Thursday, 9 August 2012

Saint Teresa Benedict of the Cross

Today the Church keeps the Feast of St. Teresa Benedict who was born Edith Stein and who died on the 9th August 1942 in the Auschwitz concentration camp. Born a Jew she converted to the Catholic faith and was Baptised on the 1st January 1922. An academic, one evening Edith picked up an autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila and read this book all night. "When I had finished the book, I said to myself: This is the truth." Later, looking back on her life, she wrote: "My longing for truth was a single prayer." She joined the Carmelites in 1934. On 7 August 1942, early in the morning, 987 Jews were deported to Auschwitz. It was probably on 9 August that Sister Teresa Benedict, her sister and many other of her people were gassed. “When Edith Stein was beatified in Cologne on 1 May 1987, the Church honoured "a daughter of Israel", as Pope John Paul II put it, who, as a Catholic during Nazi persecution, remained faithful to the crucified Lord Jesus Christ and, as a Jew, to her people in loving faithfulness." (from the Vatican Website)

I celebrated Mass today at St. Augustine’s Rush Green and at Ilford Hospital Chapel.

ILFORD HOSPITAL  CHAPEL OPEN DAY

Saturday 11th August 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Free Guided tours of this historic building dating from the 12th Century.

Stalls and Refreshments

ADMISSION  FREE

If you haven’t yet visited the oldest, most historic building in Ilford why not do so. The chapel is on Ilford Hill.

Every Thursday at 12.35 p.m MASS to which all are welcome. Refreshments are served after Mass.

Chaplain: Father Mervyn Jennings SSC

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