandon me?”

In the last few months, one has often heard the complaint that the many prayers for peace are still without effect.

What right have we to be heard? Our desire for peace is undoubtedly genuine and sincere. But does it come from a completely purified heart? Have we truly prayed “in the name of Jesus,” i.e., not just with the name of Jesus on our lips, but with the spirit and in the mind of Jesus, for the glory of the Father alone, without any self-seeking?

The day on which God has unrestricted power over our hearts we shall also have unrestricted power over his.

Saint Edith Stein

The Marriage of the Lamb: For 14 September 1940 (excerpt)

St. Edith Stein, known as St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, embodies the “Sign of Contradiction” through her life, faith journey, and intellectual pursuits. Born into a devout Jewish family, her conversion to Catholicism created a profound tension between her heritage and newfound faith, symbolizing the personal and spiritual contradictions that marked her life. Her journey from a brilliant philosopher trained in phenomenology to a Discalced Carmelite nun highlights the harmony that can exist between rigorous intellectual pursuit and deep spiritual life.

Edith’s identity as a Catholic nun did not protect her from Nazi persecution; instead, her Jewish ancestry led to her arrest and eventual martyrdom. This tragic reality emphasizes the complex interplay between faith, ethnicity, and identity. Edith’s acceptance of suffering as a path to spiritual union with Christ is reflected in her religious name, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She saw the Cross as a symbol of both suffering and redemption, embodying the contradictions inherent in the human experience.

At her canonization on October 11, 1998, St. John Paul II described Edith Stein as “a martyr for love, who gave her life for her friends, [and] let no one surpass her in love.” Her legacy continues to challenge and inspire us to embrace the paradoxes and contradictions that arise in the pursuit of truth and spiritual growth, reminding us of the profound connection between love, suffering, and redemption.

https://youtu.be/Gu_rMiEUAFM?si=8EjZxTSbvySjF4wi

Stein, E. 2014, The Hidden Life: hagiographic essays, meditations, spiritual texts, translated from the German by Stein, W, ICS Publications, Washington DC.

Featured image: Rosa Stein arrived at the Discalced Carmelite monastery in Echt in July 1939 to join her sister Edith in what was believed to be the safety of Holland. Already a Roman Catholic convert, Rosa had joined the Third Order of the Teresian Carmel (now known as the OCDS). She served as an extern sister and helped in the monastery garden, where the highlighted photo was taken. In the background, we see a photograph of the Stein family from 1894. Image credits: Discalced Carmelites

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/08/08/ep19edith/

#ChristCrucified #ExaltationOfTheHolyCross #intercession #JesusChrist #monasticLife #Podcast #prayers #StEdithStein #StTeresaBenedictaOfTheCross #vows

The cross is again raised before us. It is the sign of contradiction. The Crucified looks down on us: “are you also going to abandon me?”

In the last few months, one has often heard the complaint that the many prayers for peace are still without effect.

What right have we to be heard? Our desire for peace is undoubtedly genuine and sincere. But does it come from a completely purified heart? Have we truly prayed “in the name of Jesus,” i.e., not just with the name of Jesus on our lips, but with the spirit and in the mind of Jesus, for the glory of the Father alone, without any self-seeking?

The day on which God has unrestricted power over our hearts we shall also have unrestricted power over his.

Saint Edith Stein

The Marriage of the Lamb: For 14 September 1940 (excerpt)

St. Edith Stein, known as St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, embodies the “Sign of Contradiction” through her life, faith journey, and intellectual pursuits. Born into a devout Jewish family, her conversion to Catholicism created a profound tension between her heritage and newfound faith, symbolizing the personal and spiritual contradictions that marked her life. Her journey from a brilliant philosopher trained in phenomenology to a Discalced Carmelite nun highlights the harmony that can exist between rigorous intellectual pursuit and deep spiritual life.

Edith’s identity as a Catholic nun did not protect her from Nazi persecution; instead, her Jewish ancestry led to her arrest and eventual martyrdom. This tragic reality emphasizes the complex interplay between faith, ethnicity, and identity. Edith’s acceptance of suffering as a path to spiritual union with Christ is reflected in her religious name, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She saw the Cross as a symbol of both suffering and redemption, embodying the contradictions inherent in the human experience.

At her canonization on October 11, 1998, St. John Paul II described Edith Stein as “a martyr for love, who gave her life for her friends, [and] let no one surpass her in love.” Her legacy continues to challenge and inspire us to embrace the paradoxes and contradictions that arise in the pursuit of truth and spiritual growth, reminding us of the profound connection between love, suffering, and redemption.

https://youtu.be/Gu_rMiEUAFM?si=8EjZxTSbvySjF4wi

Stein, E. 2014, The Hidden Life: hagiographic essays, meditations, spiritual texts, translated from the German by Stein, W, ICS Publications, Washington DC.

Featured image: Rosa Stein arrived at the Discalced Carmelite monastery in Echt in July 1939 to join her sister Edith in what was believed to be the safety of Holland. Already a Roman Catholic convert, Rosa had joined the Third Order of the Teresian Carmel (now known as the OCDS). She served as an extern sister and helped in the monastery garden, where the highlighted photo was taken. In the background, we see a photograph of the Stein family from 1894. Image credits: Discalced Carmelites

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/08/08/ep19edith/

#ChristCrucified #ExaltationOfTheHolyCross #intercession #JesusChrist #monasticLife #Podcast #prayers #StEdithStein #StTeresaBenedictaOfTheCross #vows