1950s

Summary: Highlights from letters from those connected to the Catholic Worker community. She extols their hard work and struggles. (The Catholic Worker, November 1954, 3, 8. DDLW #677).

Summary: Recommends many books: novels, history, about saints, social teachings of the Church. Singles out a book for teaching children about God and one about Martin de Porres. (The Catholic Worker, November 1954, 4. DDLW #678).

Summary: Comments on a potpourri of events–Halloween costumes of the saints, hurricane Carol, pacifist conference, and irritations while saying the community rosary. (The Catholic Worker, October 1954, 2, 7. DDLW #238).

Summary: Criticizes those Catholics who affirmed the Industrial Council Plan that supported co-management. Calls for co-ownership as the only means to alleviate the injustice caused by industry and quotes “Observatore Romano” on its condemnation of capitalism. Also criticizes those who call the Industrial Council Plan the Pope’s plan, and repudiates the claim by quoting Pius XII’s 1952 Christmas message which calls for an agriculture economy. (The Catholic Worker, October 1954, 1,6. DDLW #175).

Summary: A testament of Vito Marcantonio’s political work with the poor. Seen as a Communist sympathizer, he is denied a Church burial. She says he lived Matthew 25 and did the works of mercy. Keywords: obituary (The Catholic Worker, September 1954, 1, 6. DDLW #674).

Summary: Recoils at the senseless murders of “bums” by four youths on August 16, 1954, in Brooklyn. Links this violence to the hate and fear of the McCarthy anti-communist hearings in Washington and the violence of weapons of mass destruction. Keywords: non-violence (The Catholic Worker, September 1954, 1, 8. DDLW #673).

Summary: Chronicles the comings and goings of visitors and workers. Notes the crafts they practice and some of the trials that ensue. Ammon Hennacy begins another fast protesting atomic weapons. Keywords: retreat, fasting (The Catholic Worker, September 1954, 2,6 DDLW #672).

Summary: Reflects on her and other’s personal interests that flower into beauty and works of mercy, as well as renewing us. Summarizes the content of a recent retreat and the notes the importance of silence. (The Catholic Worker, July-August 1954, 3, 6. DDLW #671).

Summary: Expresses her love of the Church, priests, and the sacraments against the backdrop of remembering Peter Maurin’s death while going to a solemn Mass. Remembers Peter’s habit of daily Mass and Communion. (The Catholic Worker, June 1954, 1, 4. DDLW #669).

Summary: Describes the progress in getting Peter Maurin farm on Staten Island up and running–building, planting, neighborly help, and summer camps for children from Harlem. Extols Christian Communism of the family on the land. (The Catholic Worker, June 1954, 2, 8. DDLW #670).

Summary: Traces the French involvement in Vietnam through the lives of the 19th century missionary Venard and the political leader Ho Chi Minh. Admits it is hard to clearly see complex historical issues where faith, persecution, power, and economics intermingle. Keywords: war (The Catholic Worker, May 1954, 1, 6. DDLW #667).

Summary: Paints a picture of Catholic Worker community life–the house, work, prayer, needs, and volunteers. Lists the summer programs for Peter Maurin Farm and Maryfarm. Describes her Holy Week observance. (The Catholic Worker, May 1954, 2, 8. DDLW #668).

Summary: Passionate condemnation of the hydrogen bomb tests and industrial preparation of nerve gas for war. Upholds the supremacy of conscience and challenges each person to resist as they are able. Quotes spiritual writers in an effort to strengthen her faith and reduce fear. (The Catholic Worker, April 1954, 1, 6. DDLW #664).

Summary: Experiences God’s tenderness in the springtime beauty flooding her senses. Appreciates the improvements at the farm wrought by diligent manual labor and tape recorded retreat conferences by Fr. Hugo. (The Catholic Worker, April 1954, 3, 5. DDLW #666).

Summary: Digest of news stories of organized underground efforts by political prisoners in Russia culminating in a strike by miners. Focuses on the role of faith in this non-violent struggle. (The Catholic Worker, March 1954, 3, 8. DDLW #662).

Summary: While convalescing she quotes the recently ill Pope on illness and suffering. Tells of being cared for, the life of the house, and the inadequate housing of Tamar’s family. (The Catholic Worker, March 1954, 2, 6. DDLW #661).

Summary: A tender remembrance of poet Max Bodenheim and his wife Ruth who were murdered. Recounts the many times her and Max’s paths crossed, his tormented and difficult life of poverty, and Max and Ruth’s coming for hospitality to the Catholic Worker. Comments on Ruth’s flirtations and unseemly newspaper accounts of their life. (The Catholic Worker, March 1954, 3, 7, 8. DDLW #663).

Summary: Discusses the differences and similarities of the Worker Priests and the Little Brothers. Explains the Church’s condemnation of some worker-priests who advocated a close a association between Marxism and Catholicism, but is distraught at the Church’s inconsistency in not condemning those priests who are closely linked to capitalism. Sees the present day scandal of the Church as an imbalance between spiritual and material works. (The Catholic Worker, March 1954, 2,4. DDLW #174).