Our yearly calendar features saints from different times and places The saints are catechisms of faith and examples for living. They’re more interesting than celebrities–the media darlings today. Elizabeth Seton and John Neumann, whom we recalled recently, have great stories to tell. Like Mother Cabrini, featured in a recent major film. Too bad we don’t pay more attention them.
Dorothy Day is another holy person whose life would be perfect for a major film. Her autobiography “The Long Loneliness” is a spiritual classic. She was a woman of faith at home with broken humanity. She made hard choices. “‘Diligo’, to love means also to choose”, she writes.
She was an uncompromising advocate for the poor. She also knew she needed people and a home: “I had heard many say that they wanted to worship God in their own way and did not need a Church in which to praise him, nor a body of people with whom to associate themselves. But I did not agree to this. My very experience as a radical, my whole make-up, led me to want to associate with others, with the masses, in loving and praising God.” (p. 139)
Robert Ellsberg edited her diaries (“The Duty of Delight: The Diaries of Dorothy Day, edited by Robert Ellsberg, Milwaukee University Press, 2008) He chose the title from her entry for February 24, 1961. ‘Today I thought of a title for my book ‘The Duty of Delight’ as a sequel to “The Long Loneliness.” I was thinking how, as one gets older, we are tempted to sadness, knowing life as it is here on earth, the suffering, the Cross. And how we must overcome it daily, growing in love, and the joy which goes with loving.”
The trend in hagiography – the study of the saints – is to see them in communion with the world that was theirs, which helps us live in the world that’s ours.“From their place in heaven, they guide us still.” (Preface of the Apostles) They shaped their world. We must do that too.
Contemporary studies of the saints recognize they weren’t perfect. They were part the political, social, intellectual and religious worlds they lived in.
They teach everyday wisdom. We need that today.
The Victor's Place 
This touches home: “as one gets older, we are tempted to sadness, knowing life as it is here on earth, the suffering, the Cross. And how we must overcome it daily, growing in love, and the joy which goes with loving” Little children bring so much joy with their innocence and trust. They also bring hope of a future, a better future. I remember my mom’s sad eyes as she got older and I try to be around young people, and little children. I have not read many books on the saints but know some of their stories from having listened to people who are devoted to them or listening to EWTN affiliates as our own Domestic Church Media in the Diocese of Trenton. I did read St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s letters to her spiritual director in “Come Be My Light”. Very touching and admirable; what a strong faith and commitment to her Lord! And who could forget St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower. Such child-like love for her Lord! Another one I read cover to cover. Thank you Fr. Victor.
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