The Dorothy Day Guild invites members and others to gather for a novena of thanks for the witness of Servant of God Dorothy Day, and to celebrate the advance of the cause for her canonization. Dorothy Day did not set out to become a saint, although she often quoted a famous statement that “The only tragedy in life is not to be a saint.” She simply spent a lifetime attuning herself to hear God’s voice. The pilgrimage of her daily life was oriented by Jesus's teachings as she pursued a call to belong fully to the Body of Christ. On December 8, 1932, in the midst of the Great Depression, while on assignment as a journalist reporting on a communist-led national Hunger March and a gathering of poor farmers, Dorothy Day prayed to discern her vocation as a Catholic. She attended Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

“There I offered up a special prayer, a prayer which came with tears and with anguish, that some way would open up for me to use what talents I possessed for my fellow workers, for the poor.”

― from The Long Loneliness

On her return to New York City, the answer to her prayer was waiting in the person of an itinerant Frenchman and worker scholar named Peter Maurin. Their meeting led to the founding of the Catholic Worker movement, which to this day continues to open up ways to practice the Church’s social teachings.

Over the course of the novena, we will reflect on Dorothy’s acceptance of God’s call by each day looking at a particular facet of her discipleship – what biographer Robert Ellsberg referred to as the “distinctive features of her holiness.”

Day 1, Christian Vocation

Day 2, Personal Responsibility

Day 3, Voluntary Poverty

Day 4, Works of Mercy

Day 10, The Path Forward

Archived Comments

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Share this post

"The Great Work That Is To Be Done"-- Autumn invitations and reflections

By Casey Mullaney • September 30, 2026

Dear friends and members of the Dorothy Day Guild, Greetings! As always, we hope that this missive finds you healthy and well as many of us settle into a new seasonal rhythm. September is a month of many feast days and celebrations, and for those of us in the United States, it’s also back-to-school season, which brings its own wave of fresh energy and excitement. This month has flown by, but we wanted to write and share some invitations, articles, and new resources for prayer and study with you.

Works of Mercy and Works of Peace: A Late-Summer Missive from the Guild

By Casey Mullaney • August 31, 2026

Dear Dorothy Day Guild members and friends, Greetings and peace to each of you, your families, and your communities. As always, we hope this missive finds you well. This month’s update is a quick one, but we have a few invitations for fall events to share with you, as well as some reading and listening recommendations (including a collection of audio recordings of Dorothy’s talks and lectures you may not have heard before!) for the end of the season. Thank you so much for your enthusiastic support for our cause; keep reading to learn more about how you can continue to be involved in the coming months!

Summer Greetings and Canonization Updates

By Casey Mullaney • July 15, 2026

Dear Dorothy Day Guild friends and members, We hope that all of you are well, and for those in the United States, that you had a safe and happy July 4th weekend! Fifty years ago, for America’s Bicentennial anniversary, National Catholic Reporter included a six-page spread of greetings, poetry, and commentary from both ordinary and prominent American Catholics. Dorothy responded to their request for a quote with a one-word message to her country: “Repent.”

Deo Gratias: A Novena of Gratitude: Introduction