Posted on 10/29/2002 11:06:07 AM PST by NYer
BigMack
BigMack
Fine,let him pontificate on this as well.
Edith Stein.
Edith Stein was born on October 12, 1891 in Breslau (Germany), now Wroclaw, Poland. She died on August 9, 1942 in Auschwitz, Poland.
Born into an Orthodox Jewish family, Edith Stein renounced her faith in 1904 and became an atheist. As a student at the University of Gottingen, she became acquainted with Edmund Husserl and became interested in his philosophy. When Husserl moved tot the University of Freiburg, he asked Edith Stein to join him there as his assistant. She received her doctorate in leading philosophers.
At Gottingen she first came into contact with Roman Catholicism. Attracted to this faith, Edith Stein returned on a holiday in 1921 to Breslau, where her profound encounter with the autobiography of the mystic St. Theresa of Avila caused her swift conversion. She was baptized on January 1, 1922, and gave up her assistantship with Husserl to teach at a Dominican girls' school in Speyer (1922 - 1932). While at Speyer she translated St Thomas Aquinas' De veritate (On Truth) and familiarized herself with Roman Catholic philosophy in general. In 1932 she became a lecturer at the Institute for Pedagogy at Munster but, because of anti-semitic legislation passed by the Nazi government, was forced to resign the post in 1933.
In 1934 she entered the Carmelite convent at Cologne, taking the religious name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. There she completed her metaphysical work 'Endliches und ewiges Sein', an attempt to synthesize the diverse philosophies of Aquinas and Husserl.
In 1938, with the Nazi threat growing, she was transferred to the Carmelite convent at Echt in the Netherlands. There she wrote her important treatise 'Studie uber Joannes a Cruce: Kruezeswissenschaft'. Removal from Germany, however, proved insufficient to ensure her safety. On July 26, 1942 Adolf Hitler ordered the arrest of all non-Aryan Roman Catholics. With her sister Rosa, also a convert, Edith Stein was seized by the Gestapo and shipped to the concentration camp at Auschwitz. Survivors of the death camp testified that she helped all other sufferers with great compassion. On August 9, 1942 she was sent to the gas chamber, where she died with her sister.
On May 1, 1987 she was beatified by Pope John Paul II.
I found the following information most interesting. This is from Marty's own web site: http://www.secondexodus.com, where he is describing his book.
Then it takes the reader for an exciting visit to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as the re-presented Final Sacrifice, the fulfillment of the ancient Jewish sacrifices. It observes that the Catholic priest is the counterpart not of the rabbi but of the ancient Jewish priest. The deacon is the rabbi's counterpart.
The Concluding Rite of the Mass establishes its continuity with the ancient Jewish Todah sacrifice. The seventy elders who went up with Moses to see God offered the Todah: Ex 24:11 "They beheld God, and ate and drank." Twelve centuries later, twelve apostles beheld God, and ate and drank as Jesus prepared to offer His Todah sacrifice: Lk 22:19 "He took bread, and when He had given thanks He broke it…" From the beginning, Christ's Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity has been called Holy Eucharist (Greek: eucharistia, thanksgiving.) Every time we participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the last words we speak are Todah l'Adonai, "Thanks be to God."
I'm not an Orthodox Jew, but I'll be happy to answer.
Jews are better off in Judaism. Period. A Jew who converts to another religion is abandoning the everlasting Covenant God established with our people. It is irrelevent whether it is Catholicism or Protestant Christianity. It is a cause for sadness, not rejoicing.
This one statement makes me doubt your sincerity to be open and read the article with an open mind and open heart.
May God bless you as you travel through today.
It works both ways, friend. A few notable cases, both ancient and modern.
Kenneth Cox's Story. This book description is a Catholic priest's tale of conversion to Orthodox Judaism in the early 1950's.
Turbulent Souls: A Catholic Son's Return to His Jewish Family
Ordained to Be a Jew: A Catholic Priest's Conversion to Judaism
From Catholic Nun To Orthodox Jew
Walentyn Potocki's Story. This book description records the story of a Polish priest and noble's conversion to Judaism one generation before the American Revolution. The subject sacrificed wealth and power in order to maintain his faith.
Bodo-Eleazar's Story. This ancient transcript (ninth century), from a French Bishop, explains why he converted to Orthodox Judaism in 844 CE.
Spiritual Homecoming: A Catholic Priest's Journey to Judaism
I continue to weigh very seriously the claims and positions of the Roman Catholic Church. I have not yet seen anything put forth convincing enough FOR ME to make me change my mind. If at some point in the future I am convicted by the Spirit and turn the the Catholic Church, let Christ be true and me a liar...I will go. But until and unless such as that happens, I cannot help but hold to my convictions out of devotion to Him to Whom I belong.
Thank you. May He bless you as well.
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