May 9, 2005Peter Maurin
The world would become better off if people tried to become better. And people would become better if they stopped trying to become better off. ~~Peter Maurin
Peter Maurin (born on this day in 1877) and St. Therese Lisieux were the strongest influences on the spirituality and work of Dorothy Day.
Peter was a peasant farmer from southern France who immigrated to New York in 1909. Although Peter looked like a ragged drifter on skid row, his keen mind devised a Catholic social philosophy that brought together sociology, politics and economics and placed them at the heart of the Gospel. He proposed a social and religious program of action designed to improve social order and create a society by which it would be easier for people to be good.
Maurin met Dorothy Day in New York in 1932. Working together, they began a newspaper to teach people about Catholic social teaching, established a hospitality house to house and feed the poor, and initiated weekly meetings of other people dedicated to social justice. This developed into the Catholic Worker Movement.
Novenas
The passage in the next post is the origin of praying “novenas.” After the Ascension described in Acts, the disciples devoted themselves to prayer. Nine days later, the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost.
“Novena” comes from the Latin word for nine and has come to be used for any number of consecutive days of intense prayer, asking God to respond to a particular need.
Monday, Seventh Sunday of Easter All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Acts 1: 14
Now, besides the Eleven, we see some of the other members of the early community.
The women were the ones who came to Jerusalem with Jesus from Galilee for the Passover, some of whom figured prominently at the cross and at the tomb.
The names of the “brothers” of Jesus are listed in Mark (not in Luke) as James, Joses, Judas and Simon. Much has been written about whether these are blood brothers or relatives, neighbors, etc. The Greek word used here is sometimes used in those broader senses, although it normally means blood brother. Thus the controversy. The Catholic tradition is that Mary had no other child but Jesus.
Which brings us to Mary. She is part of this small community, and here she is praying with them. This is the last time she will be seen, and the only time her name is mentioned outside the Gospels. Tradition has it that she lived on in Jerusalem, apparently very quietly.
Her greatness wasn’t recognized until long after her life ended. That’s often true. Most of the greatest ones are never recognized. Only the Lord knows.
We can probably think of some we know personally. Who would be on our list?
Spend some quiet time with the Risen Lord.
