In the tumultuous 1960s and 70s, Merton wrote a number of essays dealing with the social and political upheavals of the times: peace, racial tolerance, poverty, and social equality. In the Church he was a prophetic voice for peace, justice, and non-violence.
Do you have a hunger and thirst for righteousness? Do you have a commitment to dedicate your time and energy to issues of social justice, such as the end of abortion, human trafficking, racism, war, and oppression of every kind?
DOROTHY DAY Blessed Are the Peacemakers
One woman who dedicated her life to the cause of peace was Dorothy Day, co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement. Reflecting on her childhood, she wrote, Whatever I had read as a child about the saints thrilled me. I could see the nobility of giving one’ s life for the sick, the maimed, the leper.... But there was another question in my mind. Why was so much done in remedying the evil instead of avoiding it in the first place?... Where were the saints to try to change the social order, not just to minister to the slaves, but to do away with slavery?
After her conversion to the Catholic Church, Dorothy spent many years looking for a way to reconcile her faith and her commitment to change the social order. The answer came in 1932 with a providential meeting with Peter Maurin. Along with publishing the Catholic Worker newspaper, Dorothy and Peter opened“ houses of hospitality” for the poor in New York City.
In keeping with her commitment to the central message of the Sermon on the Mount, Dorothy became a tireless advocate for peace and non – violence. This commitment led her to engage in campaigns of civil disobedience, protesting civil defense bills, the Cold War, and the war in Vietnam. Whether one agrees or not with her stance on these issues, her effort to live what she believed is a challenge to us all.
In his book, My Life With The Saints, Fr. James Martin recalls that in 1973, at the age of 76, Dorothy was arrested and jailed for her participation in a United Farm Workers Rally. A striking black and white photograph taken that day shows the birdlike, grayhaired woman wearing a secondhand dress and sitting on a folding chair. Dorothy gazes up calmly at two burly police officers, armed, who towered over her.“ Here” observes Fr. Martin,“ is a portrait of a lifetime of commitment, the dignity of discipleship and the absolute rightness of the gospel.”
As we look around our world today where chaos, violence, misunderstanding, and hatred seem to rule the day, do we not find ourselves asking, Where are our peace-makers? Do you resonate with the call to be a peacemaker in your extended family, parish community, congregation, work place, local or national government?
OSCAR ROMERO Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted for Righteousness Sake
The cost of discipleship takes many forms; at times it leads to a willingness to accept persecution for righteousness sake, and in the process risk martyrdom. Such was the cost Bishop Oscar Romero eventually paid in his choice to become a spokesman for the poor and oppressed of El Salvador. But he didn’ t begin his priesthood with such an awareness or commitment.
We pick up his life story as the newly appointed Archbishop of El Salvador: 1977-1980.
Members of the government, military, and the oligarchy families were delighted with his appointment for they considered him safe— one of them. Within three years, however, Romero underwent a radical conversion that had profound implications for himself, his Church, and especially for the poor. This conversion was brought about through relationships.
First, his eyes were opened and his compassion increased as he listened to the heart-breaking stories of widows, mothers, and daughters describing the episodes of fathers, husbands, brothers, sons being taken from their homes, tortured, mutilated or killed right in front of them by the military because of their efforts to organize and better themselves.
Second, his eyes were opened by the assassination of his close friend, Fr. Rutilio Grande, SJ, a former teacher and rector of the national seminary who was respected and loved by all. This death further unmasked the truth— the oppression of a government against anyone who sought to help the poor rise out of their poverty and oppression.
What follows is an excerpt from Romero’ s funeral homily:
“ Real persecution has been directed against the poor, the body of Christ.... And for that reason when the Church has organized and united itself around the hopes and anxieties of the poor, it has incurred the same fate as that of Jesus and of the poor: persecution.”
Two gunmen assassinated Bishop Romero while he was celebrating Mass on March 24, 1980. Aware of the possibility of assassination, he had stated,“ If my death is accepted by God, let it be for the liberation of my people and a testament of hope in the future.”
Unfortunately, the cost of discipleship and the suffering of martyrdom are taking many forms throughout the world and in our own country today. Are you, in a particular way, being called to stand up and speak out for the cause of justice and righteousness?
As you have reflected upon these disciples of Jesus who model for us how to live a particular Beatitude, I hope you also have caught a glimpse of what holiness looks like. The self-giving love modeled by Jesus found unique expression in the way they lived; in the choices they made; in the struggles to be faithful even in the face of doubts and disappointments.
Each person provides inspiration for us to go and do likewise. Jesus’ spirituality, his Beatitudes, finds expression through us.
Dr. Patricia Cooney Hathaway is professor of spirituality and systematic theology at Sacred Heart.
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