During his Jubilee Audience on Saturday morning, Pope Leo XIV reflects on Servant of God, Dorothy Day, an American Catholic, who dedicated her life to doing good work in the early 20th Century, underscoring that like her, Christians are to promote peace by actively defending and protecting human dignity.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
As Christians, we are to do good, and not hesitate to take a stand for what is right….
Pope Leo XIV stressed this during his Saturday Jubilee Audience in the Vatican as he chose to reflect on Servant of God, Dorothy Day (1897–1980).
The American journalist, activist, and convert to Catholicism, co-founded the Catholic Worker movement during the Great Depression.
Known for her great works for the poor, migrants, and workers, Day has been praised for living out the Gospel in a dramatic time in history.
Called to be faithful and concrete
The Holy Father drew inspiration from today’s Gospel passage to call on those before him to be concrete in their commitment to help others.
He urged them to turn to the Lord, to help us to recognize the many gifts we have been given, and to show us how to take a stand in our own lives to promote a society that truly reflects the love of the Gospel.
In this sense, he reminded us that Dorothy Day can serve as a great model and inspiration for Catholic faithful.
Transforming society through imitating Christ
“She had fire within. Dorothy Day took a stand,” the Holy Father remembered, stressing, “she saw that the development model of her country did not create the same opportunities for everyone.”
Dorothy, the Pope explained, “understood that for too many the dream was a nightmare, and that as a Christian she had to involve herself with workers, with migrants, with those cast aside by an economy that kills.”
Observing how Dorothy beautifully served with her heart, mind and hands, Pope Leo acknowledged how her service and works “transformed indignation into communion and action.”
“To hope,” Pope Leo said, “is to take a stand, like Jesus, with Jesus,” for “His fire is our fire.”
Thus, he prayed that this Jubilee of Hope may rekindle this fire in us and in the whole Church.
