Dorothy Day

A compelling autobiographical testament to the spiritual pilgrimage of a woman who, in her own words, dedicated herself "to bring[ing] about the kind of society where it is easier to be good.''

The Autobiography of the Legendary Catholic Social Activist

The Long Loneliness

Dorothy Day is remembered as one of the great women of our age. Her admirers want to make her a saint, though she often protested. What hidden strength did this woman possess that continues to inspire people today? In clear, simple reflections, this little spiritual guidebook offers insights and wisdom Dorothy Day gained during many decades of seeking to know Jesus and to follow his example and teachings in her own life. Unlike larger collections and biographies, which cover her radical views, exceptional deeds, and amazing life story, this book focuses on an intensely personal dimension of Dorothy Day's life: Where did she receive strength to stay true to her God-given calling? What was the wellspring of her deep faith and her love for all humanity? "The solution proposed in the Gospels is that of voluntary poverty and the works of mercy. It is the little way. It is within the power of all. Everybody can begin here and now. . . . We have the greatest weapons in the world, greater than any hydrogen or atom bomb, and they are the weapons of poverty and prayer, fasting and alms, the reckless spending of ourselves in God's service and for his poor. Without poverty we will not have learned love, and love, at the end, is the measure by which we shall be judged." Dorothy Day, The Catholic Worker, April 1950

Notes on Following Jesus

The Reckless Way of Love

From Union Square to Rome

Søren Kierkegaard

C. S. Lewis

G. K. Chesterton

Kahlil Gibran

Blaise Pascal

Wendell Berry

Henri J. M. Nouwen

Frederick Buechner

Philip Yancey

Meister Eckhart

Kathleen Norris

Madeleine L'Engle

Readings for Lent and Easter

Bread and Wine

This year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of Dorothy Day (1897-1980)--co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement, and one of the most inspiring figures of recent history. By her lifelong option for the poor and her devotion to active nonviolence, Day fashioned a new face for the gospel in our time. In 2000 the Vatican recognized her cause for canonization, and she was officially termed "Servant of God." To mark the occasion, Orbis is pleased to issue an anniversary edition of Dorothy Day: Selected Writings, widely recognized as the essential and authoritative guide to her life and work.

By Little and by Little

Dorothy Day, Selected Writings

"When Dorothy Day sat down to record her thoughts in diary form, she wrote not only as the leader of the Catholic Worker movement but also as a mother, a grandmother, and a deeply religious woman who was passionate about everything from baking bread to prayer. But whether describing day-to-day happenings or exploring the writings of the saints, Day's reflections return to her abiding theme - the call to personal and public transformation. Her diary entries touch on numerous social and moral concerns still vital in our day: the disenfranchised poor, the benefits of meaningful work, the significance of family, the dangers of secularization, the decline of moral standards, and the importance of faith."--BOOK JACKET.

On Pilgrimage

Robert Ellsberg

Winner of the Christopher Award, this collection highlights the work and vision of a challenging and inspiring religious figure of recent history -- a woman whose tireless efforts to live Christ's gospel among the poor gave her unparalleled insights into the meaning of the over-used term "social justice". Jim Forest There is no better introduction to (the writings of) Dorothy Day or any book that better reflects the wide borders of her interests, the depth of her soul, and her skill as a writer.

the diaries of Dorothy Day

The duty of delight

"Marking the centenary of Dorothy Day's birth in 1897, this new edition of Loaves and Fishes makes a modern religious classic available to a new generation. A companion to her autobiography, The Long Loneliness, this is Day's frank and compelling account of thirty years as leader of the Catholic Worker Movement and editor of its newspaper." "Blending a journalist's perceptions with emotional commitment and warm humor, she shares experiences amid the abandoned and impoverished, the hopeful and idealistic. In the process, she brings to life a host of remarkable personalities, and reveals a life of faith in action." "A unique document of American social history, Loaves and Fishes offers powerful testimony to the unswerving faith of a woman dedicated to improving the lot of all people, and creating a viable alternative to the growing ills of a chaotic world."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Loaves and Fishes

Day (1897-1980) began her diaries in 1934, shortly after co-founding the Catholic Worker movement, and kept them up until shortly before she died. Ellsberg, who has worked for the Catholic Workers and edited Day's writing, was invited to edit them as soon as they were unsealed, as per her wishes, in November 2005.

The Diaries of Dorothy Day

The Duty of Delight

Francis J. Sicius

Dorothy Day provides the most complete intimate portrait of the man she called "an Apostle to the world." Maurin emerges as a true saint and prophet who offers an instructive and healing challenge for our time.

Apostle to the World

Peter Maurin

Therese

The Selected Letters of Dorothy Day

All the Way to Heaven

An Autobiography

Long Loneliness

Peter Day

Stanley Vishnewski

Meditations

Jean Vanier

Eugene H. Peterson

Thomas Merton

Joan Chittister

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

Richard J. Foster

Chiara Lubich

Saint Benedict

Howard A. Snyder

David Janzen

Christine D. Pohl

Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Eberhard Arnold

John M. Perkins

Christine Christine

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Why, in age of connectivity, are our lives more isolated and fragmented than ever? And what can be done about it? The answer lies in the hands of God's people. Increasingly, today's Christians want to be the church, to follow Christ together in daily life. From every corner of society, they are daring to step away from the status quo and respond to Christ's call to share their lives more fully with one another and with others. As they take the plunge, they are discovering the rich, meaningful life that Jesus has in mind for all people, and pointing the church back to its original calling: to be a gathered, united community that demonstrates the transforming love of God. Of course, such a life together with others isn't easy. The selections in this volume are, by and large, written by practitioners--people who have pioneered life in intentional community and have discovered in the nitty-gritty of daily life what it takes to establish, nurture, and sustain a Christian community over the long haul. Whether you have just begun thinking about communal living, are already embarking on sharing life with others, or have been part of a community for many years, the pieces in this collection will encourage, challenge, and strengthen you. The book's fifty-two chapters can be read one a week to ignite meaningful group discussion.

The Life Jesus Wants for His People

Called to Community

Dorothy Day’s unpretentious account of the life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux sheds light on the depth of Day’s Catholic spirituality and illustrates why Thérèse’s simplicity and humility are so vital for today. Whether you are called to the active life like Day or a more hidden existence like Thérèse, you will discover that these paths have much in common and can lead you to a love that has the power to transform you in ways that are unexpected and consequential. Now back in print, this short biography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux by Dorothy Day expresses the surprising yet profound connection between Day—the founder of the Catholic Worker movement who was praised by Pope Francis for her passion for justice and dedication to her faith—and the beloved saint best known for her Little Way. When Day first read St. Thérèse’s autobiography, The Story of a Soul in 1928, she called it “pious pap.” At the time, Day—a social activist who had been living a bohemian lifestyle—had only recently been baptized a Catholic. Some twenty-five years later, Day’s perspective on Thérèse had so completely changed that she was inspired to write this biography. She did not find it an easy task: “Every time I sit down to write that book on the Little Flower I am blocked. . . . I am faced with the humiliating fact that I can write only about myself, a damning fact.” But she persisted, and despite numerous rejections eventually found a publisher for it in 1960. She wrote in the Preface: “In these days of fear and trembling of what man has wrought on earth in destructiveness and hate, Thérèse is the saint we need.” Written originally for nonbelievers or those unaware of Thérèse, the book reflects how Day came to appreciate Thérèse’s Little Way, not as an abstract concept, but as a spirituality that she had already been living. The Catholic Worker, which she cofounded with Peter Maurin, was dedicated to feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless. Day’s life, like Thérèse’s, was filled with all the humble, self-effacing jobs that were a part of this work. She found in Thérèse a kindred spirit, one who saw these simple hidden tasks as the way to heaven. “We want to grow in love but do not know how. Love is a science, a knowledge, and we lack it,” Day wrote. Just as Day had a conversion of heart about the Little Way, you, too, can be changed by Thérèse’s simple, yet profound spirituality.

Thérèse

Dorothy Day

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