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St. Francis of Assisi Model for Pacifism of the Catholic Worker Movement Fight War and Conscription

To fight war we must fight conscription, the acceptance of conscription. To this fight THE CATHOLIC WORKER PLEDGES ITSELF AS LONG AS WE ARE PERMITTED TO EXIST. We must face the fact that conscription of the press and the radio, also is what we have to look forward to. If we oppose government measures our… continue reading

Anti-Judaism in Religious Feminist Writing: Scapegoating on Patriarchy Distorts Theology

Who among us has not heard from feminist writers that Jesus was unique for his time in his concern for women, in contrast to all other Jews? Who among us has not heard from feminist writers that the Hebrews, the Hebrew Bible, the Jews are responsible for patriarchy, where women are treated badly, a practice… continue reading

Nicholas Berdyaev, Prophet for the Catholic Worker Movement Materialism Destroys the Eternal Spirit

Introduction by Mark and Louise Zwick This is the third article in a series on the saints and philosophers who influenced Peter Maurin and Dorothy Day in developing the Catholic Worker. Nicholas Berdyaev (l874-l948) was one of the great personalists and a “particular prophet” in the life of the Catholic Worker movement, one who with… continue reading

Nicholas Berdyaev, Prophet for the Catholic Worker Movement: The Bourgeois Mind

Arranged by Peter Maurin A Spiritual State l. What does the word actually mean? 2. It has remained unexplained though it has been so much used and so often misapplied. 3. Even when superficially used it is a word with a magic power of its own and its depth has to be fathomed. 4. The word designates a spiritual state, a direction of… continue reading

What Is All This About Band-Aids?

Q.: What is “band-aid” work? A.: It is a word invented by those who believe we shouldn’t help poor people with things, but focus on the structures that cause their poverty. Giving them things is “band-aid work.” To those who believe this, the only real help is changing structures. Mother Teresa does not appeal to them…. continue reading

The Beauty of the House of God

Christy is a Catholic Worker and graduate of the Univerity of Wisconsin at Eau Claire. Last week a seven-year-old boy staying with his battered mother and younger sister asked me something which I will never forget. He asked me, “Is this the house of God?” It wasn’t the first time I had heard Casa Juan Diego referred to in… continue reading

Correspondence between Dorothy Day and the Benedictines (Virgil Michel)

February 14, 1934 Dear Miss Day: Father Busch recently told me of your request to have “Orate Frates” exchanged for “The Catholic Worker.” I have spoken to the present editor-in-chief of “Orate Fratres” and he is putting your name on the exchange list. I am sending you a new study club outline on the liturgy… continue reading

Virgil Michel, O.S.B., and the Benedictine Influence on the CW Movement: Virgil Michel, Fellow Worker in Christ

To us at the Catholic Worker, Father Virgil was a dear friend and adviser, bringing to us his tremendous strength and knowledge. He first came to visit us at our beginnings on East Fifteenth Street. he was like Peter Maurin in the friendly simple way he would come in and sit down, starting right in… continue reading

Bourgeois Spirit undermines Christian Renewal (Virgil Michel)

The supreme guiding motive of the bourgeois mind is precisely the personal gain or profit that the medieval idealist rejected as a final goal. The principle of gain for its own sake, of an endlessly increasing profit, is now set up as the one sensible goal of all human life and endeavor. All the aspects… continue reading

The Liturgy the Basis of Social Regeneration (Virgil Michel)

At the mention of the subject of this article one might be inclined to ask: What has the liturgy to do with social reconstruction or the social question? Can the liturgy help to give jobs or raise wages? Can there be any connection between the liturgy and the social problem? The moment we deal with… continue reading