What is Dorothy Day famous for?
Dorothy Day (November 8, 1897 – November 29, 1980) was an American journalist, social activist and anarchist who, after a bohemian youth, became a Catholic without abandoning her social and anarchist activism. She was perhaps the best-known political radical among American Catholics.
What did Dorothy Day do for the Catholic Worker Movement?
Synopsis. Intrigued by the Catholic faith for years, Dorothy Day converted in 1927. In 1933, she co-founded The Catholic Worker, a newspaper promoting Catholic teachings that became very successful and spawned the Catholic Worker Movement, which tackled issues of social justice. Day also helped establish special homes to help those in need.
What did Dorothy Day teach me about justice?
Second, Dorothy Day taught me that justice is not just a project for the government, do-good agencies, or radical movements designing a new social order in which all the world’s problems will be solved. It’s for you and me, here and now, right where we are.
Why was Dorothy Day criticized for being too devout?
Dorothy was sometimes criticized for being too devout a Catholic. How could she be so radical about social matters and so conservative about her Church? While she occasionally deplored statements or actions by members of the hierarchy, she was by no means an opponent of the bishops or someone campaigning for structural changes in the Church.
What is Dorothy Day's message?
Dorothy Day is best known for her social action efforts with the Catholic Worker Movement. Dorothy Day integrated social activism and Catholic religious traditions through her work to aid the poor, educate others about social injustices, and create and reform social structures.
What did Dorothy Day write about?
In addition to her writing for The Catholic Worker, Day also penned several autobiographical works. She explained her religious conversion in 1938's From Union Square to Rome, writing the book as a letter to her brother, an ardent communist. In 1952, Day released her second autobiography, The Long Loneliness.
What can we learn from Dorothy Day?
If there is one lesson parents can take from the life of Dorothy Day, it's the importance of personal example. Dorothy learned about kindness and compassion from her mother, whose actions at the time of the earthquake spoke powerfully to the child of the way the world ought to be all the time.
Why was Dorothy Day considered a hero?
Dorothy Day is a hero of the Catholic left, a fiery 20th-century social activist who protested war, supported labor strikes and lived voluntarily in poverty as she cared for the needy.
Why did Dorothy Day not want to be called a saint?
The full quote goes, "Don't call me a saint, I don't want to be dismissed that easily." Day feared that the pedestal of sainthood would make us, mere mortals, forget the many tasks at hand-the daily struggle of building a better world.
Should Dorothy Day be a saint?
Dolan, who hailed her as “the saint for our times.” At their November 2012 meeting, the U.S. bishops unanimously supported her cause, and the Vatican accepted the recommendation, naming her “Servant of God.” If an investigation proves her life to be exceptionally virtuous, she will be declared “venerable.”
How did Dorothy Day contribute to society?
Dorothy Day (November 8, 1897 – November 29, 1980) was an American journalist turned social activist, who, along with Peter Maurin, founded the Catholic Worker Movement. She became known for her social justice campaigns in defense of the poor, forsaken, hungry and homeless.
How did Dorothy Day show courage?
As a political activist, Day denounced America's entry into World War II, as well as President Harry Truman's nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki as America's “mortal sin.” She also believed that capitalism was destroying countless American lives, arguing even in the midst of McCarthyism that, because of ...
How is Dorothy Day a modern Day prophet?
How Is She A Modern-Day Prophet? By looking at the characteristics of prophets during Jesus time, Dorothy Day can be called a modern-day prophet. Throughout her life, Day took a role as God's mouthpiece. She protested against issues that were not following in the footsteps of God, such as war and racism.
What religion is Dorothy Day?
CatholicDorothy Day (1897-1980) was a devoted Catholic convert whose life testified to the radical love of a living God. Not raised particularly religiously, she pursued a rather bohemian lifestyle as a writer in her early adulthood.
Who influenced Dorothy Day?
Leo TolstoyG. K. ChestertonSimone WeilJohn Henry NewmanÉtienne GilsonDorothy Day/Influenced by
What books did Dorothy Day write?
The Long Loneliness1952Peter MaurinLoaves and fishes1963On pilgrimage1948The duty of delightDorothy Day, selected w...Dorothy Day/BooksDay wrote constantly throughout her life, journalling and writing bits for herself. She published several autobiographical works: The Eleventh Virgin, From Union Square to Rome, The Long Loneliness, and Loaves and Fishes.
What kind of newspaper was the Catholic Worker?
The Catholic Worker is a newspaper published seven times a year by the flagship Catholic Worker community in New York City. The newspaper was started by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin to make people aware of church teaching on social justice.
How is Dorothy Day a modern Day prophet?
How Is She A Modern-Day Prophet? By looking at the characteristics of prophets during Jesus time, Dorothy Day can be called a modern-day prophet. Throughout her life, Day took a role as God's mouthpiece. She protested against issues that were not following in the footsteps of God, such as war and racism.
Who influenced Dorothy Day?
Leo TolstoyG. K. ChestertonSimone WeilJohn Henry NewmanÉtienne GilsonDorothy Day/Influenced by
Who was Dorothy Day?
Dorothy Day (November 8, 1897 – November 29, 1980) was an American journalist, social activist and anarchist who, after a bohemian youth, became a Catholic without abandoning her social and anarchist activism. She was perhaps the best-known political radical among American Catholics.
Who played Dorothy Day in the documentary?
Day was portrayed by Moira Kelly, and Peter Maurin was portrayed by Martin Sheen. A full-length documentary called Dorothy Day: Don't Call Me a Saint premiered in 2005. It was shown at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. Revolution of the Heart: The Dorothy Day Story, a film by Martin Doblmeier, aired on PBS in March 2020.
What did Dorothy Day struggle with?
Day struggled to write about poverty most of her life. She admired America's efforts to take responsibility through the government, but ultimately felt that charitable works were personal decisions that needed the warmth of an individual.
What was the Catholic Worker Movement?
With the Catholic Worker Movement, Day first focused on labor rights and aiding the disadvantaged, eventually calling for a non-violent revolution against the industrial economy, militarism, and fascism. It was a deep belief of Day's that non-violence, pacifism, and anarchism aligned with Christianity would result in a radical shift to a new order. Day's fight against the system was noticed by the American government. President Hoover felt particularly threatened, having pushed for Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty to persecute the Catholic Worker Movement several times for sedition and incitement, despite the Movement's pacifist stance. The FBI monitored the Catholic Worker Movement from 1940–1970; Day was jailed four times in this period.
Where was Dorothy May Day born?
Early years. Dorothy May Day was born on November 8, 1897, in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York . She was born into a family described by one biographer as "solid, patriotic, and middle class".
When was Dorothy Day baptized?
She studied the catechism and was baptized and confirmed in that church in 1911. Day was an avid reader in her teens, particularly fond of Upton Sinclair 's The Jungle. She worked from one book to another, noting Jack London 's mention of Herbert Spencer in Martin Eden, and then from Spencer to Darwin and Huxley.
When did the Archdiocese of New York stop publishing Catholic?
But he is not our ruler.". On March 3, 1951, the Archdiocese ordered Day to cease publication or remove the word Catholic from her publication name.
Who Was Dorothy Day?
Intrigued by the Catholic faith for years, Dorothy Day converted in 1927. In 1933, she co-founded The Catholic Worker, a newspaper promoting Catholic teachings that became very successful and spawned the Catholic Worker Movement, which tackled issues of social justice. Day also helped establish special homes to help those in need. Day was a radical during her time, working for such social causes as pacifism and women's suffrage.
Why was Dorothy Day called a saint?
Despite that documentary's title, many people have proposed that Day be named a saint for her social activism and commitment to her faith.
Where was Dorothy Day born?
Early Life. Dorothy Day was born on November 8, 1897, in New York City . She was the third of five children born to her parents, Grace and John, who worked as a journalist. The family moved to California for his job when Dorothy was 6 years old. They later lived in Chicago.
Who was Dorothy Day?
Dorothy Day (November 8, 1897 – November 29, 1980) was an American journalist turned social activist, who, along with Peter Maurin, founded the Catholic Worker Movement. She became known for her social justice campaigns in defense of the poor, forsaken, hungry and homeless.
What was Dorothy Day's autobiography about?
A popular movie called Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story, was produced in 1996 about the life and struggles that Day endured.
When was Dorothy Day's first documentary?
The first full-length documentary about her, Dorothy Day: Don’t Call Me a Saint, premiered at Marquette University, where her papers are housed, on November 29, 2005.
What was the Catholic Worker movement?
The Catholic Worker movement started with the Catholic Worker newspaper, created to stake out a neutral, pacifist position in the increasingly war-torn 1930s. This grew into a “house of hospitality” in the slums of New York City and then a series of farms for the poor to live together communally.
Who is Dorothy Day?
Updated December 13, 2018. Dorothy Day was a writer and editor who founded the Catholic Worker, a penny newspaper that grew into a voice for the poor during the Great Depression. As the driving force in what became a movement, Day's unwavering advocacy for charity and pacifism made her controversial at times.
What was the life of Dorothy Day?
As America entered World War I and a patriotic wave swept the country , Day found herself immersed in a life filled with politically radical, or simply offbeat, characters in Greenwich Village. She became a Village resident, living in a succession of cheap apartments and spending time in tearooms and saloons frequented by writers, painters, actors, and political activists.
What was Dorothy Day's first column in Catholic Worker?
In that setting, a newspaper focused on helping the poor and achieving social justice was a hit. Every copy sold. That first issue of the Catholic Worker contained a column by Dorothy Day which outlined its purpose. It began: "For those who are sitting on park benches in the warm spring sunlight.
How many times a year does Dorothy Day's newspaper sell for a penny?
The Catholic Worker community continues to flourish, and the newspaper which first sold for a penny in Union Square still publishes seven times a year in a print edition. An extensive archive, including all of Dorothy Day's columns is available for free online.
How long did Dorothy Day write?
Dorothy Day wrote a column in each issue, and her contributions continued for nearly 50 years, until her death in 1980. The archive of her columns represents a remarkable view of modern American history, as she began commenting on the plight of the poor in the Depression and moved on to the violence of the world at war, the Cold War, and protests of the 1960s .
Where did Dorothy Day's family move to?
Economic disruption caused by the San Francisco earthquake three years later cost her father his job, and the family moved on to Chicago. By the age of 17, Dorothy had already completed two years of study at the University of Illinois.
Where was Dorothy Day born?
Early Life. Dorothy Day was born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 8, 1897. She was the third of five children born to John and Grace Day. Her father was a journalist who bounced from job to job, which kept the family moving between New York City neighborhoods and then onward to other cities.
What was Dorothy Day's miracle?
One of the miracles of Dorothy's life is that she remained part of a conflict-torn community for nearly half a century. Still more remarkable, she remained a person of hope and gratitude to the end. People sometimes tell me how lucky I am to have been part of the same community that Dorothy Day belonged to.
What is Dorothy Day's greatest achievement?
Dorothy Day's main achievement is that she taught us the Little Way of love, which it so happens involves cutting up a great many onions. Dorothy Day's main achievement is that she taught us the Little Way of love, which it so happens, involves cutting up a great many onions.
What works of mercy did Dorothy do?
A day never passed without Dorothy speaking of the works of mercy: Feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, giving shelter to the homeless, caring for sick, visiting prisoners, burying the dead, admonishing the sinner, instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful, comforting the sorrowful, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving all injuries, praying for the living and the dead. She helped us understand a merciful life has many levels: There is hunger not only for food, but also for faith; not only for a place at the table, but also for a real welcome; not only for assistance, but also for listening; not only for kind words, but also for truthful words. There is not only hospitality of the door, but also hospitality of the face and heart. As she said, "We are here to celebrate Him through these works of mercy."
What is the little way of Dorothy?
It was chiefly through the writings of Saint Therese of Lisieux that Dorothy had been drawn to the Little Way. No term, in her mind, better described the ideal Christian way of doing things. As she once put it, "Paper work, cleaning the house, dealing with the innumerable visitors who come all through the day, answering the phone, keeping patience and acting intelligently — which is to find some meaning in all that happens — these things, too, are the works of peace and often seem like a very little way."
What was the Catholic Worker community life in Manhattan in the early sixties?
In reality, Catholic Worker community life in Manhattan in the early sixties, had much in common with purgatory. The staff was made up of people with very different backgrounds, interests, temperaments, and convictions. We ranged from the gregarious to the permanently furious.
Where did Dorothy's life take place?
As she said, "We are here to celebrate Him through these works of mercy.". For all her traveling, most of Dorothy's life was spent in New York City .
Was Dorothy the freest person alive?
If she was one of the freest persons alive, she was also one of the most disciplined. This was most notable in her religious life. Whether traveling or home, it was a rare day when Dorothy didn't go to Mass, while on Saturday evenings she went to confession. Sacramental life was the rockbed of her existence.
How old was Dorothy Day when she moved to Chicago?
Dorothy Day was 8 when her family moved into a tenement flat over a tavern on Chicago’s South Side. It was a big step down for the Day family. They had been practically wiped out by the big 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
What did Dorothy do in her teens?
It had become clear to Dorothy while a student that she wanted to be a journalist, but, without a degree and still in her teens, finding a newspaper job was no easy thing. None of the city’s mainstream papers offered her a job. Finally she went to New York’s one socialist paper, The Call, and there she got a job, starting at $5 a week. She had moved from reading about radical-change movements to direct participation.
How long did Dorothy take to solve the dilemma of her life?
While struggling, as a single parent, to earn a living as a freelance writer, it took Dorothy another five years to solve the most difficult quandary of her life: to find a way to bring together her radical convictions about an unjust social order and her religious faith. Practically all radicals were atheists, while practically all Catholics seemed to think very little about social injustice and what they should do about it.
What books did Dorothy read?
In the library of the house, Dorothy first read Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, Charles Dickens’ Bleak House and Little Dorritt, and other books that stirred her awareness of injustice in the world and also offered images of sanctity. These books she would read again and again for the rest of her life. There were other books, too, the sort her father regarded as “trash.” (Dorothy hid behind a bookcase a copy of Swinburn’s poem, “Tristan,” with its drawing of lovers lying in the grass.)
What horrified Dorothy more about her past than the abortion?
Nothing horrified Dorothy more about her own past than the abortion. This memory was so painful to her that the event was only implied in the vaguest way in her later Catholic autobiographical writing. There was even a period in her life when she made an effort to track down and destroy as many copies of The Eleventh Virgin as she could find.
What did Dorothy stand on the sidelines watching?
Dorothy stood on the sidelines watching the ragged procession carry its banners through “the tree-flanked streets of Washington, . . . joy and pride in the courage of this band of men and women mounting in my heart.” They made her feel how insignificant and puny had been her work since becoming a Catholic, “self-centered and lacking in a sense of community.”
What were the consequences of Dorothy's abortion?
One consequence of the abortion was that Dorothy felt that the damage done to her womb by the surgical procedure made any future conception impossible. She would never bear another child.
What did Dorothy Day say about her spiritual life?
If you find the life of Dorothy Day inspiring, if you want to understand what gave her direction and courage and strength to persevere, her deep attentiveness to others, consider her spiritual and sacramental life. “We feed the hungry, yes,” she said.
What did Dorothy Day teach us?
First of all, Dorothy Day taught me that justice begins on our knees. I have never known anyone, not even in monasteries, who was more of a praying person than Dorothy Day. When I think of her, I think of her first of all on her knees praying before the Blessed Sacrament.
What did Dorothy mean by "what you did to the least person you did to me"?
Dorothy was an orthodox Catholic. This means she believed that Christ has left himself with us both in the Eucharist and in those in need. “What you did to the least person, you did to me.”. Her searching of faces for Christ’s presence extended to those who were her “enemies.”.
What could Dorothy do with the ring?
Dorothy replied that the woman had her dignity and could do what she liked with the ring. She could sell it for rent money or take a trip to the Bahamas. Or she could enjoy wearing a diamond ring on her hand like the woman who gave it away.
What did Dorothy do in the advertisement?
Advertisement. At the heart of what Dorothy did were the works of mercy. For her, these were not simply obligations the Lord imposed on his followers. As she said on one occasion to Robert Coles, “We are here to celebrate him through these works of mercy.”.
What is the work of peace in Dorothy?
As Dorothy once put it: “Paperwork, cleaning the house, dealing with the innumerable visitors who come all through the day, answering the phone, keeping patience and acting intelligently, which is to find some meaning in all that happens—these things, too, are the works of peace, and often seem like a very little way.”
When did Jim Forest join Dorothy Day?
Jim Forest began his association with Dorothy Day in 1961, when he moved to New York City to join the Catholic Worker community there. A recent convert to Catholicism, he had been discharged from the U.S. Navy as a conscientious objector.
Overview
Biography
Dorothy May Day was born on November 8, 1897, in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. She was born into a family described by one biographer as "solid, patriotic, and middle class". Her father, John Day, was a Tennessee native of Irish heritage, while her mother, Grace Satterlee, a native of upstate New York, was of English ancestry. Her parents were married in an Epi…
Beliefs
Day struggled to write about poverty most of her life. She admired America's efforts to take responsibility through the government, but ultimately felt that charitable works were personal decisions that needed the warmth of an individual.
Day also denounced sins against the poor. She said that "depriving the laborer" was a deadly sin, using similar language to the Epistle of James in the Bible. She also said that advertising men we…
Contributions to the history of feminism
The beginning of Day's career was inherently radical and rooted personalism and socialism; ideologies fundamental to intersectional feminism. Though Day did not explicitly identify as a feminist, this was not unusual for historical contributors to feminist work and philosophy. Much like her gravitation towards Catholicism, Day grew into her feminism; she is a "born again feminist", like Dolores Huerta. Day's lifetime of work, especially with the Catholic Worker Movement, …
Legacy
Judith Palache Gregory was Day's executor. Day's papers are housed at Marquette University, along with many records of the Catholic Worker movement. Her diaries and letters were edited by Robert Ellsberg and published by Marquette University Press in 2008 and 2010, respectively. A new, 448-page biography appeared in 2020, which was extensively reviewed.
Attempts to preserve the Staten Island beach bungalow at the Spanish Camp community where s…
Posthumous recognition
• In 1992, Day received the Courage of Conscience Award from the Peace Abbey.
• In 2001, Day was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York.
• Dormitories at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, the University of Scranton in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Loyola University, Maryland, are named in her honor, as is the campus ministry at Xavier University.
Bibliography
• Dorothy Day (1924) The Eleventh Virgin, semi-autobiographical novel; Albert and Charles Boni; reissued Cottager 2011
• Dorothy Day (1938) From Union Square to Rome, Silver Spring, MD: Preservation of the Faith Press
• Dorothy Day (1939) House of Hospitality, From Union Square to Rome, New York, NY: Sheed and Ward; reprinted 2015 by Our Sunday Visitor
See also
• List of peace activists
• Ammon Hennacy
• Catherine Doherty
• Christian anarchism
• Christian pacifism