I remember that it was a Thursday when it began to drizzle. At that moment we heard over the radio that a very powerful hurricane was approaching. The media were alerting the people to take refuge in the provisionally designated shelters, but, unfortunately, we didn’t pay them much heed. We never imagined the magnitude of… continue reading
MEXICO BROUGHT TO ITS KNEES Editorial from El Observador de la Actualidad
The rise in the price of gasoline, the announcement of the rising costs of utilities-gas, telephone-and the virtual liberation of the price of the tortilla have brought the Mexican people to their knees, facing a black 1999. On their knees and without any power to make demands. The increase of 15 percent in the price… continue reading
Dorothy Day, a Catholic for All Americans
Why would a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church recommend for sainthood a woman who was a radical socialist and pacifist, a divorcee who had had an abortion? Why would he recommend for sainthood a woman who had had affairs and spent her nights in bars drinking and reading poetry with the likes of Eugene… continue reading
Hundreds of Immigrants Arrive at Casa Juan Diego from the INS
On the first day of Christmas (Operation Overwhelm), the Immigration and Naturalization Service sent 44 guests from Honduras to Casa Juan Diego. On the second day of Christmas (O.O.), the INS sent 47 guests from Guatemala. On the third day of Christmas (0.0.), Immigration sent 67 Central Americans from various countries. On the fourth day… continue reading
Structural Adjustment: Time for Reform/ Third World Countries Strangled by Debt
In December President Clinton and the United States government promised 80 million dollars in disaster assistance to the countries of Honduras and Nicaragua, which have suffered such devastation from Hurricane Mitch. Unfortunately, this aid will have little impact given that Honduras and Nicaragua must pay over 80 million dollars every five weeks to service their… continue reading
In Incarnation Mary’s Spiritual Rapture joined to Option for the Poor
I am the Handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word (Luke 1:38). Advent and Christmas offer us a time to reaffirm and strengthen our faith. Contemplation of our Most Blessed Virgin Mary leads us to reflections of what our faith should look like. In celebrating the mystery of… continue reading
Sunday Liturgy Call to Self-Giving: Dies Domini, John Paul II and Virgil Michel, O.S.B.
In an apostolic letter on Sunday observance (July 30, 1998), Dies Domini, Pope John Paul II encourages Christians “to rediscover the meaning of Sunday: its mystery, its celebration, its significance for Christian and human life.” Fundamentally a celebration of Christ’s resurrection, Sunday observance invites believers to relive “the experience of the two disciples at Emmaus,… continue reading
Voluntary Poverty at Heart of Catholic Worker Movement
This article, the sixteenth in the series on the Roots of the Catholic Worker movement, features voluntary poverty, one of the marks of the movement. The great message which Peter Maurin, co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement, has for the world today is the message of voluntary poverty. John Cort, friend of Peter’s and still… continue reading
Dorothy declared Peter Maurin Saint of the CW Movement
Dorothy Day credited Peter Maurin as being the heart and soul of the Catholic Worker movement. She would be the first to proclaim him the saint of the movement. Peter was filled with the history and tradition of Catholicism, as well as an extensive knowledge of papal encyclicals. This was Peter’s common ground. He was… continue reading