Dorothy Day: Servant of God

By Deacon Andy Davis

On Monday we celebrate Labor Day. Our Church calls us to remember the dignity of all workers, and as Catholics to work to bring Jesus into the workplace to bring about change where there may be injustice –low wages, inequity or not preserving human dignity. We all work, it is a way we participate with God’s creative action. All work is valued: office, field, student, in the home, or praying from one’s bed – we all have apart.

One of our Servants of God – Dorothy Day worked tirelessly for workers rights. She always thought the personal was most important, most human. “The greatest challenge of the day is: how to bring about a revolution 0f the heart, a revolution which has to start with each one of us.” - Dorothy Day, Loaves and Fishes.

I love this photo of her on an orchard picket line with the Farm Workers Union, AFL- CIO, 1973. It makes me think, what would Jesus look like in the workplace? Dorothy is an example of our psalm today “The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.” (Ps. 15)