Dynamite - Alliance Catholic Worker Newsletter Fall 2014 | Page 3

“Writing about the Catholic Church, a radical writer says: “Rome will have to do more than to play a waiting game; she will have to use some of the dynamite inherent in her message.” To blow the dynamite of a message is the only way to make the message dynamic. If the Catholic Church is not today the dominant social dynamic force, it is because Catholic scholars have failed to blow the dynamite of the Church. Catholic scholars have taken the dynamite of the Church, have wrapped it up in nice phraseology, placed it in an hermetic container and sat on the lid. It is about time to blow the lid off so the Catholic Church may again become the dominant social dynamic force.” -Peter Maurin (Co-founder of The Catholic Worker) …Continued from page 1 Catholic  Workers  strive  to  live  a  life  of  voluntary  poverty  to  subvert  capitalism.  They  endeavor  to  live  simply  and  use   what  is  available  and  on  hand.  Workers  also  live  a  life  of  non-­‐violence,  pacifism,  and  daily  acts  of  kindness.  These,   Martha  explained  are  the  basics  of  being  a  Catholic  Worker.     Martha  also  talked  about  the  Principles  of  Catholic  Social  Teaching  that  the  Worker  bases  its  goals  upon:  the  dignity   of  the  person,  community  of  common  good,  when  one  suffers  we  all  suffer.  We  experience  human  dignity  when  we   have   food,   clothing,   shelter,   work,   and   the   right   to   organize,   have   jus/ce,  and  protect  God’s  people.   Today   it   is   hard   to   understand   Christ   teaching,   “Love   Thy   Enemy”.     From  standing  up  for  prisoners  in  Guantanamo  Bay  to  visi/ng  families   in   war   torn   Afghanistan,   Martha’s   work   is   a   great   example   of   living   the   dynamite  of  the  church  within  the  confines  of  a  society  that  is  resistant   to  its  message.  Martha’s  message  to  students  at  Walsh  University  was   to   not   keep   the   teachings   of   the   church   as   theory   but   to   put   them   into   prac/ce.  She  called  the  Catholic  Worker  a  University  of  Catholic  Social   Teaching.     People  like  Martha  Hennessy  devote  their  lives  to  living  the  message  of   Christ   and   fulfilling   MaEhew   25.   “For   I   was   hungry   and   you   gave   me   food,   I   was   thirsty   and   you   gave   me   drink,   a   stranger   and   you   welcomed  me,  naked  and  you  clothed  me,  ill  and  you  cared  for  me,  in   prison  and  you  visited  me.”  -­‐MaEhew  25:35-­‐36   By:  Daniel  and  Laura  Schmidt