When the Saints are Sent Marching out
Some of you may (or may not) remember from childhood the gospel hymn, When the Saints Go Marching In. In it there’s a line that says “I want to be in that number!” I was reminded of it recently when I took a visit to York Cathedral. It’s one of the most famous landmarks in Britain and it is remarkable.
However, one thing in particular stood out for me. It was mentioned to me that the place felt bare. Indeed, on further inspection I agreed. I couldn’t put my finger on it until I stepped outside and saw that the enclaves on the outside of the church were all empty. The statues of the saints, who stood there originally pre-reformation, were taken out. They were quite simply given their marching orders during the reformation!
What do we learn from the Saints?
This led me to wonder that if on a superficial level, the simple physical presence of the saints that is evident in many churches inspired some of the greatest art and architecture, what does it mean on a deeper level if we have a spiritual life without the saints present?
Of course, we don’t need saints in order to have or to develop a relationship with God, however I have found so much inspiration and encouragement from them, that it has had a very positive impact on my spiritual life.
Sometimes it can feel that God and his kingdom can be quite far from us. Certainly, there are times when I feel I am just not ‘holy’ enough. Yet, through learning about some of the modern saints I have realised these were real people with real human personalities. They had good sides and not so good sides - just like all of us. Yet despite the challenges they faced, they led lives of heroic virtue and demonstrated that it is possible to strive and achieve holiness, even in this very messy world we live in. With this in mind I would like to share with you the life of one important saint who has encouraged me.
An inspirational woman and Saint
One of the best examples of a modern saint for our times is Edith Stein. Now known as Saint Benedicta of the Cross, Edith Stein was a brilliant philosopher, a gifted academic, a convert to Catholicism from Judaism and a nun who ultimately died a martyr at Auschwitz. Given that this year marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, it seems like an opportune time to discuss this remarkable lady.
Edith was born into a large devout Jewish family in 1891. Her father sadly died when she was young and her mother raised her and her siblings. She became an atheist in her teenage years but developed a strong interest in philosophy. At a time when women were rarely admitted to university, Edith thrived in the academic environment. She was recognised for her brilliance and was a favoured student of Husserl, a famous German philosopher of the 20th century. She obtained a doctorate in philosophy and became a faculty member at the University of Freiburg in Germany. She achieved all this at a time when women, never mind people of Jewish heritage, were rarely seen in prestigious academic positions. Edith was respected for her brilliance, and many saw a bright career ahead of her.
Despite the cultural and social difficulties in early 20th century Germany, Edith had some friends who were Catholic and in the burgeoning of her academic career something remarkable happened to this determined and brilliant philosopher. Having a curious and open mind, she read a copy of St Teresa of Avila’s book The Interior Castle whilst at a friend’s house. When she finished it, she simply said “that is the truth.” Shortly thereafter she left atheism and converted to Catholicism.
Generosity and sacrifice
After her conversion Edith remained a renowned teacher, and was even offered a post as a lecturer in the University of Munster. However she felt a strong calling to give up her worldly acclaim and abandon everything by becoming a Carmelite nun. Initially her spiritual mentors prevented her from doing this and she was encouraged to accept speaking engagements, often speaking on women’s issues. Yet, Edith held on to the hope that one day she would enter religious life. Her opportunity came when Hitler made his wider plans for the Jewish people clear and it was no longer feasible for her to continue her work at the university. In 1933 she entered the Carmelite order and subsequently became a professed nun.
Sadly, despite having been moved to a convent in the Netherlands for her safety, she was sought out by the Gestapo who arrested her on the 2nd of August 1942. The Nazi’s sought to extinguish all Jewish people, even those who had converted to Catholicism. Edith was asked to pay the ultimate price and give the ultimate sacrifice at Auschwitz. She was aware of this when the Gestapo came knocking at the Carmelite convent and she answered the call heroically. It is reported she said to her sister Rosa, who had also converted to Catholicism and was arrested with her, “come, we are going for our people.”
There’s much inspiration and hope we can take from the wonderful example of Edith Stein. Before becoming a nun, she led a secular life similar to many of us today. She had the whole world in the palm of her hand. She really could have had it all. Then a chance encounter set her on a completely different path. She found her true vocation in the church and was willing to abandon everything in order to follow it.
What women can offer the world
In many ways Edith didn’t fit the mould for her day. She was strong willed, determined and held in high regard in academia. She was also a lady before her time. She wrote extensively on the philosophy of women. One of my favourite quotations is “the world doesn’t need what women have but what women are.” It can often feel as though the world demands a lot from women; it wants us to look attractive, to be intelligent - but not too intelligent! It tells women we can have it all if we work hard enough; a high-powered career and a family by multiple means if we so desire. At a first glance, we women of the 21st century have more opportunities than ever before, yet we are needed simply for who we are, not just what we can give.
At a time when most women lived their lives at home, Edith lived hers boldly in the public academic sphere until she made the radical decision to dedicate herself completely to God in seclusion from the world. So what can we women in the 21st century, who are living in the middle of the world, learn from Edith?
Living an authentic life
Edith’s great mind or deep faith didn’t protect her from suffering in this life. Her previous accomplishments were not widely acknowledged when she entered the monastery. Instead she lived a quiet life of obedience and joyfulness. She lived out her vocation to the very end. It serves as a powerful inspiration to all women, to use their talents and intelligence to embrace their vocation - whether that’s married life, single life or religious life - and not be afraid to live a life full of faith to the very end. She shows us it is possible to use one’s own feminine genius to serve the world around us and to have the courage to simply be who we are.
As I compare the image of Edith in my mind to that of the empty church enclaves in York Cathedral, I am filled with such gratitude that we are given the opportunity to draw hope and inspiration from some very ordinary people who displayed extraordinary courage, despite all of the very real challenges in their lives. With that in mind, similar to that old gospel hymn I mentioned at the beginning, I too want to be in that number!
