Today the Church celebrates the Feast of St Teresa Benedicta a Cruce, Edith Stein – Carmelite Nun,  Holocaust martyr, original philosopher and quintessential twentieth century woman.
When I was confirmed, I took part of her religious name, Benedicta as my name. That’s the “B” in Paul CB Schenck. I asked for her intercessions when I sought a way into the Catholic Church and I took her as my patroness. There was much that I could identify with in her life as a Jew, who had become a Christian after periods of atheism and philosophical speculation.
I had been an atheist at the same age as Edith had been. I had sought out philosophy before being baptized a Christian. Members of my extended family had perished in the Nazi extermination camps in Minsk.
In Canonizing her a saint, Pope John Paul II recognized in Edith the heroic virtues and exemplary piety that marks a true Saint. Most importantly, he proclaimed her a martyr, though she wasn’t killed for being a Christian as much as being a Jew, a Jewish Christian. This was unique in modern Church history, but not in early Church history, after all, St Stephen, the first martyr, was a Jewish Christian.
Edith’s life is a powerful sign of contradiction: in an time of ferocious prejudice and hatred, she was a humble, empathetic person. In a time of male domination in the professions, she was one of the first women to earn a doctoral degree and teach philosophy in a University. And when in a time of feminist assertion, she became a cloistered nun.
When Hitler invaded Holland, the Bishops opposed his persecution of the Jews, and for that, St Edith, her sister Rosa and over a thousand other Jewish born Catholics were arrested, deported and murdered in the Nazi death camps. Her last recorded words before deportation were “Come Rosa, we go for our people.”
A profound thinker, prolific author, and professor, she summarized her philosophic insight with the phrase, “Love will be our eternal life”
Edith Stein, St Teresa Bendicta, is a sterling example of Faith in the face of secular opposition, scientific skepticism, religious indifference and ferocious persecution.
In an era in which all these are playing out in slow motion across the world, we must turn to her anew and ask Edith Stein, “St. Teresa Benedicta, pray for us!”

Fr. Groeschel greets me after my talk at Franciscan U

May Jesus Christ be praised,

Now and forever. Amen!

With that salutation, Cardinal Rigali set the tone for the Defending the Faith Conference at Franciscan University this past weekend.  About 1500 people (including highly dedicated and hardworking students and volunteers) gathered in a spirit of openness and docility toward the rich treasures of the Magisterium of the Church. There was a very fervent and sincere attitude of worship, discipleship and love of God and one another. It was a joyous, hopeful and even hilarious (some speakers were fabulous comedians) gathering.

I was asked by Professor Scott Hahn to come and give two talks: the first I called “Raising Heaven at the High Court: spiritual developments in the United States Supreme Court) and the second was the story of my family and my journey from Judaism to Evangelical Protestantism to the Catholic Church which I called “My glorious journey of faith.” I was so warmly received and the people were generous in giving me the attention in charity (I spoke for too long a time!).

Afterward, I had so many wonderful conversations and prayer. The highlight was hearing confessions in the Christ the King Chapel and – to my amazement and surprise, when I was finished with my first talk, I turned to leave the platform and there was Father Benedict Groeschel, a living saint, who had come up to the platform to greet me, and I was able to obtain his blessing!