Day 2 of the Saintly Sixteen is underway, and yesterday’s matchup certainly shook things up. Martin Luther hammered Richard Hooker and his famous three-legged stool, after already knocking John Wesley and the Quadrilateral out in round one. The question now: can anyone stop Luther?
Today we re-meet two saints who just might. It’s Desmond Tutu vs Edith Stein.
Remember, this round celebrates the legends, quirks, and larger than life stories that made these saints unforgettable. So read, watch, and VOTE!
Desmond Tutu
Author’s disclosure: My cat is named Edith after Edith Stein, since she was found on her feast day, August 9th. This is an emotionally laden match up for me; I feared the day might come. I have set aside personal feelings to give you an objective account, which has only further encouraged me to vote for “The Arch” today.
In 2021, Greg Myre wrote a remembrance for Archbishop Desmond Tutu for NPR entitled, “Desmond Tutu’s laugh was contagious. His fight for freedom was deadly serious.” In this article, Myre tells the story of Tutu’s response to opposition: “One day, government operatives rounded up unemployed Black people, gave them pre-printed protest signs and drove them to Tutu's home […] the government wanted media coverage showing that Tutu was actually harming South African Blacks with his calls for sanctions. When Tutu got wind of this, he raced home, invited the protesters into his garden and turned on the charm. By the time the television cameras arrived, the protest signs had been discarded on the sidewalk and everyone was enjoying tea, cookies and the gracious host at his impromptu garden party.”
The Arch used his gifts of speech, joy, and humor to further God’s kingdom. Bernard Dagnall in King’s College’s magazine InTouch remembers Tutu by saying, “[…] he recognised his gifts and was prepared to use them wherever appropriate. For him that meant upholding the dignity of all human beings, seeking justice wherever there was injustice, often at great personal risk, because ‘all people matter and matter enormously, because they are created in the image of God.”
Tutue describes his source of joy in his book God Has a Dream: “I am deeply thankful for those moments in the early morning when I try to be quiet, to sit in the presence of the gentle and compassionate and unruffled One […] People often ask about the source of my joy and I can honestly say that it comes from my spiritual life – and specifically from these times of stillness.”
Tutu’s efforts to uphold human dignity included the dignity of those of different faiths. In his book (surprisingly titled) God Is Not a Christian, he writes: “We should want to deal with other faiths at their best and highest, as they define themselves, and not shoot down caricatures that we want to put up.”
His fight for justice was based on his knowledge of God. In God Has a Dream he says: “[…] despite all the evidence that seems to be to the contrary, there is no way that evil and injustice and oppression and lies can have the last word. God is a God who cares about right and wrong. God cares about justice and injustice. God is in charge.”
Today, I end with one of The Arch’s quotes which is particularly resonant: “Peace requires the people of Israel and Palestine to recognize the human being in themselves and each other, and to understand their interdependence.” While the current world conflict may not be the conflict he knew, may we recognize the human being in ourselves and each other, and know we are all interdependent.
— Emily Kiel
Edith Stein
Edith Stein showed up to this bracket with a patronage portfolio that is, frankly, doing more heavy lifting than a gym bro. She is co-patroness of Europe, patron of martyrs, patron of those who have lost their parents, and, in a turn that surely no one saw coming from a Carmelite mystic, patron of World Youth Day. Multitasking in death as in life, it seems.
After being born into a devout Jewish family on October 12, 1891, Edith spent her teens becoming an atheist, her twenties becoming one of Germany's most celebrated philosophers, and her thirties converting to Catholicism after a single sleepless night with a book. Specifically, Teresa of Avila's autobiography, which she apparently picked up at random at a friend's house and could not put down. When she finished it at dawn, she said simply to herself:
"This is the truth."
She was baptized six months later. Just like that. What, like it’s hard?
Speaking of things the universe seems to have arranged on purpose: Edith was born on Yom Kippur. Her devoutly Jewish mother considered this no coincidence and made Edith her favorite child. There is something almost uncanny about a woman whose life would become so defined by atonement and sacrifice entering the world on the holiest day of the Hebrew calendar. Subtle, God, subtle.
Then there is her doctoral dissertation. It was written on the subject of empathy and completed summa cum laude, then followed by years of being denied academic positions because universities wouldn't hire women. The foremost philosophical expert on empathy, treated without any. We'll let that sit.
If you needed more evidence that Edith contained multitudes, consider that she described herself in her autobiography as a Streberin — German for overachiever or go-getter. This from a woman who taught herself Latin as a child, translated Thomas Aquinas into German while living in a convent, and in her final moments at Auschwitz reportedly moved through the crowd of terrified families around her — calming children, steadying mothers — as though she had been preparing her whole life for exactly that moment. Witnesses described her as looking like a Pietà.
Her own words have a way of arriving quietly and resounding loudly:
"Do not accept anything as love which lacks truth. And do not accept anything as the truth if it lacks love."
And, from early in her Carmelite life, a line that turned out to be more than a sentiment:
"If anyone comes to me, I want to lead them to Him."
She meant it.
— Samantha Smith
57 comments on “Desmond Tutu vs. Edith Stein”
Much as I admire and revere Edith Stein, my vote went to Archbishop Desmond Tutu today. Archbishop Tutu was the force behind the Truth and Reconciliation action in South Africa and the inspiration for that same activity here in Canada as we seek to resolve the legacy of pain that is borne by the Indigenous peoples of this country after 400 years of colonialism and - let's be honest - white supremacy.
I love his joy and humor!
Rene, I wholeheartedly agree. His dedication to hearing truth and working toward reconciliation in South Africa has been an inspiration around the world, especially here in Canada. Makes me think perhaps Murray Sinclair might just be considered as a modern saint in a future Lent Madness.
I'd vote For Murray Sinclair on a heartbeat! How do we go about niminating him for Lent Madness 2027?
During “Nominatide” we can put his name forward to the “Supreme Committee” for consideration. I think it’s some time in the early autumn…? Check for emails later.
What happened to Quirks & Quotes?
I voted for Desmond Tutu but I would cheer for Edith Stein if she won. She is inspirational.
Hardest match-up yet! Both excellent write-ups, well done, celebrity bloggers.
These two should be meeting each other in the Golden Halo round. It’s too bad to have to eliminate one now.
Much as I admire Edith Stein, my vote has to go to Desmond Tutu, for his tireless work for justice, and for his joy. There is too little justice and too little joy in the world today. How wonderful to vote for a saint known for his laughter and his humour.
I had to vote for The Arch. I am doing a book study with friends on The Book of Joy, a conversation between The Arch and Dalai Lama. Edith deserves a vote but this book has been such a “joy” to study I had to go with Tutu. He was an amazing man with so much wisdom.
As a Minnesotan and Minneapolis resident, I look to Desmond Tutu as an example. We have new billboards appearing--Neighbor is a verb here.
Still going to be Edith Stein for me.
Like others, I'm moved Edith Stein, but need to vote for Tutu. I had the great privilege of being in his presence twice, and the depth of his spirituality and infectiousness of his joy were and remain a deep blessing.
This is the only Saintly Sixteen match-up that I predicted correctly in my bracket so fingers crossed that Desmond Tutu wins.
It's getting harder! I normally vote for the women, if possible, but today - will, how could I let The Arch down?
Sorry, Edith.
Stein's contributions to phenomenology, a philosophical project exploring the constitutive nature of human being, was part of the intellectual work most tragically interrupted by fascism - far from the arid behaviorist and positivist streams that came to dominate after WW II. Its philosophical anthropology centered on the premise of human agency and creative being - even if, ironically, while Husserl himself trusted her with his work, the academic world was not ready for a woman's powerful intellect. To me, then, not surprising that she might be, with Teresa of Avila, Christ's hands and feet in service to precious lives in that most terrible of times - to rise to that moment by acting justly, loving tenderly, and walking humbly, sharing the hope of peace at the last as they walked into the fire. Might we all have the courage to embrace that kind of terrifying, refining joy.
Timely and very prophetic quotes for our current state of affairs from both of them. May it be so.
My vote went to Tutu. I met him once. It was an unforgettable experience to be in the presence of such holiness. It is his infectious laugh, head thrown back and smiling from ear to ear that solidified my vote.
Desmond Tutu’s life was in constant danger as he fought the injustices of Apartheid’s “separateness” whilst working hard to build bridges and bring all people together. Knowing his life could end with a single, well-aimed bullet pretty much every day during the height of Apartheid, he still went out into the people, totally visible, without fear, teaching togetherness. Ubuntu. Reconciliation. Truth. He believed in a loving God who represents good over evil, darkness over light, love over hate. If there was ever a “saint” whose ideology is need more today than ever, Desmond Tutu is the one.
I did pretty well in my choices for the Saintly Sixteen, I have a feeling that the Elite Eight is going to demolish my bracket. I stand by Edith Stein who began life in the Jewish faith and adopted Christianity and then consecrated life. She is a modern day martyr.
I knew I would vote for Tutu as soon as I saw his name. He was such a loving and delightful man and did so much good in South Africa. I read his book "The Book of Joy" and found it very inspirational. He was love and that is hard to find these days.
I recently experienced a dark night of the soul. While that sounds negative it lets you become more alive,joyous and connected to community. Desmond Tutu personifies this to me and gets my vote
Y'all are so mean! What's that quote about how the hardest choices aren't between good and evil, but between good and a lesser good?
I have to go with Tutu here.
Well, I see I am in the minority here by the results so far, but I voted for Edith Stein because the write-up on her made me cry.
A hard choice, but I had to vote for Bishop Tutu. I had the privilege of meeting him on more than one occasion and hearing him speak. An amazing man!
Both descriptions were beautifully written;the choice was difficult. However, Tutu's imprisonment and leadership during the dark days of apartheid were formative for me. I never thought I would live to see him freed, but there he was on that sunny day in Boston, stepping out in front of a cheering crowd of thousands. Like others, I celebrate the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation process when institutional apartheid ended.If only we in the US were capable of undergoing that truth-telling.
You are taking about Nelson Mandela who was imprisoned, freed, and visited Boston in 1990.
Desmond Tutu for his joy! I had the wonderful opportunity to hear the Arch at my daughter's graduation from college. His joy emanated like a light from him, asking these young people to join him in his work for truth and dignity. Unforgettable.
I hope Edith Stein gets more of a chance in some future Lent Madness , because normally I would really want to vote for her. But she's up against Desmond Tutù, so, sorry, Edith.
the Arch will always be my choice. how many of the saints can one meet in person
I was ready to vote for Bishop TuTu, who is one of the finest saints of our time. But Edith...calming mothers and children as they entered the chambers...That got me. I will not be unhappy to move Tutu on, but it's Edith today.
Both writers absolutely knocked it out of the park today! I loved the story about Tutu entertaining protesters in his garden and Smith had me hooked in the very first sentence of Stein's write-up.
What a choice! This could honestly have been the Golden Halo round.
I was born on Edith Stein's feast day (August 9); I also lived at the Edith Stein House when I was an exchange student in Goettingen, Germany, many years ago. But Archbishop Tutu seems to speak more directly to our world today. I love Edith Stein but give my vote to Desmond tutu.
Although I lived in Göttingen, Germany I was unaware of an Edith Stein House - I will have to look next time I visit. Both bloggers did such good write-ups today I had trouble deciding, but will use this information as a reason to vote for Edith Stein.
I want to congratulate Ms. Kiel and Ms. Smith, today's Celebrity Bloggers, for such excellent essays. The round of quirks and quotes can easily devolve into cutesy sayings and anecdotes. Today the CB's have given us enlightening examples of the humanity and spirituality of Archbishop Tutu and Sister Edith that bring them to life for us. Thank you for your fine work today!