Series: Plough Spiritual Guides #10
Published by Plough on April 14, 2026
Genres: Non-Fiction, Christian Life, Social Justice
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A rising feminist thinker, Edith Stein examined everything in her relentless pursuit of truth. This ultimately led her to the foot of Jesus’ cross and to taking the veil as a Carmelite nun. Though she renounced fame for a hidden life of prayer and service, history would not pass her by. Because of her Jewish heritage, her life ended in the gas chambers at Auschwitz. Yet she will be remembered for all time as a saint, martyr, and trustworthy spiritual guide, Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.
This collection introduces Edith Stein to a new generation, inviting the reader to walk with her on the way that leads to joy, peace, and assurance even in times that test the soul. The selections bring together her most essential writings – reflections, letters, prayers, poems, advice, and spiritual meditations – offering a window into a soul whose love for Jesus gave her life a firm direction from which she never wavered. Whether used for group study or quiet personal reflection, this little book will encourage anyone seeking to follow God in a complicated world.
Plough Spiritual Guides: Discover time-tested, life-changing wisdom from spiritual masters in these compact, portable books that can be absorbed at one sitting and revisited often.
This collection of historic writings is part of the Plough Spiritual Guides series. This series publishes curated writings by notable Christian thinkers, and while some of these authors are well-known, others are obscure. This new book introduces modern audiences to Edith Stein, a German-Jewish woman who converted to Catholicism and became a Carmelite nun. She was murdered in Auschwitz because of her Jewish heritage, and this book includes both universal spiritual reflections and writings that reflect her moment in history. For example, this collection includes a letter she wrote to Pope Pius XI, in which she urged him to speak out on behalf of the Jews.
A Sure Way: Following Truth in a World on Fire begins with a note from the series editor, Carolyn Beard. She summarizes biographical details about Stein, while the following note provides more insights for reading and experiencing Stein’s writings in the context of her life. Although the author’s life story appears to be this book’s selling point, the dense academic writings focus on general Christian living topics and philosophical ideas about faith. Out of the works reprinted here, only a few make reference to the author’s life experiences or the state of Germany at that time. The author’s focus is on Jesus, as one would expect from a nun. However, because the publisher put such a great emphasis on the author’s personal identity, some readers may feel disappointed that it wasn’t a point of great interest to the author herself.
A Sure Way will appeal to Christian readers who enjoy academic devotional writings, especially if they want to read theological reflections from historically marginalized voices. This book collects poems, essays, and devotional readings that show the author’s heartfelt faith, and although the reading is occasionally dry and highly abstract, Stein’s words offer wisdom and encouragement for the journey of life.