On Pilgrimage

by Dorothy Day

These diary entries written by Dorothy Day in 1948 provide an intimate look into Day's personal life as well as essential background for understanding the Catholic Worker movement, which she founded. In this book, Day writes about all facets of her life. Yet whether describing her visits to her daughter's farm or the writings of the saints, a common theme emerges, namely, the gifts of God's love and our need to respond to them with personal and social transformation. The concerns of the Catholic Worker movement are no less vital in our day: the disenfranchised poor, the benefits of the meaningful work, the significance of family, the dangers of increasing commercialism and secularism, the decline of moral standards, and the importance of faith. Available for the first time since it was originally published, this edition includes a foreword by Michael O. Garvey and an introduction by Mark and Louise Zwick that gives an overview of Day's early life and her commitment to the Catholic worker movement.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Biography, Faith, Catholic, Christianity

272 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1999

About the author

Dorothy Day was an American journalist, social activist and anarchist who, after a bohemian youth, became a Catholic Christian without in any way abandoning her social and anarchist activism. She was perhaps the best-known political radical in the American Catholic Church. In the 1930s, Day worked closely with fellow activist Peter Maurin to establish the Catholic Worker movement, a nonviolent, pacifist movement that continues to combine direct aid for the poor and homeless with nonviolent direct action on their behalf.

A revered figure within the U.S. Catholic community, Day's cause for canonization was recently open by the Catholic Church.

Reviews

[Conor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, a journal of one year in Dorothy Day's life (1948), is so incredibly beautiful and powerful. Day's spirituality, her deep sense of the sacred in all that she touched, her understanding of the lay apostolate, and of the dignity of marriage comes shining through in these pages. As I read this book, I thought, "If only more people had internalized what Day was saying here, the post-Vatican II crisis would have been much smaller in scope." It is amazing how Day anticipated and lived out so much of what the Second Vatican Council called for. Her profound sense of marriage and how the marriage relationship was an image for the Church and Christ, her understanding of divine friendship, and so many other things were before their time.

In these pages it becomes clear that this woman was a saint. She loved the poor, really loved the poor. She lived with them. She clothed the naked, fed the hungry, helped the lame, visited the prisoner. She and her work were an embodiment of Matthew 25. An incredible book, by an incredible woman.

Also, Mark and Louise Zwick, who run the Houston Catholic Worker House, give a thorough and good introduction to the journal.

[Julie Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read Dorothy Day's 1948 diary twice — first read in 2015 and reread in 2019.

It is as inspiring as I remembered, as interesting in the details (at this point) of living the life of the poor in the country with her grown children, and just as difficult in some of the political/social thoughts Day espouses. It is the rare person, I would guess, who can pick up Day's writing and completely agree with her. Certainly I can't. Nonetheless, if one is ready to agree to disagree, there is a lot of great value here.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

On Pilgrimage was a book read for my book club, and I admit that without the challenge of finishing it in time for discussion (which I failed!), I may not have persevered. I found the book to be full of gold, but as it was a little unstructured, it felt like panning in muddy waters for the treasure. I hadn’t had time to read the introduction, or any supporting material, so at times I was a little loss as to the context, and the juxtaposition of the household descriptions(which I found delightful) and the political discussions (which I found intriguing) was unusual. Despite the fact that I didn’t actually enjoy the book, I am glad to have read it, and hope to return to the many places where I highlighted well-expressed ideas and phrases.

[Dawson Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

my sweet anarchist communist catholic bohemian baby Dorothy <3 I love you girl

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dorothy Day has been one of my favourite 'saints' of the modern world. Whether or not she has been declared a saint by the Vatican is irrelevant to me. Many a times in this book she pleads that we all become saints. Dorothy Day, the founder of the Catholic Worker, lived the Gospel and did it to the fullest. Her conversion to catholicism, a story I plan on reading, was absolute. "Love of brother means voluntary poverty, stripping one's self, putting off the old man, denying one's self, etc. It also means nonparticipation in those comforts and luxuries which have been manufactured by the exploitation of others." A challenge most of us wouldn't dare take on and yet she did.

"We are all one. We are one flesh in the Mystical Body, as man and woman are said to be one flesh in marriage. With such a love one would see all things new; we would begin to see people as they really are, as God sees them." Dorothy lived and loved as Our Lord commanded, she believed in the communion of saints and considered them (St Teresa of Ávila, St Benedict, St Catherine of Siena and a few others were her favourites) her friends. The Mass was as important to her if not more than anything else. I highlighted page after page as I read. A woman with flaws and deep regrets (she had an abortion, the reason she'll probably never be a saint) but a woman with so much love in her! She fell in love with Christ and on her way left us with the hope that yes, we all can be saints if we could only truly and deeply love.

[Mandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parts of this book were so beautiful and inspiring - as a mother of young children, I especially loved the parts of the book when she talked about caring for her grandchildren and the challenges of motherhood. She challenges the reader to radical love and to question the comfort of life, to better serve the poor around us.

It was sometimes difficult to read because it went from topic to topic, it was her diary over the course of a year and sometimes also included pieces of articles or notes from talks by priests. It took a long time to read because there was so much to ponder. I will definitely read again (which is something I rarely do).

[Betsy Dion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book consists of journal entries written by Dorothy Day over the course of a year. It has a lot of good spiritual reflections on daily life, and an interesting look into life on a farm as well as some aspects of her ministry to the poor. And being a journalist by profession, she is a good writer. This is a book that I would read again in a couple of years.

[Jonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a while to read this one, as it felt really slow in spots. The end was worth it, though. I don't always agree with her politics and approach to economics, but her spiritual writing was beautiful and showed her true faith in God. The last few chapters alone were worth the read, as they focused on how we all are called to love and how silence is important in letting God in to our lives.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this glimpse into Dorothy Day's musings about women and family over the course of a year. I had to keep reminding myself that she was writing in the late 1940s, because much of what she commented on is applicable to today's climate.

[Talia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like reading about her life. She gives such a different perspective on the world; interesting read.

[Donna Quathamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my heroes . . . or should I say heroin? Didn't live a perfect life, but in the end did good for others.

[Amanda Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed and benefited from Day's reflections, observations, and stories. Through this text she is like a companion on the journey of faith.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this over a year; challenging, beautiful, and inspiring. Incredibly interesting to see her diary entries over the course of a year and what she felt like writing.

[Bobbi Kraft · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only pick up this book if you would like to a) learn about Dorothy Day, founder of Catholic Worker’s movement b) by reading her diary through 1948. The diary is the “pilgrimage” of a daily life of Faith…not a record of another type of pilgrimage.

[Renée · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luminous. Dorothy, at the end of a difficult decade (which had more difficulties in store) at her best.