Dorothy Day biography

Synopsis

Intrigued by the Catholic faith for years, Dorothy Day converted in 1927. In 1933, she co-founded The Catholic Worker, which promoted Catholic teachings and tackled societal issues. It became very successful and spawned the Catholic Worker Movement, which tackled issues of social justice guided by its religious principles. Day also helped establish special homes to help those in need.

Profile

Writer, editor, social reformer. Born on November 8, 1897, in New York, New York. Dorothy Day was a radical during her time, working for such social causes as pacifism and women’s suffrage. She arrested several times for her involvement in protests. She even went on a hunger strike after being jailed for protesting in front of the White House in 1917 as part of an effort to get women the right to vote.

Dorothy Day started out as journalist, writing for several socialist and progressive publications in 1910s and 1920s. Intrigued by the Catholic faith for years, she converted in 1927. With Peter Maurin, she founded The Catholic Worker, which promoted Catholic teachings as well as tackled societal issues of the day in 1933. It became very successful and spawned the Catholic Worker Movement, which tackled issues of social justice guided by its religious principles. As part of the movement’s belief in hospitality, Day helped establish special homes to help those in need.

Dorothy Day dedicated much of her life in service to her socialist beliefs and her adopted faith, Catholicism. She died on November 29, 1980, at Maryhouse, one of the Catholic settlement houses she helped establish.