Edith Stein

St. Theresa Benedicta of the Cross, also known as Edith Stein, was a German Carmelite nun and philosopher who was murdered in Auschwitz during the Holocaust. Born in 1891, she was a brilliant student who later converted to Catholicism from Judaism. Stein joined the Carmelites in 1933 and took the name Theresa Benedicta of the Cross. She is venerated as a martyr and patron of Europe for her witness to the Catholic faith in the face of Nazi persecution. Stein's writings on philosophy, theology, and the role of women in the Church continue to inspire many. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1998.