A Saint for Our Times

Spiritual Life, Fall 1999 by Seelaus, Vilma

A Saint for Our Times. By Freda Mary Oben, Ph.D. ICS Publications: 2131 Lincoln Road, NE, Washington, DC 20002-1199, 1998. Seven audiocassettes. $49.95.

This set of tapes by Freda Mary Oben deals with aspects of the life and writings of Edith Stein under the following titles: The Jewishness of Edith Stein; The New Convert: Phenomenology and Thomas Aquinas; From Carmel to Auschwitz: the Spirituality of a Saint; Edith Stein's Philosophy of Woman; Edith Stein's Philosophy of the Person; The Person in Society; and An Ecumenical Look at Edith Stein.

Dr. Oben, herself a convert from Judaism to Catholicism, brings both scholarship and sensitivity to her presentations. She quotes extensively from Edith Stein's philosophical writings as well as from her poetry. One sees the development of Edith's thought from her early study of phenomenology to the influence of Thomas Aquinas and other Christian philosophers and theologians. We also see her spiritual development from a Jewish atheist to a Jewish/Christian mystic and martyr.

Tape one, "The Jewishness of Edith Stein," gives us a wonderful portrait of Jewish family life. Family members come alive with lively scenes from her childhood. We see Edith develop from a willful child to a deep, self-contained young woman. We walk with her through her years of study under Husserl to her discovery of truth in the person of Jesus Christ.

Dr. Oben takes us through the various intentions Edith set for her life as she developed both spiritually and intellectually, and how all of these were realized.

Tape two, "The New Convert: Phenomenology and Thomas Aquinas," presents Edith's process of conversion, the deepening of her spiritual life, and her development as a Christian philosopher. Dr. Oben introduces principles of phenomenology and demonstrates how Edith uses Husserl's method through all of her works yet remains independent of him. She does a comparative study of Husserl and Thomas as found in Edith's writings.

Tape three is "From Carmel to Auschwitz: the Spirituality of a Saint." Here we see Edith's life lived in partnership with God and her growth in inner peace. Her years as a teacher and lecturer are years of maturing in faith. We also see Edith's political involvement and her concerns for her people, the Jews, as the Nazi party increases in power. We follow her to Carmel and finally to her end at Auschwitz. Dr. Oben offers interesting details of Edith's life in Carmel (now as Sr. Teresa Benedicta a Cruce) as well as an analysis of her major works as a Carmelite: Finite and Eternal Being and The Science of the Cross. With deep emotion in her voice, Dr. Oben takes us through Edith's final days to the gas chamber where she, her sister Rosa, and 262 others were gassed and buried the day of their arrival at Auschwitz.

Tape four, "Edith's Stein's Philosophy of Woman," addresses Edith as feminist and educator. As always, the work of this period reveals her as a true phenomenologist. Edith takes to task early Church teachings regarding women as well as the Nazi's limiting of women "to church, kitchen and children." She could not accept the concept of the submission of women. She taught that women must be fulfilled as persons in order to be women. She sees man and woman together as creating a harmonious relationship. While motherhood is woman's primary role, this quality of motherliness is needed in the market place as well as in the home. Sex roles can change without changing the essence of woman. Edith became the voice of the Catholic Women's Movement of Germany as she lectured throughout Germany and Switzerland. This is among the most animated of Dr. Oben's lectures as she develops in detail Edith's position on women. She concludes this tape with a lengthy reflection for the young today based on Edith's words. Dr. Oben's personal dedication to the pro-life movement finds expression in this lecture.

Tape five, "Edith Stein's Philosophy of Person," attempts to place Edith Stein's philosophy of person into a meaningful whole. Dr. Oben begins with an analysis of Edith's understanding of the person as found in her dissertation, On the Problem of Empathy. From there she shows the development of Edith's thought in the light of Christian philosophy and theology, with reflections from Finite and Eternal Being and The Science of the Cross. Divine Being is now the archetype of human being. God's "I Am" reflects itself in us. As we move through Edith's developing understanding of the person, her deepening spirituality becomes evident. She recognizes Christ as the perfect gestalt (pattern) of the soul, with surrender as the highest act of human freedom.

Tape six is "The Person in Society." Edith's writings on the person and society, where she examines the ontological structure of the state and its citizens, offer interesting insights into a possible resolution of the conflict that exists in so many parts of our world today. She describes what constitutes a nation and gives conditions in which several nations can exist within a state. She shows how the spirit of the people creates the national culture.