Today we read about a really remarkable saint in the book In Caelo et in Terra. Her name at birth was Edith Stein. She was an atheist as a young girl, and studied philosophy. She was reading St Teresa of Avila's autobiography one day, and God met her there. She realized the truth of what she was reading and decided to become a Christian.
She was baptized soon after that, and then felt the call to become a religious sister. So she entered the convent and became a discalced Carmelite nun. This was during World War II. She was from a Jewish background AND she was a religious nun. The Nazis were not happy with her, and sent her to Auschwitz, where she was martyred. You can read more about her here.
What a life! From atheist and philosopher to Carmelite nun (like St Therese of Lisieux) to martyr. May we also be so bold as to respond to the truth when it meets us - whether in our reading, in what we hear, or in the people we meet.
God, thanks for the wonderful example of this courageous woman. St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross - pray for us.
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