Memorial of St. Edith Stein

First, a little oddity... CD rented "Die Fälscher," which is about a select section of Jews in Sachenhausen prison camp. Turned out we watched it yesterday, August 9th, Memorial of Edith Stein. We didn't plan it that way... indeed, we hadn't even checked the calendar to see who's day it was.

I found a few of her quotes below. Enjoy




"'And the Word became flesh'. That truth became a reality in the manger at Bethlehem. But it was to be fulfilled in yet another form: 'Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood, has eternal life.' The Savior, who knows that we are human beings and will remain human beings who have to struggle daily with weaknesses, comes to our assistance in a truly divine manner. Just as the human body is in need of daily bread, so also does the divine life in us require constant nourishment."

"Whoever really takes this as his daily bread, experiences EACH DAY the mystery of Christmas, the Word made flesh."

"And that is doubtless the surest way to maintain constant union with God, to grow each day more firmly and deeply into the mystical Body of Christ. I am well aware that for many that is an all too radical request. In a practical sense, it will mean for most--when they first start--a complete change in their external and internal life. But that's exactly what it is supposed to be! To make room in our life for the Eucharistic Lord, so that he can change our life into His, is that asking too much? One has time for so many useless things: all sorts of stupid stuff gathered from books, newspapers and magazines; sitting around in bars and gabbling on the street for a quarter-or half-hour; all these are diversions which waste time and energy like crumbs. As a challenge to the whole day, should it not be possible to put aside a morning hour in which one is not distracted but recollected, in which energy is not wasted but gained? "But, of course, this requires more than just one hour. From one such hour to the next, one must so live that it may come again. It is no longer possible to 'let yourself go', even if only for a time. One cannot escape the judgment of those with whom one daily associates. Even if no word is spoken, one senses how the others feel towards him."

"He may try to adapt himself to his companions, and if it is not possible, their common life becomes a torture. "It's the same in our daily encounter with the Lord. One becomes more and more sensitive to that which pleases Him or not."

"If, on the whole, one was previously quite satisfied with himself, it will now take a different turn. One will find much that is bad and will change it as far as he chooses."

"And he will discover many things he cannot consider well and good, but which are nevertheless hard to change. Then gradually, he becomes very small and humble; he grows patient and indulgent toward the splinter in strange eyes because the beam in his own is brought into being; and, finally, he also learns to be patient with himself in the inexorable light of the divine Presence and to surrender himself to the divine mercy which can take care of all that ridicules our energy. The road is long from the smugness of a 'good Catholic' who 'does his duty', reads a 'good newspaper', 'does the right thing', etc. but on the other hand does what he pleases, "to a life in God's hand, in the simplicity of a child and the meekness of the tax collector. BUT WHOEVER HAS ONCE WALKED IT, WILL NOT GO BACK AGAIN."

- "Who can sleep on the night that God became man?" St. T. Benedicta, Edith Stein