"...trying to make a world where it is easier for people to love, to stand in that relationship to each other."

I have recently been reading the writings of Dorothy Day, a peace activist and one of the founders of the Catholic Worker movement, a vibrant and thriving international community of people committed to nonviolence, voluntary poverty, prayer and hospitality to the marginalized. Day’s writings are gut-wrenching, terrifying, and humbling, calling us all to lives of saints. The work of the Catholic Worker movement is so broad with irons in so many different fires that it is humbling to examine our own meager effort to achieve social justice, equality, peace, and environmental stewardship. That being said, I’d like to share some passages from the book I am currently reading, “Selected Writings” because Dorothy compels us far more convincingly and gracefully than I ever could. I fear that just by reading it, I’ll never be the same.

“We have repeated so many times that those who have two cloaks should follow the early Fathers who said, “The coat that hangs in your closet belongs to the poor.” And those who have a ten-room house can well share it with those who have none. How many large houses could be made into several apartments to take in others? Much hospitality could be given to relieve the grave suffering of today. But people are afraid. They do not know where it all will end. They have all gone far enough in generosity to know that an ordeal is ahead, that the person taken in will most likely turn into “the friend of the family.” No use starting something that you cannot finish, they say. Once bitten is twice shy. We have all had our experiences of ingratitude, of nursing a viper in our bosom, as the saying goes. So we forget about the necessity of pruning, in the natural order, to attain much fruit. We don’t want to pay the cost of love. We do not want to exercise our capacity to love.”

“To love with understanding, and without understanding. To love blindly, and to folly. To see only what is lovable. To think only of these things. To see the best in everyone around, their virtues, rather than their faults. To see Christ in them!”

“Compassion, it is a word meaning to suffer with. If we all carry a little of the burden, it will be lightened. If we share in the suffering of the world, then some will not have to endure so heavy an affliction. It evens out. What you do here in New York, in Harrisburg, helps those in China, India, South Africa, Europe, Russia, as well as in the oasis where you are. You may think you are alone. But we are members of one another. We are children of God together.”

"Don't you know, they're talking about a revolution..."

This Sunday Congress is going to vote on the health care reform bill proposed by Obama in December. While each party continues to waver and discern what is in the best interest of their constituents, Obama and the Democrats are doing everything they can to ensure the passage of such a monumental program.
It is hard to say what the correct path to take is. Popular opinion across the country is almost a 50/50 split and, depending on the day, either side takes the lead. In an (unprecedented) effort to remain neutral, I'd like to encourage you to pray for our politicians. Despite their role as representative and advocate of their constituents, it is easy to cast that aside for personal interest.
In a post I wrote right after the State of the Union address, I discussed how Obama was shifting political interest from big government to the individual and I think it is just this mentality that needs to be at the forefront of our leaders' agendas this weekend.
So however the chips may fall, may it be because our political leaders had our best interest at heart.

Spring Break season!

We are in full-swing with service groups from colleges all over the country coming to serve with us for their spring breaks! Last week, we were blessed to have an energetic, enthusiastic group from Siena College in Loudonville, NY, one of two colleges run by the friars of the Holy Name Province. This week we welcome a group from St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire that dove into work with open hearts and minds. With a St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY and Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL to come, followed by high school groups that come throughout the summer, we are grateful for and humbled by the outpouring of help we receive each year.
This year, we are introducing a justice and education aspect to their week of service, providing a larger context within their work exists, examining and addressing the infrastructure that impacts the people we serve. Our hope in doing this is to dispel the many myths that exist regarding homelessness and poverty, one such myth is that only about 10% of the homeless population is made up of the stereotypical homeless person you may imagine, the rest are couch-hopping, living in abandominiums, or in shelters. We also hope to make people aware of the issues so they can implement change upon their return to their college.
These groups bring to us a refreshing perspective of the same people we see day-to-day. Their excitement to serve the poor inspires and renews us in our ministry and revitalizes the face of St. Francis Inn.