First and foremost I have to admit my ignorance of Dorothy Day up until this point. I have heard people mention her in talks about social justice and service. I have heard people argue for and against her canonization. However, I never took the time to truly look into the life of this wonderful person. After doing some research (I recommend catholicworker.org) and, of course, reading The Duty of Delight, I have come to appreciate the life work of this woman. Whether or not she will ever be canonized a Saint is not up to me, nor do I feel that a simple book review would be cause for such.
Getting past the debate of sainthood for Dorothy Day, from these 752 pages, one cannot escape knowing that she truly believed that she was doing God’s will in a very unique way. Many people can read her diaries and most recently, The Duty of Delight and become confused as to her political stance and whether or not she was in line with the Church during the time she was alive. However, I believe that is irrelevant in learning who this woman truly is.
Day took time to write every day, often after long and testing hours, as she puts it, “I have been working from seven [in the morning] until twelve at night, or traveling fifteen hours by bus…” Day also described the long days that we can most relate to when the bills pile up and the deadlines approach. Through her writing, both for The Catholic Worker and her diaries one can truly enter into her day to day grind and appreciate the struggles, heartaches, sorrows, and joys. Yet she had a great self awareness that she often omitted prayers or spiritual readings after these long days. In her New Year’s Eve entry of 1935, Day writes of the importance of having “a rule” for her workers. She then writes the rule down to hold herself and her workers accountable. The rule included the Liturgy of the Hours, daily rosary and Mass, and claimed that her motto for 1936 would be “Could you not watch with me one hour,” echoing Christ during his agony in the garden.
Day was extremely learned in various subjects to due the time she spent reading and writing. Just as one can improve their knowledge of a subject such as political science by reading and writing so too can one expand upon their knowledge and love for Christ and His Church by meditating on Scripture and other spiritual works. Throughout her diary entries, Day mentions the different works she reads including, but not limited to: Vatican II documents, Papal encyclicals, Thomas Merton, and Augustine. Not only did I find it impressive that she found time to read spiritual giants, I was also struck by her devotion to time in prayer and visiting the sacraments, praying the Liturgy of the Hours and reading Magisterial writings. She did not do these things simply because of her rule, but because without them her work would be meaningless; this rule transformed her “duty” into her “Duty of Delight.” Day was always trying to better herself to ensure she could work towards the betterment of a confused society.
While some entries are a few sentences (especially towards the end of her life) others can become quite lengthy, yet one thing remains constant. This woman is relatable. While reading her words, one can enter into her thoughts and emotions. As you turn the pages, you can see her spiritual ups and downs. Her explanations of the people she encountered, her feelings towards others (most notably Peter Maurin, one of Day’s colleagues and closest friends), her relationship with her family, her abandonment to God’s will and her constant STRIVING to put other’s needs before her own can make one read this book and become inspired. Dorothy Day was real. Regardless of what poor decisions she may have made or if you think she should be canonized or not, the pages of this book offer a poetic glimpse into the life of someone who lived a life of love and service.
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