By Susan Coleman, ENDOW Board Member

Trying to distill my impressions of Edith Stein, the study and the pilgrimage, into a couple of sentences is impossible. 

Edith Stein's life journey, as well as her teachings, are so complex, so full, so thought provoking.  On the one hand, you have a look at her journey to seek the truth - her life's path from Jew to atheist to Catholic convert to religious sister to martyr.  On the other hand, you have a look into her brilliant mind - her studies, her philosophy, her teachings.   You realize the magnitude of her life -- she played a role in the horrible events that took place in our recent history -- and that in and of itself simply brings me to tears.  But I think she also had a role in the way Pope John Paul II viewed women's important place in society and the Church - and that brings me great joy.

So when I stop to think of my impression of Edith Stein, I'm torn between her bravery and determination to seek the truth of the faith, and I'm also in awe of her groundbreaking philosophy on the nature of women and their role in society.  She was a champion of women's important place in society and the Church - regardless if you are a wife and mother, a career woman, or a consecrated religious, she tells us that we have unique and special gifts.  Those feminine gifts, part of our very soul, are critical in our contributions to whatever it is we chose to do.

I love the fact that her perspective on women really influenced the Pope's, and therefore the Church's, perspective.  And thus, it has played a role in ENDOW's perspective on women.

I think when you are done with this study, you'll want to check out the bibliography to read even more about this inspiring woman, the era she lived in and her perspective on women's role in society and the Church.