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People of God
Dorothy Day: Love in Action
By any measure, Dorothy Day lived a fascinating life. She was a journalist, activist, single mother, convert, Catholic laywoman, and co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement.
A lifelong radical who took the gospels at their word, Dorothy Day lived among the poor as one of them, challenging both church and state to build a better world for all people. Steeped in prayer, the liturgy, and the spiritual life, she was jailed repeatedly for protesting poverty, injustice, and war. Through it all, she created a sense of community and remained down-to-earth and humanly approachable.
To have known Dorothy Day was to have experienced not only her charm and humanity, but the purposefulness of her life. In Dorothy Love in Action , Patrick Jordan—who knew her personally—conveys some of the hallmarks of Day’s fascinating life and the spirit her adventure inspires.
People of God is a series of inspiring biographies for the general reader. Each volume offers a compelling and honest narrative of the life of an important twentieth or twenty-first century Catholic. Some living and some now deceased, each of these women and men has known challenges and weaknesses familiar to most of us but responded to them in ways that call us to our own forms of heroism. Each offers a credible and concrete witness of faith, hope, and love to people of our own day.
A lifelong radical who took the gospels at their word, Dorothy Day lived among the poor as one of them, challenging both church and state to build a better world for all people. Steeped in prayer, the liturgy, and the spiritual life, she was jailed repeatedly for protesting poverty, injustice, and war. Through it all, she created a sense of community and remained down-to-earth and humanly approachable.
To have known Dorothy Day was to have experienced not only her charm and humanity, but the purposefulness of her life. In Dorothy Love in Action , Patrick Jordan—who knew her personally—conveys some of the hallmarks of Day’s fascinating life and the spirit her adventure inspires.
People of God is a series of inspiring biographies for the general reader. Each volume offers a compelling and honest narrative of the life of an important twentieth or twenty-first century Catholic. Some living and some now deceased, each of these women and men has known challenges and weaknesses familiar to most of us but responded to them in ways that call us to our own forms of heroism. Each offers a credible and concrete witness of faith, hope, and love to people of our own day.
144 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2015
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 1, 2016
This is a biography of Dorothy Day and a discussion of her philosophy. Her views on capitalism and the state, war and peace, poverty and the poor, living in community, prayer and the spiritual life. What she meant by personalism. The people who influenced her, especially her mentor Peter Maurin. The books that influenced her: the lives of the saints, the Bible. The authors who influenced her: Kropotkin, Dostoyevski, Tolstoy, Dickens. Her conflicts with governmental bureaucracies. Her complicated relationships with bishops and the Church. What sustained her in her work. How she prevented depression and burnout.
A glimpse into the mind and heart of an influential American Catholic. Was she a saint? The author takes it for granted that she was, and even attributes miracles to her intercession, but in this book she comes across as a down-to-earth human being. A chapter discusses her case for sainthood.
Having known Dorothy Day, I can attest to the accuracy of this book, which draws on her own books and diaries, her columns in various periodicals, the interviews she granted to reporters, her published and unpublished letters. And on the personal recollections of the author, who knew and worked with her during her final decade, and others who knew her.
Bibliography of sources. Indexed.
A glimpse into the mind and heart of an influential American Catholic. Was she a saint? The author takes it for granted that she was, and even attributes miracles to her intercession, but in this book she comes across as a down-to-earth human being. A chapter discusses her case for sainthood.
Having known Dorothy Day, I can attest to the accuracy of this book, which draws on her own books and diaries, her columns in various periodicals, the interviews she granted to reporters, her published and unpublished letters. And on the personal recollections of the author, who knew and worked with her during her final decade, and others who knew her.
Bibliography of sources. Indexed.
February 25, 2018
This is a slim volume I picked up because my group at church was reading it. It is really just a summary of Dorothy Day and points the author felt was important. To me these books are rather awkwardly written (see my review for Pilgrim in the Way). I would recommend Dorothy’s own autobiography, the Long Lonliness or the book written by her grand-daughter Kate Hennessey if you really want a comprehensive view of Dorothy’s life.
November 22, 2017
There is no way to describe this short volume about a unique woman. This writing is what it would take to come near a sketch a life lived in full that was how Dorothy Day lived it.
Jordan addresses her possible sainthood in the concluding chapter and what stand out are some opinions that this issue would be better put aside. She herself dismissed this by “Don’t call me a saint.” A close aide in her final decade interpreted this as “I’m proposing things to you, and I want you to listen and try to change your life so you can help other people change theirs.” (p. 109)
Jordan addresses her possible sainthood in the concluding chapter and what stand out are some opinions that this issue would be better put aside. She herself dismissed this by “Don’t call me a saint.” A close aide in her final decade interpreted this as “I’m proposing things to you, and I want you to listen and try to change your life so you can help other people change theirs.” (p. 109)
July 25, 2016
I had a little trouble with this book. I'm still not sure how I feel about Dorothy Day. She certainly did a lot of good work, but I am still rubbed the wrong way by some of her morals. Perhaps that is just because she and I are so different. I will certainly continue reading more about Dorothy Day, but this book did nothing for me.
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October 5, 2022Very good, though short and seemingly a bit thin; made me want to read her original work, some of which I've requested from the library!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews