Dorothy Day and diamonds for the poor

Dorothy Day again.

A well dressed and well off woman went to one of the Worker houses and gave Dorothy a diamond ring. She thanked the visitor, slipped the ring in her pocket, and later that day gave it to an old woman who lived alone.

Somebody protested the ring could be sold and pay the woman's rent for a year. To which the reply was let her sell it and pay the rent, or use the money for a holiday in the Bahamas, or just enjoy wearing it. Whatever choice the old woman made, it would be her choice and she would have her dignity.

Anyway, Dorothy asked, " Do you suppose that God created diamonds only for the rich?"

Those are the stories that enflesh the sayings of Jesus, have that recklessness of the Beatitudes, and echo another woman's act of extravagance.

Comments

[Gavin Hunter]

Thanks Jim- This is priceless. Would you recommend Jim Forest biography on Dorothy Day? - Have a great Christmas!

[Jim Forest]

As the author of Love is the Measure, I wouldn't urge you not to read it. It was written for people relatively new to Dorothy. If you want a much more detailed biography, the one to get is William Miller's "Dorothy Day." It's massive. Though out of print, you should be able to find a used copy.

[Jim Gordon]

Thanks Jim. I'll get round to the big biography eventually - first stop will be The Duty of Delight. I think letters and diaries are significant lenses through which to see people and something of how they see themselves. But thanks for your book which, although an introduction is a good one!

[Jim Forest]

"The Duty of Delight" is a marvelous book. The book project I'm in the midst of now is revising and expanding "Love is the Measure." Among the sources not available to me when the book was written nearly 25 years ago are Dorothy's diaries and letters.