Opinion/comments Pittsburgh Catholic, Friday, February ,13.1988 mr Page g Area fascinated with Edith Stein Letters to the editor (Second of two parts.) sociological and philosophical ex­ humility of a publican.” B y S r. MARY FIDELIA CHMIEL, planations to the basic questions She entered Carmel at 42. By C.8.8.P. I of a woman's Identity grounded in her own admission, the adjust­ In an age of Lady Doctors in the Support fired hospital w orkers the power of faith. It was a very ment was most difficult. Her Church it is Interesting to note difficult time in Europe fun­ superior had to order her to takb To the Editor: that Edith Stein’s experience with damentally altered by the up once again her habituifl Theresa of Avila was no different The labor-management situation as well as the quality of pa­ catastrophic war of 1914-1918. studies and her religious and from what happened to Teresa tient careat McKeesport Hospital are of great concern to all in our She insisted that a genuine philosophical works. Fortunately, herself 400 years earlier as she community. preparation for the expanding she encountered superiors who was reading St. Augustine. At this However, some of us In religious leadership are particularly role of women demanded training understood that the cloister does point in her life, Edith Stein, In affective values. Furthermore, not put an end to genius. Here stie CO«^ fm ** ° ne “ P®04 of thlS situation brilliant philosopher, who com­ Whatever the details or mistakes of union leadership, If any. It she felt It was no longer possible wrote Finite and Eternal BetrQi pleted her thesis on empathy 8,1 exercise of raw power to flre 200 people. Cer- to restrict a woman's place to the and the Science of the Cross. tahdy this offends the sensitivity of many in this area. summa cum laude hesitated bet­ home and cloister. Women have We ask for immediate talks to reinstate the original workers ween embracing Lutheranism or come to function In the profes­ There is no modem saint A Catholicism. mystic Edith learned to let go and bctween the union and the management to sional world as men’s equals but whose life the weight of historic settle their differences. While staying with the Conrad- allow the intellect to rest In according to Edith a woman who evil Is more acutely felt than In Martiuaes at their farm, she went prayer. SISTER MARIETTA RUHE entered the professions had the life of this extraordinary to look for something to read one Though still at the beginning of SISTER JOEL CAMPBELL another task “to merge her voca­ scholar, convert, professional evening when her host had gone her pilgrimage of faith, she was FR. STEVE CHERVENAK tion as a woman with her par­ philosopher, mystic and saint*. out. She chose the ready to take on any difficulties FR. PETER MURPHY ticular vocation and Impress the Her life of faith leaves one stirred autobiographical life of St. Teresa the new life entailed. Interior SISTER CAROLYN WIETHORN latter with a truly feminine digni­ to the very foundations; her death of Avila. Once she began reading prayer and exterior action were ty and character.” as a victim of the heinous Nafl FR. JOHN CASSELLA it, she found it impossible to put inseparably united in her ex­ FR. LEO HENRY Holocaust has even more to say down. She read all night. At tremely productive life. Writers of SISTER MARY THERESA LEITEM Supporting her views with than we can ever fully com­ daybreak, when she finally finish­ all categories should find consola­ quotations from the New Testa­ prehend. Though she repeatedly FR. NEIL McCAULLEY ed reading It, she said to herself tion and encouragement In her FR. TOM SMITH ment, she maintained that a voca­ renewed her act of oblation and McKeesport "This is the truth.” Her passion final assessment that, “No In­ tion to celibacy implicitly atonement for the entire world, for the truth led her to this point. tellectual work Is brought Into the acknowledged a significance for she was greatful that hrfl- Why was Teresa of Avila so world without heavy labor.” woman independent of man. The superiors arranged to have her T h e greatest love of all helpful In Edith's decision? In this After her conversion, Edith well-known author Gertrude von transferred from Cologne to Echt. remarkable partly Jewish gave up plans for a scholarly Le Fort who attended Edith’s Holland. When the Nazi were clos­ To the Editor: woman, Edith found a striking career and accepted a position reception of the habit at Carmel In ing in on Holland, she even hoped I would like to comment on Fr. John Catoir's column, headlin­ confirmation of her own ex­ teaching German at a Dominican Cologne was so Impressed by to move to a Swiss Carmel. ed "Gospel Is God's Valentine” (Pittsburgh Catholic. Feb. 5). The perience. Suddenly she realized School. To her. education was a Edith's radiant appearance that She loved her people with ah lines that struck me most were romantic love had nearly cost the that God Is not a God of form of the apostolate; the glow­ she kept a photo of her on her undying love to the very end. adulterous woman her life and eternal love had saved her. No one knowledge but God is love. He ing testimonies of her students desk as an inspiration for her After her transfer she wrote to a can love us like Jesus. When we accept His forgiveness and love, reveals his mysteries to a heart confirm her remarkable gifts of book The Eternal Woman. friend that she firmly believed we experience the greatest healing and happiness there is in life. that surrenders and not to the dedication. They were all willing Edith regarded charity as an that the Lord accepted her life as JAMES BRANNAN deductive intelligence, however to beatify her by acclamation. essential form of the apostolate an offering for all. She always McKees Rocks brilliant. Besides being an During this somewhat retired ex­ and recommended genuine remembered how Queen Esther authentic mystic. Teresa of Jesus istence she grew in her interior solidarity with those in need of was separated from her people so was a bom psychologist and a life and prepared herself for her support. She challenged Chris­ she could intercede for them Priest identified incorrectly competent communicator of self- future work as lecturer and public tians in the world reminding before the king. The Gestapo knowledge; she succeeded in speaker. them "There's quite a distance finally banged at the Echt con­ To the Editor: overcoming Edith's metaphysical This brilliant Jewish scholar between leading a self satisfied vent door and took her to In the front page photo headlined "Interfaith Breakfast," (Pitt­ prejudices and her fear of en­ was the model of the professional existence of the 'good Auschwitz. She lived out the sburgh Catholic, Jan. 22) the newspaper Identified Incorrectly countering the living God. A woman; her philosophical works Catholic’...who does Just as he prayer she had written five days the Episcopal priest at the far left of the photo. His correct name Is mysterious light burst Into flame. attracted attention far and wide. pleases and living one’s life In the before her death on Aug. 9 1942 The Rev. James Simons, assistant, St. Martin's, Monroeville. With Teresa. Edith encountered Ahead of her time, she went presence of God, with the which concluded with “Hail, O I call this to your attention, not only because everyone in the the Cross and from the Spanish beyond the psychological. simplicity of a child and the Cross, our only hope.” paper likes to be correctly Identified — as I am sure you attempt to do — but also to emphasize that there are a substantial number of Episcopal clergy and laypersons who are very solidly pro-life. We don’t always get adequate recognition for our stand. Religions seeking Mid East peace I trust you will make a correction of this in a subsequent Issue By MIKE McMANUS of the newspaper which I incidentally like very much. "The Palestinians today are not gle is not "between villains and WASHINGTON — High above trying to destroy the State of saints. We need to stop Judging the nation's capital in the new Israel, but are fighting for the each other and understand eacn REV. EVERETT I. CAMPBELL tower of the National Cathedral, Oakland right to be called a people and a other. Why are half of Israelis un­ several hundred of America's nation in a mini-state next to willing to make concessions? leading Christians. Jews and Michael Israel. In the past several weeks of Muslims met on Jan. 27 to create McManus "They are motivated by fear. uprising, not a single Israeli The PLO was built up in the '60s Plan for fallen-aw ay Catholics an unprecedented U.S. Inter- soldier or settlement resident was rellglous Committee for Peace in with the explicit purpose of undo­ killed" — a remarkable achieve­ ing Israel.” When defeated in the To the Editor: the Middle East. ment since so many young A recent survey reports that only 44 percent of registered These people of faith- gave me 1967 war, PLO's tactics changed Palestinians have given their to guerrilla warfare." 1 Catholics attend Mass on Sunday. What a great sorrow for the my first sense of hope for an end lives, proving that "the younger k Body of Christ to dwindle so. to the Israell-Arab conflict which with no people. But alas, the land generation does not fear Israeli He noted that half of Israelis ap­ Some of our good and faithful priests, realizing that Jesus has killed 40 Palestinians in re­ had people. Jews felt ‘Our pains bullets.” proved of the way Israel faced the I meant all of us believers, when He said "Go forth and teach all na­ cent weeks. are more painful than the pains of uprising, 30 percent felt they tions." are stressing to the Faithful (those attending Mass) that The top concern of some at­ others. If we cause pain, tough The PLO Is adding "something were too lenient, and only 8 per­ [ they are in the best position to Influence their families, relatives tendees was Israel's right to live luck'." new, a non-violent campaign to cent felt they were too harsh. and friends to come back to full participation In the Church. in peace. Others felt the highest resist the occupation. To change Hanna Siniora, Palestinian "The short-run Israeli reaction Is Fr. Anthony Cipolla pioneered this work last fall with the Padre need was to give the Palestinian the policy of Israel, Palestinians editor of AL-FAJR, described his harsh.” he said. Pio Prayer Groups. Since the survey was published, some of our people the same right as the Jews have to talk to the Israeli voter. people's pain: "living under a "All of us have brothers or sons pastors have delivered the same message to their congregations. to self-determination. But as one This is a crucial (Israeli) election harsh occupation, with censor­ who are confronting the uprising Readers. I cannot urge you strongly enough to pursue this leader put it: year. Palestinians don’t want to ship of press and land expropria­ personally. But the barrage of bot­ means of serving our Good God and His Church. Sometimes, a "We meet together In this com­ hand the election to the radical tion. We saw land vanish — 56 tles and stones, and of kids chas­ person only needs a word of encouragement, an invitation, to mon effort based on the deep con­ right.” Therefore, a civil disobe­ percent of the West Bank ex­ ing soldiers has shattered the return. Pray for the Holy Spirit. He will Inspire you and guide you viction that these two goals — dience campaign is emerging, legend that the status quo is In your approach. Israel's security and Palestinian propriated for military and settle­ such as “not paying taxes" to ment purposes, and 40 percent of tenable. The young have scored a Read the letters of St. Paul. He Is the perfect role model In this self-determination — are mutual- Israel. Gaza. victory in world opinion and in — fearless, untiring, loving, persuasive. If those you are trying to ly a n d inextricably Fayez Abu Rahme, a Gaza Israel. bring back find fault with the Church, tell them to come back in interdependent.'' “We have seen thousands of lawyer who Joined Siniora in "Yet there is no way we will and work to correct its faults. Pray always that our work will be Retired Egyptian Ambassador houses destroyed, our economy cave In to violence. fruitful according to the Holy Will of God. Tahseen Basheer told those meeting Secretary of State shattered, and we are a cheap Shultz, noted one other element "Palestinians can score a point MARY DEE MALONEY gathered that when the Muslim captive labor force of Israel." But with violence, but can not win Upper St. Clair warrior Saladin recaptured of their “non-violent” strategy: he said two other factors sparked "We would like to have a settle­ final victory by force. Only honest Jerusalem 800 years ago, Jews the uprising of Palestinian youth reconciliation" in negotiations were Arab allies — against the ment of demilitarization, with a with rocks and bottles: police force like England that only can do that. Christian crusaders. Synagogues Rami Khouri, former editor of ‘Inconsistent* Christians reopened. has batons. If that is a threat to “They rebelled against the Israel's security — no batons, on­ the Jordan Times, said "It Is quite "But Jews and Arabs of modem failure of the Israeli government novel to see Christians. Muslims To the Editor: times had little concern for each ly a barefoot police force with to have a peace plan of its own or bathing suits!” and Jews coming together like During the past several years. I have pondered over the validity other. They were concerned with to endorse the negotiating terms this in the U.S. for such a noble of what constitutes a true Christian. Does he or she qualify simply themselves. After the Holocaust. of King Hussein and Israel's Mordechai Bar On, leader of the goal. What can you do to help? As because he attends Mass on Sundays and religious holidays, or Jews thought. ‘How can I help my foreign minister. And they saw "Peace Now Movement” which men and women of faith, reassert when he contributes to charity? Shouldn't the role of a Christian fellow Jews?' Zionists picked Arab leaders downgrading the amassed 80,000 Israelis to protest the principle that morality applies prevail in his dally life? My search for a rational answer has left Palestine for a homeland. Palestinian issue, focusing their Israel’s "iron fist” repression of to all people. The Palestinians me frustrated and disappointed because of the following “The Arabs there did not mat­ attention on the Persian Gulf the Gaza uprising, urged people have the same rights as the experience. ter to them. Jews needed a land war.” outside to understand the strug­ Israelis, Afghans or Poles.” Sixteen years ago, my daughter, then 18 years old, was Involv­ ed In a car accident and has since required annual hospitalization. At first, my Christian friends, relatives and neighbors respond­ Reflections on untimely death ed with genuine concern and love. Their prayers, communions and novenas bombarded heaven praying for a complete recovery By Fr. JEROME LEDOUX. SVD ' for my daughter. However, It wasn't long before their efforts and her patience and her total lack of Humanly speaking, this ui "Are you in pain?” the nurse complaints. timely death, which occurre concern phased out completely. They do not realize how uplifting asked expectantly. a brief message or phone call to the hospital would be today, even Until some 15 years ago, I had within hours after my converse There was no body movement, never heard of lupus, except as tion with the nurse, is nothing bi 16 years after the accident. for the nurses had partially A simple phone call or a get-well card — how much effort does the Latin word which means wolf. raw tragedy, leaving angulshei paralyzed her body in order to Fr. Jerome By far most of the people to whom immature adolescents in its waki that require? — would tell me that they still care. I realize that we conserve oxygen, since the LeDoux are all engrossed In our own lives, but we must take time not only I have spoken about it had never However, we Christians believ respirator was her only means of heard of it either. in the transcendent power of th to "smell the roses" but also to “send the flowers" to some lonely staying alive. Unfortunately, it is becoming cross of Jesus, "a stumblin — young or old — forgotten person. A gummy film covered her Another example of “limited Christianity” Is evident over the more commonly known as a fami­ block to Jews, and an absurdity t eyes, preventing her from open­ ly of diseases which attack the Gentiles” (1 Cor. 1:23). We firml Christmas holidays. Nursing homes and hospitals are alive with ing them more than'a fraction. carollers and visitors, but after the holidays they are abandoned skin and, sooner or later, the believe that, because of the croe Swollen by the side effects of her that she was not in pain? Did she kidneys and other vital organs of of Jesus, all our suffering 1 for another year. medication, her whole body look­ mean that literally? Or was she As I see It, a Christian Is an Inconsistent, well-meaning church­ the body. It seems to attack powerful and redemptive. ed deathly sick and weak. This saying in effect that it was all over women more than men and kills Of course, Jesus needed no hel goer with limited principles. Am I being unreasonable? condition had been brought on by and that she saw no need to CHARLES A. PALMER many of its victims at an early in suffering for us. What he di kidney failure some six hours bother anyone about sedatives or age. redeemed and validated each < Penn Hills before. anything else? Only 41, Helen fit the mold of us forever. However, Jesu Slowly, wanly, Helen moved Trouper that she was. I suspect perhaps most of the hapless vic­ himself invited us to suffer wit her head from side to side, in­ that the latter speculation was the tims of lupus. Her husband and him, to bear our cross in hi O n letters to the editor dicating that she was in no pain fact of the matter. Already back in their children, ranging in age bloody footsteps: "Who will nc and therefore needed no sedation. 1980, her condition had been from 16 to 20, could only shake take up his cross and come aftc Writers of letters-to-the editor are reminded once again that Outside the room, the nurse diagnosed as lupus, and for the their heads in disbelief and grief. me is not worthy of me” (Mt. 1( letters should be Umlted to 300 words. We have teen lenient In turned to me and lamented: “The past 12 months or so she had Classmates from her native 38). ’ the past with some letters that have run far over the word-llmtt most unfortunate part of all this is been almost constantly under Opelousas, La. did not fare any At its greatest, our contrlbutlo However. In the future, letters should be held to the word-llmtt that she Is fully conscious and siege by the deadly disease. better in their attempts to cope is small. Still, it is necessary an • or they will be edited down. Also, telephone numbetb should be knows everything that is happen­ In and out of the hospital many with their sorrow. They recalled purifies us through the blood < ing to her.” Included so the letters can be verified. If they can't be verified times, continually under serious her as an intelligent, outgoing, Jesus. Shinlng stars like Htífctí l they won't be used. It should be pointed out also, that many let­ For hours I tried to piece that; Inconvenience and. one had to talkative young lady who was luminate the Christian galaxy < conversation together. What did! ters aren’t published simply because of space Umttattora. think, in considerable pain, Helen' always pleasant to be around. Her God's kingdom'jypd invite u# Helen mean when she shook her amazed everyone tary her affliction and death seemed carry our crasa until we head negatively, communicating: peacefulness, her cooperation, unreal. our crown.