LETTER OF SAINT EDITH STEIN TO POPE PIUS XI in 1933
February 23, 2003
The attached text was sent by Dr. Edith Stein, then noted philosopher, writer
and educator in Germany in the Spring of 1933. She had not yet entered the
Carmelite monastery of Cologne (being received there on October 14, 1933) and
she saw her lectureship at the German Institute for Scientific Pedagogy
terminated in the Spring, because of anti-Semitic Nazi laws. The date of April
20, 1933 probably indicates the delivery time since a cover letter of
presentation to Vatican officials that was written for it by her spiritual
director, Archabbot Raphael Walzer of Beuron Abbey, bore that date.
For years the letter was kept in the Vatican's archives and not even released
for inclusion in the published correspondence of Stein, who lately has been
canonized as a saint of the Catholic Church (on October 11, 1998). It was
released to the public on February 15, 2003 as part of the documentation dating
from the pontificate of Pius XI now available for study.
The current text was translated from the original German in a collaborative
effort by Mrs. Suzanne Batzdorff, Jewish niece of Edith Stein and frequent
author of both books and articles increasing knowledge of her aunt; Sr.
Josephine Koeppel, the Carmelite nun translator of Stein's autobiographical work
Life in a Jewish Family and also her correspondence Self-portrait in Letters,
1918-1942; and Rev. Dr. John Sullivan, publisher for the Discalced Carmelites of
The Collected Works of Edith Stein.
TEXT OF LETTER TO THE POPE FROM EDITH STEIN
Holy Father!
As a child of the Jewish people who, by the grace of God, for the past eleven
years has also been a child of the Catholic Church, I dare to speak to the
Father of Christianity about that which oppresses millions of Germans. For weeks
we have seen deeds perpetrated in Germany which mock any sense of justice and
humanity, not to mention love of neighbor. For years the leaders of National
Socialism have been preaching hatred of the Jews. Now that they have seized the
power of government and armed their followers, among them proven criminal
elements, this seed of hatred has germinated. The government has only recently
admitted that excesses have occurred. To what extent, we cannot tell, because
public opinion is being gagged. However, judging by what I have learned from
personal relations, it is in no way a matter of singular exceptional cases.
Under pressure from reactions abroad, the government has turned to
"milder" methods. It has issued the watchword "no Jew shall have
even one hair on his head harmed." But through boycott measures--by robbing
people of their livelihood, civic honor and fatherland--it drives many to
desperation; within the last week, through private reports I was informed of
five cases of suicide as a consequence of these hostilities. I am convinced that
this is a general condition which will claim many more victims. One may regret
that these unhappy people do not have greater inner strength to bear their
misfortune. But the responsibility must fall, after all, on those who brought
them to this point and it also falls on those who keep silent in the face of
such happenings.
Everything that happened and continues to happen on a daily basis originates
with a government that calls itself "Christian." For weeks not only
Jews but also thousands of faithful Catholics in Germany, and, I believe, all
over the world, have been waiting and hoping for the Church of Christ to raise
its voice to put a stop to this abuse of Christ's name. Is not this idolization
of race and governmental power which is being pounded into the public
consciousness by the radio open heresy? Isn't the effort to destroy Jewish blood
an abuse of the holiest humanity of our Savior, of the most blessed Virgin and
the apostles? Is not all this diametrically opposed to the conduct of our Lord
and Savior, who, even on the cross, still prayed for his persecutors? And isn't
this a black mark on the record of this Holy Year which was intended to be a
year of peace and reconciliation?
We all, who are faithful children of the Church and who see the conditions in
Germany with open eyes, fear the worst for the prestige of the Church, if the
silence continues any longer. We are convinced that this silence will not be
able in the long run to purchase peace with the present German government. For
the time being, the fight against Catholicism will be conducted quietly and less
brutally than against Jewry, but no less systematically. It won't take long
before no Catholic will be able to hold office in Germany unless he dedicates
himself unconditionally to the new course of action.
At the feet of your Holiness, requesting your apostolic blessing,
(Signed) Dr. Edith Stein, Instructor at the German Institute for Scientific
Pedagogy, Munster in Westphalia, Collegium Marianum.