ByDorothy Day
Summary: Describes her tour of the South in prose which evokes the rigors of travelling by bus in wartime and her reactions to the people she meets in Florida and Alabama. Praises the work of priests and religious in Alabama. Describes the hard work and poor housing for Negroes, Southern land ownership patterns, and race relations. (The Catholic Worker, March 1943, 1, 4. DDLW #387).
ByDorothy Day
Summary: Discusses the two major subjects of her speaking engagements, Peter Maurin, whom she describes as founder and mind of the C.W., and personalism, which she describes as communitarian, and the philosophy of both P. Maurin and the C.W.. Describes some of the difficulties in living the CW vocation and running farming communes. Recommends reading the Desert Fathers and Aldous Huxley’s Grey Eminence to understand personalism and communitarianism. (DDLW #148). The Catholic Worker, February 1943, 1,4.
ByDorothy Day
Summary: Asserts she would not register for the draft, even as a conscientious objector, because it is the first step toward conscription, which is incompatible with Christianity. Answers common objections to her stance, especially specious appeals to Scripture. Endorses tax resistance if possible. (DDLW #222) The Catholic Worker, Jan 1943, pp. 1, 4
ByDorothy Day
Summary: A general summary of The Catholic Worker’s tenth year–update on the status of houses and farms (open and closed), marriages, births, deaths; whereabouts of workers; publications; her travels. Notes the impact of World War II on members of the movement, including the status of conscientious objectors and conscription protestors. Underlines that houses of hospitality and farms are an attempt at applying a personalist, communitarian philosophy in living out the works of mercy. (DDLW #221) The Catholic Worker, Jan 1943, pp. 4, 6
ByDorothy Day
Summary: Discusses the objection that the Catholic Worker has made pacifism a precept, not a counsel like poverty, chastity, and obedience. Explains that the counsels are the means to the end to which all are obliged to aim, which is perfection. Says over emphasis on authority leads to totalitarianism. Violent means will not bring forth an end result of peace. (DDLW #220) The Catholic Worker, Dec 1942, pp. 1, 6.
ByDorothy Day
Summary: Recounts her travels throughout the Midwest, reviews CW accomplishments and establishments, updates on various Catholic Worker activities, and those serviing in the armed forces. Notes the creation of two conscientious objector camps and the formation of the Association of Catholic Conscientious Objectors. A lengthy description of people and activities centered on the farm at Avon, Ohio. (The Catholic Worker, November 1942, 1, 4, 5. DDLW #386).
ByDorothy Day
Summary: A St. Joseph Day bequest provides an opportunity to explain why The Catholic Worker has never incorporated and the nature of its organizational philosophy favoring smallness. As he had promised, Tony Pereiro brings spindles, similar to those used by Gandhi, as souvenirs from his trip to India which are viewed as “revolutionary implements,” symbols of another way of life. eywords: industrialism, philosophy of the Catholic Worker (The Catholic Worker, September 1942, 1, 4. DDLW #385).
ByDorothy Day
Summary: After receiving $500 in someone’s will, explains why the Catholic Worker is not incorporated–the basis of the work is personal responsibility and seeing Christ in everyone who comes for help. Says “Ever to become smaller that is the aim.” (The Catholic Worker, Sept. 1942, p 3. DDLW #520).
ByDorothy Day
Summary: Updates about Odell Waller’s execution, the plight of Japanese-Americans in detention camps, the release of Panchelly, Woodworth, and Brown from Trenton Penetentiary, and the doings of various Catholic Workers such as Ossie Bondy, Peter Maurin, and Ade Bethune. Recounts her brushes with the FBI inquiring about conscientious objectors and the Office of Censorship, and shares her concern that the military has occupied land belonging to Catholic institutions. Gives the schedule of retreats, a description of Mott Street in oppresive Summer heat and various infestations, and an expression of gratitude to Nina Polcyn (Milwaukee) and Justine L’Esperance (Detroit) for their help. (DDLW #384). The Catholic Worker, July/August 1942, 1, 4.
ByDorothy Day
Summary: Contrasts the scenic countryside as she travels by bus and Phil. 4:8-9 with a magazine article description of commando training in England. (DDLW #219). The Catholic Worker, June 1942, 4.
ByDorothy Day
Summary: Decries the internment and relocation of Japanese Americans during World War II in concentration camps as unjust, and laments the attitudes justifying the action. Describes the dire living conditions and indignity suffered by the victims of internment. (DDLW #218) The Catholic Worker, Jun 1942, pp. 1, 3.
ByDorothy Day
Summary: Expresses a joyful heart despite the world war Reports on the effects of the war on the West Coast, lamenting the pervasive militarization. Recounts visits to friends and bishops in the West and reports on the activities of Catholic Workers on the West Coast, including Houses of Hospitality in Seattle, Sacramento, and Los Angeles. (DDLW #217) The Catholic Worker, Jun 1942, pp. 1, 4, 6.
ByDorothy Day
Summary: Reviews her lecture-tour and visit to Catholic Worker groups begun on March 29th through Montreal; Baltimore, where she revisited acquaintances at St. Peter Claver’s; Cincinnati; a lecture at a girls’ school in nearby Kentucky and a visit to a state mental hospital; St. Louis where she renewed old friendships and was reminded of America’s racial problems; Oklahoma City and a visit to a federal reformatory and St. Patrick’s Guest House where she visited conscientious objectors. Muses how this journey is part of the work although she prefers settling down. (The Catholic Worker, May 1942, 1, 4, 7. DDLW #382).
ByDorothy Day
Summary: Inspired by the beauty and inner-city location of Los Angeles’ St. Bibiana Cathedral, this editorial focuses on the poor. “The closer we are to the poor, the closer to Christ’s love.” Because May, 1942 marked The Catholic Worker’s tenth year, reminds readers that we are called to love all men, friend and foe alike, because all are brothers: “love is shown by works of mercy, not by war.” (DDLW #383) The Catholic Worker, May 1942, 4.
ByDorothy Day
Summary: Begins with an appeal for two worthy causes–the Bishop’s relief fund for war victims and the New York Catholic Charities. Ponders the role of citizens during wartime and our penchant for choosing men of action, like General MacArthur, as heroes rather than figures like Pope Pius XII. Envisions speaking about rayer in Wartime, the rural life movement, feeding the poor and hungry, and the use of decentralism and other means for producing social change on an upcoming West Coast trip. Denies that her strict pacifism has split the Catholic Worker movement and points out that they face more reader-resistance for their policy against denying aid to the “undeserving” poor. (The Catholic Worker, April 1942, 1, 4. DDLW #381).
ByDorothy Day
Summary: Shares her enthusiasm for Raisa Maritain’s autobiography, We Have Been Friends Together. Defends their reaching out to all the poor, not just those deemed “deserving” of assistance. Reviews the positions taken on World War II by various Catholic Worker houses throughout the country, admitting that not all have their “in season, out of season” pacifism. (The Catholic Worker, February 1942, 1, 4, 7. DDLW #380).
ByDorothy Day
Summary: Protesting against a journalist’s assertion that they are sentimentalists in their pacifism and afraid of suffering, she challenges her critics to spend time in the city slums where Catholic Workers regularly battle the realities of disease, poverty, filth, cold, foul smells, etc. Quoting Dostoevsky, she assures her readers that Catholic Workers were not sanctimonious but approached their work with true humility and love. Notes with irony that pacifism, while not popular with society as a whole, was the philosophy which society wished to impose on the poor and disenfranchised victims of America’s class war. Rejects the suggestion that they should remain silent. (DDLW #390). The Catholic Worker, February 1942, 1, 4, 7.
ByDorothy Day
Summary: A month after Pearl Harbor she reaffirms the gospel basis of pacifism. Says she will not be carping in her criticism of our country but refuses to participate in war. Recommends constant prayer, the works of mercy, and mutual forbearance in disagreements. (DDLW #868) The Catholic Worker, January 1942, 1,4.
ByDorothy Day
Summary: Laments the country at war. Describes the hectic Christmas period, the many gifts, the ongoing work of hospitality, the illnesses of workers, her travels, and reading for the month. Asks forgiveness for not getting all the letters written. (The Catholic Worker, January 1942, 1, 4. DDLW #378).
ByDorothy Day
Summary: Comments on union elections and favors John L. Lewis because of his opposition to war. Colorful description of her surroundings and the changing seasons. News of a wedding, illness, a birth, and visitors. (The Catholic Worker, December 1941, 1, 4. DDLW #377).
