Pope Leo XIV: Wherever Human Dignity Is Violated, We Must Intervene for Peace

Dorothy Day: A Model of Christian Discipleship

As followers and disciples (learners) of Jesus Christ, you have a calling to live your life in an upright manner (in accordance with God’s commands) and to stand up for whatever is good & right as opposed to standing idle by (passively) and allowing evil to happen. In his Vatican Saturday Jubilee Audience message this past December, Pope Leo XIV shared a story about Dorothy Day (1897-1980), Servant of God, who clearly exemplified this.

During the Great Depression, the American journalist, activist, and convert to Catholicism played a pivotal role in co-founding the Catholic Worker movement.

Day's legacy in service to the poor, the immigrants and the working class is an indication of her real demonstration of being a Christian disciple during a very dark period in history. She stands out as one of the best role models to emulate.

Summoned to embody faithfulness and specificity

The Holy Father, inspired by the Gospel passage of today, urged those present to demonstrate a tangible commitment to assisting others.

Louis urged everyone there to seek God's assistance in order for them to recognise all of their many blessings yet at the same time he emphasised our need to support one another in our efforts to form a community that provides genuine reflections of the Love of the Gospel.

In this regard, he emphasized that Dorothy Day stands as an exemplary model and a source of inspiration for the Catholic faithful.

Effecting societal change by emulating the example set by Christ

“The fire burned within Dorothy,” said the Holy Father. “Dorothy understood that her country’s planned model did not provide equal opportunities for all. Dorothy also understood that too many have been rendered powerless by their “dreams,” which have become their “nightmare,” and because she was a Christian, she believed it was her responsibility to stand up for the rights of workers, immigrants, and all those who suffer under an unjust economic system.”

Dorothy's thoughtful and skilled service, combined with her sincerely felt love for others allowed Pope Leo, to understand how God transformed indignation into communion through Dorothy's work. He further stated "to have hope is to be united (as Jesus) and to be in alignment with Him, just as our fire reflects His"

Therefore, he beseeched that this Jubilee of Hope might reignite this fervor within us and throughout the entire Church.