Dangerous Times

There is so much fear and distraction these days over the state of the world - there is sadness in the Pope's messages, in articles, in letters, in all endeavours. And yet surely, "all times" as St. Teresa of Avila said, "are dangerous times."

We may be living on the verge of eternity - but that should not make us dismal. The early Christians rejoiced to think that the end of the world was near, as they thought. Over and over again, even the Seventh Day Adventists of our time, people have been expecting the end of the world. Are we so unready to face God? Are we so avid for joys here, that we perceive so darkly those to come?

From On Pilgrimage by Dorothy Day as quoted in Meditations by Dorothy Day, selected and arranged by Stanley Vishnewski.

I could not help thinking how little penance we have done these last years, how little mortification, how little dying to self, which is what mortificaiton is ... If our cause is a mighty one, and surely peace on earth in these days is the great issue of the day, and if we are opposing the powers of darkness, of nothingness, of destruction, and working on the side of light and life, then surely we must use our greatest weapons - the life forces that are in each one of us. To stand on the side of life we must give up our own lives. "He who would save his life must lose it."

From the Catholic Worker, September 1965 as quoted in Meditations by Dorothy Day, selected and arranged by Stanley Vishnewski