Christian Influence on Dorothy Day Assignment
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Added on 2020-03-16
Christian Influence on Dorothy Day Assignment
Added on 2020-03-16
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CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE ON DOROTHY DAYCHRISTIAN INFLUENCE ON DOROTHY DAYStudent NameCourse Number: Course NameDue Date
CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE ON DOROTHY DAY1CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE ON DOROTHY DAYIn a society that glorifies fame, wealth, and heroism through televisions and books one isleft with only one question to ponder, what makes an authentic hero? Is it courage, conviction,determination, dedication, or leadership? To many who know her story, Dorothy Dayencompasses all the mentioned qualities. She is a woman of compassion, who prioritized thelives of the poor before her own. She is an epitome of what a leader can be, not by transformingothers but by transforming themselves. All through her life, Dorothy was a harbinger to thechurch, an activist for the poor, and a leader to the state. Dorothy came into the world on 8thNovember 1897 at Brooklyn in New York. Her parents were Mr. John Day and Ms. Grace Day;she was a third born in a family of five1. She was opposed to organized religion in her highschool days because she never witnessed religious people assisting the poor and the needy in herenvirons. Her conversion and religious progress was a gradual process that eventually left her astaunch Catholic. This essay, therefore, will focus on how Christian beliefs influenced her lifeand how her life reflected these beliefs. Dorothy Day’s legacy manifests a radical movement which alleges fidelity to the churchand the gospel. Besides, it reveals personification of the gospel in an icon which is engrossed insocial issues of her generation. In an era characterized by prevalent violence, totalitariangovernments, racial discrimination, and desire for self determination, Dorothy’s encouragedresponsibility towards the needy and the poor, non-violence, and loyalty to God and tocommunity2. This legacy was inspired by her admiration of the apostolic church, in the book of1. Philip Sheldrake. Spirituality: A brief history. John Wiley & Sons, (2013), 3.2Lance Byron Richey. "Stages Along Life's Way: House of Hospitality and the Development of Dorothy Day's Spirituality." American Catholic Studies 126, no. 1 (2015), 37.
CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE ON DOROTHY DAY2Acts of the Apostles. She thus felt that the apostolic era should challenge a Christian in buildingcommunity, serving the poor, and growing in faith. Her love of scripture especially the Gospels,Psalms, and the Pauline writing inspired her convictions. Besides, the teaching and the examplesof Jesus Christ were at the core of her social work.The preferential option for the poor, made Dorothy Day utilize her energies to ensure sheis in solidarity with the poor. The Latin American theology which advocated for the preferentialfor the poor inspired her in the works of mercy. Furthermore, in her desire to identify with thepoor, she vowed to voluntary poverty which made her connect easily with the sick, homeless,and the desperate in the society. Her value of God’s creation also propelled her in doing theworks of charity and mercy. She felt that any form of oppression or devastating poverty robedpeople of their freedom, life, and dignity. As a result, she gave herself to enhance the fullness oflife for the fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.Similarly, Dorothy Day was motivated by her desire to imitate Jesus Christ’scondemnation of injustices. Although speaking against injustice appeared folly during her time,Dorothy just like Christ was cognizant of the injustice systems. Consequently, she persevereddifferent forms of intimidations and ridicule to oppose injustices. These acts of courage made herstand as a prophetic witness who manifested her beliefs through public works and words. Justlike Paul the Apostle or Christ, she believed in taking her message to people in the streets3. Hermessage was opposed to using of any form of violence in solving human problems. She thus3Benjamin T Peters. "Ignatian Radicalism: The Influence of Jesuit Spirituality on Dorothy Day." The Catholic Historical Review 103, no. 2 (2017), 299.
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