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Dorothy Day: The Road to Canonization

James AllaireByJames Allaire

Almost immediately after her death in 1980 controversy arose about whether Dorothy Day should be canonized a Saint by the…

Almost immediately after her death in 1980 controversy arose about whether Dorothy Day should be canonized a Saint by the Church.

Many voices are in support of the canonization process, 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.

Dorothy Day icon by Nicholas Tsai

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.

“Dorothy Day is already a saint” is a common refrain, which reminds us that the Church doesn’t make saints, but only recognizes what the faithful acknowledge as the action of God’s grace in a person’s life.

Organizations supporting canonization

Dorothy Day Canonization Support Network
Includes prayers, links to resources about CW news and Dorothy Day, and a list of current groups, organizations and communities who are members.

The Dorothy Day Guild
Includes information about the canonization process, her life and words, and a blog anyone can participate in.

Articles about the canonization

All Are Called To Be Saints

Article by Robert Elsberg in The Catholic Worker, May 2015, pp 1, 5

. He writes in support of the cause for Dorothy Day’s canonization, addressing “the many deep admirers and even followers of Dorothy Day who have no doubts about her holiness but are skeptical or suspicious of the process of canonization. “
Read More All Are Called To Be Saints

James Allaire

Jim Allaire is a retired psychologist and software developer. In addition to raising two sons with his wife, Barbara, he co-founded the Winona Catholic Worker (Winona, Minnesota). At about the same time, he began developing CatholicWorker.org with the help of many volunteers. He is also the author of two books: Praying With Dorothy Day (Word Among Us Press, 1995) and Costly Grace (iUniverse, 2009), a mystery novel. He currently resides in Newton, MA, near Boston.

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