Hymn for St. Edith Stein

August 9, 2021

This woman armed with fire and sword,
Her fire the Cross, her sword the Lord,
For whom she bled in Europe’s strife
To give her dying people life.

The Truth she sought, the Cross her aim,
For which she fought and suffered shame,
And born of Israel’s noble tree
She searched and gave forth verity.

On Carmel’s mount, in cell-room’s core,
Behind the raging chamber’s door,
Teresa, hid from all the world,
Christ’s radiant vict’ry flag unfurled.

O virgin blest, of single heart,
Who sought to know the Other’s art,
Knowing of others, make us known:
Zelo zelatus ‘fore the throne.

The Father of the Chosen Race,
The Son revealing that One’s Face,
And Holy Ghost, consuming Fire,
Let every nation now desire.

note: I wrote this on the feast of Edith Stein in 2021. Later that day Joseph Koterski, SJ, a spiritual and intellectual father to many in New York, died of a heart attack while on retreat. The hymn imitates the Breviary hymns for saints and might be sung to, among other tunes, the Vexilla Regis of Good Friday.