1930s

Summary: Presents P. Maurin three-point program: Round Table Discussions, Houses of Hospitality, and Farming Communes to further the personalist and communitarian revolution. Promotes worker ownership in order to go back to the land to establish farming communes. (The Catholic Worker, January 1936, 1-2. DDLW #143).

Summary: Through the Church’s liturgical prayer we can overcome individualism and experience universal brotherhood in the Mystical Body of Christ. Once this relationship has been understood, we cannot ignore the suffering of our fellow man. The liturgy is the foundation of the apostolate of the laity. (DDLW #296). The Catholic Worker, January 1936, 5.

Summary: Presents P. Maurin three-point program: Round Table Discussions, Houses of Hospitality, and Farming Communes to further the personalist and communitarian revolution. Promotes worker ownership in order to go back to the land to establish farming communes. (DDLW #143) The Catholic Worker, January 1936, 1-2.

Summary: Tells of a long bus trip and talks in New York, Chicago, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Canada. Is impressed with the work of Virgil Michel at St. John’s College in Minnesota where he has started a school of social studies–“the theory of the personalist revolution must be studied.” (The Catholic Worker, December 1935, 1, 2. DDLW #295).

Summary: Distinguishes between individuals in society and persons in society. The former are isolated monads who are “weak and adrift”, the latter are a part of a body, (the Body of Christ) which draw strength from each other. The liturgy teaches this unity, which is indispensable for social regeneration. (The Catholic Worker, December 1935, 4. DDLW #16).

Summary: Distinguishes The Catholic Worker from other news publications: “The purpose of a paper is to influence the thought of its readers. We are quite frankly propagandists for Catholic Action.” (DDLW #198)The Catholic Worker, December 1933, 2.

Summary: Describes a trip to a meeting of the Catholic Rural Life Conference and hopes the movement will revolutionize Catholic thought in America as Lenin’s did in Russia. Notes the Catholic Worker’s support of such means as adult education, study clubs, forming co-operatives, and propagandizing. (The Catholic Worker, November 1935, 3. DDLW #294).

Summary: Shares some of the struggles of survival of the early Catholic Worker effort. Rejoices in the birth of a new baby in the community, for whom she and Peter Maurin will serve as godparents. Neighbors and friends have been generous to the Catholic Workers, presenting gifts from food to sacred images. Shares some intimate moments with her daughter, Tamar Teresa. (The Catholic Worker, October 1935, 6. DDLW #293).

Summary: Describes the working conditions at a power plant and the indignity “clients” experience at the Welfare department. (The Catholic Worker, September 1935, 5. DDLW #292).

Summary: Describes the working conditions at a power plant and the indignity “clients” experience at the Welfare department. (DDLW #292) The Catholic Worker, September 1935, 5.

Summary: Writes of how people are treated poorly at the Home Relief office. Describes a visit to the garden commune on Staten Island, swims, walks, the inviting smells of plants, and visiting children from Harlem. (The Catholic Worker, July-August 1935, 2. DDLW #291).

Summary: Reports on the ongoing work on the garden commune, and how it provides a green sanctuary from the city offices. Transcribes two conversations with the working poor, one from a biscuit factory worker who had been on strike and one from a restaurant worker. Describes her daughter’s confirmation and the lovely gift of a hand-printed catechism. (DDLW #289: The Catholic Worker, June 1935, page 5.)

Summary: Working to improve the material conditions of workers is grounded in Christ’s humanity and the reality of the Mystical Body. Relying on violence betrays both workers and the brotherhood of man. (The Catholic Worker, June 1935, 4. DDLW #290).

Summary: Working to improve the material conditions of workers is grounded in Christ’s humanity and the reality of the Mystical Body. Relying on violence betrays both workers and the brotherhood of man. (DDLW #290) The Catholic Worker, June 1935, 4.

Summary: Describes house cleaning in preparation for Easter. Catholic workers promulgated Catholic social principles in leaflets and speaking in Union Square at a Communist rally. Notes the work of priests with men on the bowery. (The Catholic Worker, May 1935, 3, 7. DDLW #288).

Summary: Description of her daughter’s ninth birthday party and the child’s Lenten mortifications. Notes the aim of Lent is to keep united to God through the suffering Humanity of His son. (The Catholic Worker, April 1935, 3. DDLW #287).

Summary: Thoughts on Molly Maguires, labor organizing, a visit to the Cathedral in Toronto, the activities of young Communists, and the work of Catherine de Hueck. (The Catholic Worker, March 1935, 3. DDLW #286).

Summary: Notes the many visitors to the Catholic Worker–a Socialist, a bishop, priests, others–small miracles and conversations. (The Catholic Worker, February 1935, 3, 5. DDLW #214).

Summary: Traces the program difficulties of Catholic Action to the belief that there is no need for it. Encourages both Communists and Catholics to study the capitalistic system and to compare the similarities and differences in order to raise questions. Sees the need for liturgy and sociology to be linked. Encourages individual responsibility for doing the works of mercy. (The Catholic Worker, February 1935, 7. DDLW #15).