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We celebrate the feast of Edith Stein,

Philosopher, dean, doctor, Carmelite

Discalced,- with mind and spirit sharp and keen,

And Christian Martyr, shedding beams of light.



Of Jewish roots and education, she

Was steeped in Hegel, Kant, and sages more,

Engrossed in learning and philosophy,

But Providence held something else in store..



She sought much more than was a sage can give,

And did convert to Christianity.

Much to her friends and parents’ woe and grief,

Who could with her decision not agree.



Dissatisfied with mere philosophy-

A seeker true - so hungry was her soul,

And reading wide, she turned a devotee

Of St. Theresa as her model role.



Brelaus’s Agnosticism grown rampant

And with philosophies  dissatisfied,

And Atheism turning  militant,

She opted for the Order Carmelite.



Adored by students for her excellence,

Largesse of heart, and generosity,

Her understanding and intelligence

That stunned religeous peers and laity.







She  opted for the Christ to be her Lord

Her Master, and her way, her life and light

To Him she clung and worshiped and adored,

As Sister Agnella, the Carmelite.



Her order is ascetic and severe,

The Carmelites discalced, but Edith found

In it her calling  though the Lord did steer

To make her Christian Martyr- glory-bound.



Gestapo whacked and beat her convent’s door:

“You hide a Jewess sisters, and will pay

“Go! hurry! - bring this Jewess to the fore

We have a train to Auschwitz underway“!



And Auschwitz final destination was

For Edit Stein, the young nun Carmelite

Who waited with her peers to breath foul gas

And miasma  fumes of deadly cyanide.



An angel to the death-consigned she was,

Consoled, and assuaged their dread and fear

Of henchman, ovens and the murderous gas,

Assuring them salvation had drawn near.



Her turn came too - heroic martyrdom

Did suffer Edit Stein the Carmelite

And  Saint in heaven, to be called upon

To  shed  and spread her beacon beams of light





Elizabeth Dandy