Theological Virtues Seen In Dorothy Day S Life
Anabella Morabito
REL 343 5J - Nickoloff
09/24/13
Three Theological Virtues:
As seen in Dorothy Day’s life
Dorothy Day was a living example in her lifetime, and still today, of a disciple of Jesus; all her actions rotated on the single axis which a life inspired by the Gospel provided her. If one were to look at her experience of discipleship as the only experience of the Catholic Church, which is called to be the working body of Jesus’ message in the world today, one would clearly see several attitudes which are central to spreading these “good news”. For the purpose of this paper I will focus on three elements of her life: love, grace, and prayer. One of the tremendous footprints which Dorothy Day left in the history of the Catholic Church is that of solidarity with the oppressed; her entire work was dedicated to improving the conditions of many people in the streets of New York, as well as other cities in the United States. She constantly pushed herself to being a voice for the voiceless and a point of reference for non-violent protest within the church and within society at large. Perhaps this characteristic of Dorothy’s work could be titled social justice, however, in this journey of reading Dorothy’s life I realized that her works of mercy were only advanced effectively by her love of God in the other. Since the generator of the works of social justice was none other than the love she had for God and other, I conclude that one of the remarking elements of Catholicism as seen in Dorothy’s life is love: a love which creates a fountain for social justice and works of mercy. One of the definitions which St. Ignatius of Loyola gave to the word “saint” is he/she who “knows himself/herself as a loved sinner”. On the basis of this understanding lies the virtue of knowing one is not exempt from God’s grace, and this virtue I find was one very vivid in Dorothy’s life. Never did she dismiss herself as a saint, but she certainly believed we were all called to be
REL 343 5J - Nickoloff
09/24/13
Three Theological Virtues:
As seen in Dorothy Day’s life
Dorothy Day was a living example in her lifetime, and still today, of a disciple of Jesus; all her actions rotated on the single axis which a life inspired by the Gospel provided her. If one were to look at her experience of discipleship as the only experience of the Catholic Church, which is called to be the working body of Jesus’ message in the world today, one would clearly see several attitudes which are central to spreading these “good news”. For the purpose of this paper I will focus on three elements of her life: love, grace, and prayer. One of the tremendous footprints which Dorothy Day left in the history of the Catholic Church is that of solidarity with the oppressed; her entire work was dedicated to improving the conditions of many people in the streets of New York, as well as other cities in the United States. She constantly pushed herself to being a voice for the voiceless and a point of reference for non-violent protest within the church and within society at large. Perhaps this characteristic of Dorothy’s work could be titled social justice, however, in this journey of reading Dorothy’s life I realized that her works of mercy were only advanced effectively by her love of God in the other. Since the generator of the works of social justice was none other than the love she had for God and other, I conclude that one of the remarking elements of Catholicism as seen in Dorothy’s life is love: a love which creates a fountain for social justice and works of mercy. One of the definitions which St. Ignatius of Loyola gave to the word “saint” is he/she who “knows himself/herself as a loved sinner”. On the basis of this understanding lies the virtue of knowing one is not exempt from God’s grace, and this virtue I find was one very vivid in Dorothy’s life. Never did she dismiss herself as a saint, but she certainly believed we were all called to be