St. Teresa Benedicta of The Cross ‘Stands Between Two Worlds’ — Catholic and Jewish

Her family was Jewish, but after achieving renown as a philosophy professor, she converted to Catholicism and became a Carmelite religious sister. “Edith Stein stands between two worlds, Catholic and Jewish,” said Sister Celia Deutsch, who is active in local interfaith circles. Consequently, they felt the Church ignored this position when St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was canonized by St. Pope John Paul II on May 1, 1987. RELATED: St. Edith Stein: Born Jewish, She Became Catholic, and a Champion for WomenSome of these emotions are unresolved nearly four decades later, Sister Celia said. Sister Celia, who grew up in the Chicago area, is the daughter of a Catholic mother and a Jewish father.