Sevant of God Dorothy Day, Pray for Us

If you haven't already, be sure to check out the link for the Dorothy Day Guild. Formed by the Archdiocese of New York, it's job is to assist in the canonization process of Day. John Cardinal O'Connor, with Vatican approval, opened her cause in March of 2000. Edward Cardinal Egan is continuing the process. Currently, Day is considered a Servant of God. After one confirmed miracle she could be beatified and with another, canonized.
Her cause is a divisive one.

"Voices opposing the process say that Dorothy Day shunned the suggestion she was a saint and believe she would rather have any money spent on her canonization given to the poor. Others are concerned that her radical vision will be sanitized and spun to support Catholic traditionalism and a narrow anti-abortion stance, neutralizing her ardent pacifism, radical critique of society, and love of the poor."

"Many voices are in support of the canonization process as well, citing Dorothy Day's life as an example that has inspired them to prayer and action for social justice. Her faithfulness to the Gospel, living the "preferential option for the poor" and showing that a lay person can achieve heroic virtue are often cited."
Catholic Worker Movement website

I believe in the cause and pray for the eventual canonization of Day. As posted earlier, many workers would like to remember Day as only the pacifist and radical. They forget her whole identity was steeped in her orthodox faith. And not only do they forget, but somehow they have convinced other Catholics to do the same. I will continue to post quotes from Day that show her steadfast belief in the teachings of the Catholic church. You may disagree with her stance on war, capitalism, unions, immigrants, voting and taxes but when it comes to matters of faith, Day was faithful and obedient to the Magestarium. Yes, the process is lengthy and expensive butI belive any money spent on her cause will make its way back to those in need. Sainthood is what we aspire to as Catholics. Days path to holiness is an excellent example for us to follow. In today's society, in fact in many churches, it's assumed that all 'good' people go to heaven, whether or not they have faith in Christ. When we take that viewpoint, saints cease to be special. Saints nowadays are looked at as the faded images on old prayer cards or the chipped statues of beheaded martyrs tucked away in a wreckovated church basement. Besides muttering a prayer to Saint Anthony when the keys go missing or buying a St. Joseph home sale kit, saint are absent from our everyday life. At one time children had to be given a Christian name, aka a saints name, at baptism. Now, children are named after seasons, or food or Presidents and not even the priest blinks. Devotion to the saints is not superstitious and it's not old fashioned. Without saints who died defending the faith, where would our Church be? And if it wasn't for people like Day, who tried to live the Gospel daily, where would our world be? There is a difference between the guy down the street who's 'a nice person' but doesn't feel the need to follow some set religion and Day. Sorry to break it to you, but we don't get to heaven by doing our own thing. Those who sacrifice in this life are rewarded in the next. We can pray for their intercession and learn to be better Catholics by their example. We need those examples. We need those faces and names to remember what it is we strive for and what is worth dying for. It is not an anonymous, unattainable heaven. Day sacrificed and lived a humble life worth imitating. Long after the liberals lose their hold on her legacy, her example will continue to inspire faithful devotion to serving the poor and the holy Catholic Church.

"We are called to be saints, St. Paul said, and Peter Maurin called on us to make that kind of society where it was easier for men to be saints. Nothing less will work. Nothing less is powerful enough to combat war and the all-encroaching state. To be a saint is to be a lover, ready to leave all, to give all. Dostoievsky said that love in practice was a harsh and dreadful thing compared to love in dreams, but if "we see only Jesus" in all who come to us; the lame, the halt and the blind, who come to help and to ask for help, then it is easier."
"Spring Appeal - April 1958"By Dorothy Day The Catholic Worker, April 1958, 2.