Dorothy Day: The World Will Be Saved by Beauty

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Kate Hennessy
Author

Date: April 19, 2017

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Co-sponsored by the听Department of Continuing Education (STM), the听Theology Department, the听Volunteer and Service Learning Center,听PULSE, the听Catholic Studies Program, and the听Church in the 21st Century Center.

Abstract

Dorothy Day (1897-1980) was a prominent Catholic, writer, social activist, and co-founder of a movement dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor. Her life has been revealed through her own writings as well as the work of historians, theologians, and academics. What has been missing until now is a more personal account from the point of view of someone who knew her well.听听(Scribner, 2017) is a frank and reflective, heartfelt and humorous portrayal as written by her granddaughter, Kate Hennessy.

Speaker Bio

Kate Hennessy

Kate Hennessy听is a writer and the youngest of Dorothy Day鈥檚 nine grandchildren. Her work has been included in听Best American Travel Writing, and she is the author of听Dorothy Day:听The World Will Be Saved By Beauty: An Intimate Portrait of My Grandmother听and, in collaboration with the photographer Vivian Cherry,听Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker: The Miracle of our Continuance. Kate divides her time between Ireland and Vermont.

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Kate Hennessy, author and youngest granddaughter of Dorothy Day, read from her recent book Dorothy Day: The World Will Be Saved By Beauty (An Intimate Portrait of My Grandmother). Following the reading, Hennessy spoke with audience members about her grandmother's legacy on the Catholic social justice movement and Hennessy's life.

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Photos by MTS photography

Event Recap

On April 19, 2017, the Boisi Center hosted Kate Hennessy, a writer and the youngest granddaughter of Dorothy Day. The event was co-sponsored by the Department of Continuing Education (STM), the Theology Department, the Volunteer and Service Learning Center, PULSE, the Catholic Studies Program, and the Church in the 21st Century Center.

Hennessy鈥檚 talk focused on her new book,听Dorothy Day: The World Will Be Saved By Beauty.听Hennessy gave a brief background on her grandmother鈥檚 life as a leading figure in the founding of the Catholic Worker Movement. Hennessy emphasized the complexity, richness, and contradictions of Dorothy Day鈥檚 life that made it challenging to tell her story. Personal relationships also complicated Hennessy鈥檚 writing process, as she felt a responsibility to everyone she wrote about. It was difficult for her to navigate the dynamics between herself, her mother, and her grandmother.

Hennessy read several excerpts from the book to represent how her grandmother sought 鈥渟alvation through beauty鈥 and then invited the audience to ask questions and share their comments. Audience members inquired into who Dorothy Day was outside of听TheCatholic Worker, the realities of her family relationships, and Hennessy鈥檚 feelings of exposure or invasiveness when writing so intimately about the lives of others.

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Books

Hennessey, Kate.听Dorothy Day: The World Will Be Saved by Beauty: An Intimate Portrait of My Grandmother.听New York: Scribner, 2017.听

News Articles and Reviews

CNA Daily News. "Dorothy Day, as seen by her granddaughter."听听2017.

Lewis, Peter. "'Dorothy Day,' portrayed by her granddaughter, is a hero but not a saint."听听2017.

NPR. "An 'Intimate Portrait' Of Dorothy Day, The Catholic Activist With A Bohemian Past."听听2017.

Schlumpf, Heidi. "'Don't just admire Dorothy Day,' says granddaughter."听听2017.听

Steinfels, Peter. "Martyrs & Saints: 'Dorothy Day.'"听听2017.

Valente, Judith. "Granddaughter鈥檚 memoir paints complicated portrait of would-be saint Dorothy Day."听听2017.

In the News

Pope Francis has spoken highly of Dorothy Day for her "social activism and her passion for justice." Read Thomas Rosica's听Atlantic听article: "Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton, MLK and Pope Francis: models of good citizenship"听.