Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story

This alone would not qualify as cognitive leadership, but because her rise to power was so closely linked with her ideology, she was able to empower the equal education movement on a national level.

in her lifetime which helped her develop into a strong woman. She aspired to challenge

In life, there are many ways you can live, however, the manner in which you live is your choice. In most peoples’ lives, they want to leave this world and say that they were happy and enjoyed every single moment of it. People feel like if they lived a happy life, then that is all that matters. But what if life has more to do than just being happy, what if it was meant for you to change the world or the lives of others? If you changed the life of another person and made them happy, you made a difference. A happy life is a good one, but a meaningful life is fruitful.

The film, Entertaining Angels, shows the life of Dorothy Day. She is an editor, religious figure, women’s right activist, anti-war activist and journalist. She grew up living a bohemian lifestyle and then she became Catholic. She was an activist that worked for social causes as pacifism and women’s suffrage through the prism of the Catholic Church. She was a co-founder of The Catholic Workers; it is a newspaper that promotes Catholic teachings. Day was involved in the Catholic Workers Movement that looked at issues of social justice. In addition, Day opened her home to help others in need. According to Aristotle and Ashe, Dorothy Day would be considered a good woman.

     Almost immediately after her death in 1980 controversy arose about whether Dorothy Day should be canonized a Saint by the Church. Now that the Vatican has approved the late Cardinal John O'Connor's request to consider Dorothy Day's "cause," the controversy is being rekindled. After converting, she dedicated her life to New York's poor and immigrants, building hospitality homes that operated much like homeless shelters. Her endeavor grew into the national Catholic Worker movement, a social justice crusade conducted in revolutionary tones new to the church.

Social Justice is a very well needed in the world, however it is very difficult to achieve because every individual has their own views. Nevertheless, several key figures have contributed to this ideology and that of Catholic social thought in order to take action in recent centuries. For example, Dorothy Day, whom is known as a key activist, organized the Catholic Worker movement of 1933 which sought to promote social justice, peace, and simplicity.

She was known as a phenomenal listener and helped people find their own purpose. Day wanted to help others and had a long list of experience from her childhood, marriage, pregnancy, education and conversion making her qualified for the position. She would use her passion for writing as a tool and would publish her own pieces. The first copy of Day’s own newspaper The Catholic Worker was an immediate success. The paper incorporated reader’s responses to create conversations instead of complaining about the problem.

The Catholic Worker Movement worked on problems dealing with social justice. Day once said, “We believe that Christ went beyond natural ethics and the Old Dispensation in this matter of force and war and taught nonviolence as a way of life” (Celebrating).” From reading quotes from her like this one you understand that the reason she participated in civil disobedience was because of her religion. She went by what was right in God’s eyes not what was right legally, she explained this when she quoted St. Peter (Acts 5:29) “It is better to obey God than men”

One of the first things that Day protested was the right for women to vote. She was arrested during this protest in Washington D.C. for protesting women rights at the White House. While in jail she received a bible which she read; after being released from jail she became a Catholic (Krupa). Peter Maurin and Mrs. Day then started something called the Catholic Worker Movement. The Catholic Worker Movement was founded in 1933 in New York City by Peter Maurin and Dorothy Day.

Throughout her life, Dorothy Day was not a well liked person. Many people thought she was very stubborn and ignorant. Bill Barrett, writer for the New York Worker said her systems were “filthy and rotten”. Many people believed what she was doing was a waste of time and that she would never make a difference. “People say, what is the sense of our small effort? (Dorothy Day). In September of 1919 Day had an abortion, which also lead people to believe she was ignorant and a hypocrite, considering she was a Catholic worker. Over time people's views of Day have changed for the better, but recently more than ever. I believe that people back then didn't understand what she was doing when it was happening, and today people can see what she was doing and see everything as a whole.

To begin, one way the theme was uncovered is the authors shows separation in the exposition. “Find yourself a place where you won’t get in trouble” says Aunt Emily. This is an example of separation because Aunt Emily’s comment is like a big sign telling her to go. This is like a call to adventure. Additionally, another way that Heroic Journey is displayed is when Dorothy runs home from Professor Marvels when she thinks Aunt Emily is sick. This is a refusal to call. Did Dorothy really want to leave? Did she just not realize that home is where she could be the happiest? Finally, when Dorothy reaches Munchkin Land from the twister she crosses the first threshold of her heroic journey. To conclude, in the exposition the author displays separation.

The Great Depression began and Dorothy’s awareness of the need for Catholic stance grew. “It was a time for pressure groups, for direct action, and radicalism was thriving among all groups

She held an impressive amount of power due to the fact that she was a

Once one determines their purpose, one may achieve fulfilment through living a righteous life. Specifically, by determining ways to benefit and contributing society. Socrates touches on how righteous attributes are beneficial to not only to yourself but to the community as well. “Wealth does not bring about excellence, but excellence makes wealth and everything else good for men, both individually and collectively.” (Plato, n.d.). One may live a fulfilling life through mission work and focusing on the needs of the people around them.

People do not know the meaning of life, so they interpret it to fit their needs. Some people may manipulate others to get what they want, and others may live humble lives with small rewards. No matter which type of lifestyle a person chooses everyone gets one life to live, so he or she must choose wisely with how they spend their time on