Video: Dorothy Day Length: 9 minutes, 23 seconds Target audience: Grades 6 through 10 A Loyola Productions presentation from the video series: Who Cares About the Saints? Narrator: Father James Martin, SJ Objective: Through watching the video Dorothy Day, students will learn about central events of Dorothy Day s life and will understand that even if you make a mistake or commit an apparently unforgivable act, you can find forgiveness in Christ and lead a life of service and meaning. Overview of the video: Dorothy Day did not begin life as a Catholic. She grew up leading a rather wild life as a journalist. She had an abortion and a common-law husband. But when she was pregnant with her daughter, Dorothy began to feel drawn to the Catholic Church. The Gospel principles to care for the poor and to seek peace among all of humanity drew Dorothy in and became the essence of her life. She constantly sought community between the almost invisible poor and those who ignored them. Dorothy did not begin life as a Catholic and sinned as we all do, but her desire to serve Christ through her devotion to the poor and seeking of peace throughout the world is leading her to canonization. Resources for planning your lesson: YouTube: Creative Quotations from Dorothy Day Quotes: www.tryingtofollow.com/2006/02/18/dorothy-day-quotes
Canonization: Dorothy Day s Sainthood Cause Begins www.catholicworker.org Biography: Dorothy Day A Saint for Our Age? www.catholicworker.org/dorothyday/canonizationtext Word Search: At the end of this guide YOUR LESSON Leading or Essential Question: Read the following quotation to the class and have students reflect on what it means. Opening quotation: Don t call me a saint. I don t want to be dismissed so easily. Dorothy Day (1897-1980) Why would someone not want to be called a saint? Have you ever heard someone say Oh, she s such a saint. We should all try to be like her? What kind of person are they describing? POST VIDEO DISCUSSIONS 1) Dorothy Day was drawn to the Catholic Church and the Gospel principles that taught love and care for the poor. With former Christian Brother Peter Maurin, Dorothy founded the Catholic Worker Movement, and spent her life working and living among the poor. We often hear the poor called invisible. How can we say we don t see the many poor people in our towns and cities? 2) In watching the video and listening to Father Martin, what did Dorothy Day do to make them visible? 3) In her autobiography The Long Loneliness (Dorothy Day, Harper Collins, 1997) Dorothy Day says we have all known the long loneliness at times in our lives when we
feel cut off from others, but for the poor the long loneliness is almost never ending. Day says that love and community are the only solutions to that loneliness. Explain why community is so important to people who want to live a fulfilling life. 4) List some ways that the Catholic Church provides community not only for followers of Christ but also for all the poor who are so often neglected. 5) Father Martin tells a story about a retreat director. The married mother explained her understanding of Dorothy Day s life this way: Imagine all the wonderful things that would not have happened if Dorothy Day had said I had an abortion. What can I do? Dorothy Day s abortion could have caused her to give up on herself, to turn away from, not toward, the Catholic Church; but she moved past it and lead a life of service that led her toward Christ. We re all sinners. How, specifically, can Dorothy Day be a role model for us? 6) Try to make a list of others throughout history who sinned against Christ, but through His love and forgiveness were able to show us how to correct our ways and follow Him. 7) Don t call me a saint. I don t want to be dismissed so easily. After viewing the video, do you have a different view of the quote? Was Dorothy Day only a saint? What do you think she wants us to know about her life? Why would we be dismissing her to neglect the rest of her life? POST VIDEO ASSIGNMENTS Use one or more of the following for written reflection: 1) The dramatic black and white photographs seen throughout the video depict the atmosphere in which the poor struggle. In this bleak, stark landscape Dorothy Day spent most of her adult life trying to help the poor find a sense of community. Select a picture that you were impressed with/remember. Describe the photo and tell what it showed you about Dorothy Day s ministry to the poor. 2) Make a list of the ways Jesus treats the poor as seen in the Gospels. 3) Does Jesus tell us how he feels about peace? Give some examples of what he says, for the Gospel principles of peace inspired Dorothy Day to seek peace for all humanity.
WRAPPING IT ALL UP Dorothy Day s controversial life has led to much discussion of whether or not she should be canonized. If Jesus had a vote on whether or not to canonize Dorothy Day, how do you think He d vote? Specifically why would He vote for her or against her? Prayer: Honor Dorothy Day by praying: Prayer for the Canonization of Servant of God Dorothy Day Merciful God, You called your servant Dorothy Day to show us the face of Jesus in the poor and forsaken. By constant practice of the works of mercy, she embraced poverty and witnessed steadfastly to justice and peace. Count her among your saints and lead us all to become friends of the poor ones of the earth, and to recognize You in them. We ask this through Your Son Jesus Christ, bringer of good news to the poor. Amen. www.catholicworker.org/dorothyday WHEN YOU GO HOME Actions speak louder than words. Dorothy Day did not just talk about the poor and their need for community; she worked with them and for them to provide that community and the support of others. Ask your family and friends to do two things with you in the next two months to actively help the poor who may feel invisible. Let them know you see and love them as Christ did when He was among them. GOT TIME There s a Word Search on the next page! This guide was created by DeSales Media Group, Inc. 2012 http://ctnbq.org/ For information on this video program, visit the Loyola website: www.loyolapress.com
DOROTHY DAY O W A J G T O L K S L E P S O G N O R X G P K R T L E F T Z C H U D Q N U A V A Z N J R T T U U D Z N F G C O C R M Y F V M N G R U L O X I Z K Z N J K A I P D G P V S M F A G G P L N B A C W D W G E W I C K K Q I S O I T E G V T I K S T G Z T K B T R L B X M Y J H T G O Y G P O O R J Y E N M C E J O U R N A L I S T X H C A T H O L I C W O R K E R P U L S F F Y M H S W R L M F A S C I E V Y T I N U M M O C R T L C O V R F M C S Y E W J B A T T I N V I S I B L E J S C I F S A A B M S N O I T A Z I N O N A C Canonization Catholic Worker Community Gospels Humanity Invisible Journalist Pacifist Poor Service Created at: www.puzzle-maker.com