Dorothy Day

Profession: Journalist, Socialist and Catholic Convert

Nationality:

Biography: Dorothy Day was an American journalist, social activist, and Catholic convert known for her role in establishing the Catholic Worker Movement, a pacifist movement that combines direct aid for the poor and homeless with nonviolent direct action on their behalf.

Day converted to Catholicism in 1927, a move which marked a significant shift in her life and career. In 1933, alongside Peter Maurin, she co-founded the Catholic Worker Movement, starting with the publication of a newspaper called "The Catholic Worker."

Throughout her life, Day advocated for nonviolence, pacifism, and the personalism movement, a philosophical perspective which emphasizes the worth and dignity of every person. Her activism was often controversial and she was arrested multiple times during protests. Nevertheless, her dedication to the Catholic faith and the poor remained unwavering until her death in 1980.

In 2000, Day was recognized by the Vatican as a Servant of God, the first step towards sainthood, and she was named by Pope Francis as one of his lesser-known American heroes in his speech to Congress in 2015.

Born: November 8, 1897
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA

Generation: Lost Generation
Star Sign: Scorpio

Died: November 29, 1980 (aged 83)
Cause of Death: Heart attack