Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester celebrated the feast day of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, also known as Edith Stein, on Aug. 9 by asking for her intercession.

“St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, pray for us!” Barron tweeted. 

Edith Stein was born into a Jewish family in Poland and was recognized as a brilliant student. But, she stopped believing in God when she was a teen, according to Franciscan Media. She earned a doctorate in philosophy and became a professor. 

Eventually, Stein read St. Teresa of Avila's autobiography and became drawn to Catholicism, according to Saints Resource. She was baptized in 1922 and began teaching at a Catholic girls' school. In 1933, she became a sister with the Discalced Carmelite Order, taking the name Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. 

During World War II, she was sent to Holland because her Jewish heritage put her in danger. After the Nazis conquered Holland in 1942, Sister Teresa Benedicta was arrested with her sister, who had also converted, Saints Resource said.

Teresa Benedicta and Rosa, her sister, were sent to Auschwitz, where they were killed in a gas chamber on Aug. 9, 1942, according to Franciscan Media. Pope John Paul II beatified Teresa Benedicta in 1987 and canonized her in 1999. She is the patron saint of Europe and converts to Christianity. 

Barron began his Word on Fire Catholic Ministries more than 20 years ago, sharing the Gospel with his more than 3.1 million Facebook followers, 517,000 YouTube subscribers, 349,000 Instagram followers, and 198,000 Twitter followers. Bishop Barron is the first priest since Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen to have a regular national program, according to a release.