CATHOLIC WORKER

Subscriptions Vol. XV. No.- 4 .June, 1948 2!5c Per Year Price l e Worke(s' Gain All the Way .To The CIO Auto Workers and Gen­ New Assault On eral Motors Corp. came to a settle­ ment in the last week of May, ter­ minating the tw9-week-old strike Heaven is Heaven of the 75,000 Chrysler workers. Civil Liberties The most unusual part of the con- tract was the decision to tie wages to the cost of living. Most of you, Or, Articles On -· 1 either in your own case, or that of Senate to Vote On Mundt Bill some member of the family, are The Mundt-Nixon Communist control bill, which recently passed the By aware of the illusory quality of House by an overwhelming majority, is now before the Senate. Reac­ About a month ago, Douglas anni versary issue said that he most raises in pay, because of the tionary senators led by Senator Taft, author of the notorious anti• Hyde, one of the editors of the love d us btSt when we were fight- continual upward spiral of prices. labor Taft-Bartley bill are insisting on an immediate Senate hearing• • London Daily Worker, became a ing for something, so let us begin The aim of the new agreement The bill, which is aimed, it is said, at the Communist party in reality Catholic. In an article in the Cath- this new ·sr;ries of articles, similar is to keep workers' purchasing is the greatest threat in recent years to civil liberty. First of all it olic Herald of England, he wrote: to THE CHURCH AND WORK. power at the 1940 level. Four does away with the secrecy of the ballot by demanding that Commu­ "In 1943, I libeled, in the course We will probably slash out ·now times a year wages will be checked nist party members, and members of "front" organizations are to regis­ of my work on The Daily Worker, and again in the fray of battle, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor con­ ter their membership ·with the Federal government. Justice Holmes a Catholic paper, the Weekly Re- at Fr, Higgins, for instance, who sumer index, and adjusted to it, in a decision years ago set down the principle that if the majority of view, and a number of its con- makes furl of the Distributists, and upward or downward. the American voters preferred a dictatorship of the proletariat that tributors. In preparation for an at the ACTU, the member~ of Beside this adjustment, every was the form of the government which should be legally maintained in anticipated court case, which in which are our very good friends. year employees will be granted an the nation. fact, was never heard, I read (We are just trying to improve additional 3 cents an hour increase Communist organizations, in:. through the paper's files for the their vision. ) And at those who in support of the principle that · N eluding front organizations, are de- ' fs~~~e~:~t ~~~a~:~ . studied each say th~~~!:n~:~ l:ep~;e ';ything ;:s~~~f:g sl~~~:! ~!~:a:dth;r:~:~ nll!fo , . :~~ ~~ ~a°r~~:~~~!i:~t~i~hc~~; tion a~n views of totalitarian governments, "I hacl accused it of provi.ding a c~mplete profit-sharing would nm ~ conformity with Marxist doctrines, platform fl i · Fascists at a moment be a better step still. Most em- . foreign control, or with secrecy of ·when Fascist bombs were raining Mott Street down on Britain. 1 came ir time ployers do not want this, because it Maryfarm, Newburgh. operations. It is not inconceivable would do away •with inordinately Every day the planting goes on. that Catholics generally, or sucb to- realize that not only had I And now the nightmarish sum- high profits, and the high profits Tomato plants, cabbage, celery, as- movements as tlie Jewish Zionist libeled it in law but also in fact. mer is here, which is always that incentive is the carrot before tbe paragus, rhubarb, peppers, carrots, organizations could be classified "For years my cultural interests time of the year when very little horse's nose that runs Big Busi- beets, beans, so much that I can- under this definition. had been in the middle ages. My money comes in and bills continue ness. not think of it all. Today, a not It is obvious from the provisions favorite music was also pre-Pur-. to spiral. It seems impossible to This aim of the workers to share June day, it has been onions. Jane of the bill that freedom of speech cell· in architecture my interest cut down on food since we are profits is in line with the Comdlu- has begged onions from the whole- and thought as we have known it was' in Norman and Gothic; in lit- barely getting enough to eat now, nist objective of more equitable salers and J ohn Filliger and Tom historically in America will be pro­ er{lture my favorites were Chaucer and we have explored every av~ distributien of material prol.ts and and George and Jim baye been out" hibited. and '•o.J.land. We had a faJDlly nue of cu.rtaili.q expenses. Tile sucb ~Ill !aUile ~ ..·~ ~:ailllCB . luaeh..,P1dHD1f &lWP bl.~ 'the ep~t.ee!!I"• advocated Joke which W6 ~ same numlfer Of-Ohtfiltllt ll'K>r ol dir-iSffan i HI. . 1i were soft ones, which tbey were hi flie bill iS of the same J?atfera when holidays were discussed. tlnue to visit us each day In search just and fair, and a beginning, but unable to sell. We have not been as those employed in Nazi Ger- "Let's go on a trip to the thir- of food, lodging and clothes. it is not enough. able to buy onion sets, the time many and Fascist Italy. They ~· teenth century." Despondent . Profit-sharing would have to be for them is past, the onion grow- the same.weapons that are keepmir: "And these were the interests One elderly m.an came mto the accompanied by management shar- ers around Florida New York, the Spamsh i>eople ep.slaved -today. of the people behind the Weekly office last wee.k 10 sca~ch of help. ing, for, let us repeat, the first step tell us. ' The entire civil liberties of the na- Review. I came to. look forward to He has been m the city here for in the Christianization of the world tion arc imperilled by the bill, and the days when it appeared on my three months, and doesn't ?1°w a of work, is for the worker to regain The cow is giving twenty-four only those neople who conform to desk. A natural development was· soul · And he had left his own control of production. quarts of milk a day and we can the reactionary" ideology of our that I became -increasingly inter- hometown on the. west. coast be . - I was just interrupted in this use every bit of it, with eighteen finance capitalism will feel free to ested in the writings of Chesterton cause most of his. friends had .died article by a fellow-woxker sug- sitting down to table, quite aside express their opinions and convic- and Belloc. . . . · or moved. His room rent m a gesting that it wouid be much bet- from retreats. People come to re- tions. · "A good Communist must never Bowery flophouse was up and he ter if the workers took over Gen- treats and stay awhile. People pass Without freedom of expression permit himself to think outside his asked ui; to tide him ove~ until his eral Motors. This is the same thing by on the road, and come in to more of our rP~ ponsibility as bu- Communism. I had done so and sman monthly check arrived· He in other words. It is a good thing, stay awhile. Several · leave and man beings is being denied us, and the consequences were bound to ~aid , ''you see, I became so lonely given fue pres ~ nt set-up, that the several 'll'rive. the opportunity for free inter- be fatal to my Communism. m m ~ own home .town t?at I could workers have been granted this Last "/eek it was Father Francis change of thought for the work- "That, as it were, is the me- see httle or nothi~g to ~Ive fo~, ~d justice, but it would be a fatal Meenan's retreat that brought the ing out of a more just and Chris­ chanics of my introduction to frequently co~sidered smcide. thing for Labor Leaders and Chris- crowds, a retreat for men, and they tian society is being denied us. Catholicism." · However, the kind encouragement tian social thinkers to see it ·apart all said it was the best yet. I went There is no suggestion that such • c. • of a Fr anciscan priest kept me from the whole and the whole is to New York to take care of the organizations as the NAM, and Not long ago at a mass meeting going. And now without that man's pretty rotten. ' office so that all at Mott street other secret pressure groups of the of the workers in a Finnish factory advice I find myself rapidly fall- Once the worker was in control could come to the farm, over the dominant economic· class in ·the when the question was asked ing into another state of desp~." of production, he would be in a Memorial Day week end. No one nation be subjected to like restric­ which they would prefer, Com- What to say to one contemplatmg position to know, as he does not on our block seemed to be going tions .. We ask all of our readers mw1ism or Capitalism, they shout- ~uicide ? And suddenly . we real- now, what production is actually away fo:: the holiday. It was as to register protest now · with their ed. "Neither." ized that there was nothing to do responsible for. And he would be noisy, as crowded as ever. ·On representatives in Congress against • * • but sit and listen. Advise him to in a position to dP something about Sunday morning there was one this new assault 'on the dignity ancl Fr. Parsons in his letter in our (Continued on page 2)

~ol •. XV. No. 4. CATHOLIC rteb WORKER · I -Mott S·treet (Continued from page 1) rent of $30. The husband was out be opened throughout the country. P11blisbed Mon&bly September to J-e, Bi-monthly Jal)'-A..... pray? But that man has been of work, and I went to great efforts I would like to see the Catholic (Member of Catholic Preu Auociation) hounding God. Such advice as get to obtain a job for him as an ele­ War Veterans start a few. I would ORGAN OF THE CATHOLIC WORKEK MOVEMENT out meet people, find a nice Catho­ vator operator. , A few days later like to see the Catholic War Vet­ PETER MAURIN. Founder lic girl friend, or get yourself a I learned that the man did not erans devote themselves towards show up for the position, and con­ Associate Editors: hobby would sound facetious to a the performing of the Corporal and sequently I made a trip over to Spiritual Works of Mercy, as all JACK ENGLISH, !RENE NAUGHTON, ROB~RT LUDLOW, man at his age and having his in­ TOM· SULLIVAN troverted personality. As he pre­ see that couple to discover the Catholics are bound to do. If we Managing Editor and Publisher: OOROT DAV pared to leave we managed to reason. The wife explained that Catholics are going to change the 115 Mott St~ New York City-13 scrape up enough money to pay for they could not live on $65 a month rest of the people in this coun­ Telephone: CAnal 6-H98 his room until his monthly check and that her husband would have try, we will have to start changing arrived. We ask our readers to to have a position paying at least ourselves first and the Catholic Subscription. UnJted States, 25c Yearly. Canada and Foreign, 30c Year)J> join ·US in remembering this man $80 per month. Can you imagine Church is bulging with a program lubscrlption rate of one cent per copy plus postage applies to bundles of one in prayers. such ingratitude?" I couldn't help of action for Catholics who are sin­ •undred or more cop!a each month for one year to be directed to one addrea Writeups replying 'that I could imagine such cerely attempting the imitation of Christ and not Hearst. Reentered as second class matter August 10, 1939, at the Post Otftce During the month of May the ot rfew York. N. Y.• Under the Act of March 8, 1879 Catholic Worker and its founders, Lectures Peter Maurin and Dorothy. Day, Our 'Friday night lectures are were given favorable writeups in terminated for the summer. How­ ~ three magazines, "Today," "Com­ ever we hope that the crowd who monweal" and "Time." Along with generally showed up for the talks the articles "Time" and "Today'' will frequently visit us. Our last carry some excellent pictures of speaker was Helen Iswolsky, who Articles on Distribu~ism Peter and Dorothy, in fact the best spoke on Dostoyevsky. The talk Wontinued from page 1) lating so that in spite of the noise, we have ever seen. was extremely interesting, and but love, and on the one hand, the fumes, the apathy which the l"aintinc caused several people to start - just read St. John of the Cross city brings, I was impelled this Our dining, room has really been reading his works. Next fall we and seek for perfection; or on morniug to begin this series. My brightened up since Ade Bethune hope to !lave the same speaker to the other· hand just make· your son-in-law, David Hennessy, of came to town a couple of weeks give us further sidelights on that Easter duty and be ordinary good Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, ago. Ade came up from her stu­ great :q.ussian writer. Catholics. The Pope and the B\sh· who has a toehold on the land, has dios in Newport, R. I., to do over Loan Shark tips say that secularism is th~ curse also been deluging me wit~ pam­ the faded murals on the walls of A young man stopped in here of our time. We cannot separate phlets. He has one of the best our dining room. Once again we one afternoon and began to com­ soul and body. We cannot sepa­ libraries in the country on the are able to recognize the fine plain about his inability to collect rate the v·eek from Sunday. A subject, and deals with the books studies of the Holy Family at work· money owed to his concern by one man's work, whereby he eats, is and pamphlets which discuss Dis· in their carpenter shop, St. Bene­ of the men who had lived in our important. tributism. He will help with this dict Joseph Labre tramping down house. He just couldn't understand In other words, it is never too series, and send literature to those a road, Blessed Martin DePorres people who refused to pay their late to begin. It is never too late who ask for it. The address is nursing the sick, St. Francis Assisi legitimate debts. We pointed out to turn over a n~w leaf. In spite. given in an ad in this issue. sweeping a floor and St. Benedict, that we didn't consider money or the atom b'omb, the jet plane, He has one of many toeholds St. Marius and St. Placidus gath­ owed to loan sharks as legitimate t he confl.ic1 with , ten just on the lanu. We could list perhaps ering vegetables in the fields. debts, especially the outrageous in­ men may still save the city. fifty among our friends and if we Faiiier Meenan's Retreat terest <)Ille on those loans, the prin­ Maybe ,if we - keep on writing went through our files, we could On the Friday preceding Me­ cipal, yes we could see that. We and talking, there will be other find many more. These toeholds morial Day a dozen of us left Mott related the story of the Catholic conversions like Mr. Hyde's. It have meant, however, that the Street to make a three-day retreat judge out in Detroit who severely was r eading an article that got young, married couples had a lit­ under Father Francis Meenan, reprimanded a Catholic for work­ ·Fr. Damien his helper at Molokai. tle stake to &,tart with. They had, Holy Ghost Father from Norwalk, ing for a concern in that terrible It was reading that converted St. or could torrow a bit · of money Conn.. When we arrived at our re­ business. But our visitor was non­ • Augustine. So we will keep on to make a down payment on a treat house in Newburgh, N. Y., all plusSed by the story and said that · writing. farm. Their families could give was in readiness for the retreat, the motto of his firm was to help And talking, too. They always them a start if it was only a few even the work schedule. Right people. And as he was leaving our said in England that the Distribu­ hundred dollars. (Th.ere was an after the Friday night supper we ofiice he kept repeating "a guy has tists did nothing but talk. But ad in the New York Times yester­ plunged into silence, and Father to make a living and we are living one needs to talk to convey ideas. day of a farm for sale for $1,200, Meenan gave the first conference. in a world -0f competition." St. Paul U.lked .;o much and so three hundred down and $25 a The next three days ·were devoted TOM SULLIVAN long that in the crowded room month. ) Eyen with the bit of to four conferences a day, prayers, ~- A 6... ,.,.... •o.... w one young lad, sitti,p.t; on the win­ money, however, faith, vision, some meditations, spiritual reading, si- _, • ·~ ' n .,J dow sill, fell -out of the window knowledge of farming or a craft, lence and about four hours of man- ON are needed. People need to pre­ ual labor a day. We had· two and was killed, like a woman down incratltude and asked the rent col­ the street from us, last week. Only pare themselves. Parents r.eed to Masses each morning, one by Fath­ PILGRIMAGE. prepare their children. lector, a sin&le man, if he could ahe was not listening to the word er Meenan and another by our (Continued from page 1) On the one hand there are al­ chaplain, Father Faley. Each eve­ survive today on $65 per month. of God, but washing windows on He said that he couldn't, but con­ of those tragedies which attracted a Sunday mornlng. And it was sad ready some toeholds on the land; ning after dinner we had choir a still greater crowd. A woman there are those farmers already practice for ·the Mass next morn­ tinued to remain indignant at the that there was no St. Paul to bring couple he had tried to assist. down the street wh-o had· lost her her to life Her life finished there. there who have the right philoso­ ing. Father Meenan guided the husband a few months ago, waa :But we are still alive, though we phy; there is still time, since we practice, and he was able to cap­ Hospitallty washing her windows on a Sunday . live in a city of ten milW>n and have not as yet a socialist govern­ ture the interest of the twenty-five This morning an Augustinian morning, fell three stories to the , one can scarcely call it life, and ment or nationalization of the land. men making the retreat. Tl;le con- priest from -Holland paid us a visit. ground, and was killed instantly. the papers every day carry news w~ bave some government control, ferences during the retreat were He was- quite interested in this I passed her on my way home from of new weapons of death. but not much yet. Not compared very good and well received by movement, and asked many ques­ Mass. With the crowd and the am­ However, we are still here. We to what there may be soon. all. We can't remember having tions. He then told us of the three bulance out in front, I thought it are> still marrying and having chil­ On the other hand, there are maqe a• better retreat nor having houses of Hospitality that have was someone being brought to the .dren , and having to feed th.em and sucb stories as that in the last contacted· a better retreat master, been started by pastors in Holland . hospital, a routine we had become house them and clothe them. We issue of Commonweal .about the Oft-Scourinp It was good to learn that those used t-o at 115. It was a terrible don't want them to grow up and de Gorgio strike in the long cen­ One of our neighbors was peer- houses were named Benedict Jo­ shock as I passed down the mid· aay, "This city is such hell, that tral valley of California, of 58,000 ing out her window into otir court- seph Labre Houses. Peter Maurin dle of the street to see the figure perhaps war will be preferable: acres owned by une family, of 2,000 yard watching·the stray cats on the will be delighted to learn of these of a woman lying in the gutter, This working in a laundry, ·a br.ass employees, of horrible living con­ prowl for food. Without ·a note of new begining.s. Peter was con­ amongst all kinds of litter, half factory, the kitchen of a restau­ ditio.ns, poor wages, forced idle­ reprimand she commented, "look tinually calling on the Bishops to covere'1 with a piece of brown rant, is hell on earth. At least, ness "times of repose" between even the cats have a shopworn and open houses of hospitality. paper from a nelghbotlni butcher war will teach me new trades, crops, when machines are cared down-at-the-heels look, same . as Visitor . shop. It always seems an intermi­ which the public school system has for but not men, women and ~hil­ everyone else around here." With A young man came qi here the nable length of time for police, failed to do. This coming home at dren. "The Grapes of Wrath" pat­ that she tossed down a few .Pieces other afternoon and introduced ambulance, doctor to arrive. night to a four-room, or a two­ tern is here, is becoming an ac­ of meat to the poor cats and himself as a reporter for a vet­ It was quiet enough around the room tenement 1ia-; and a wife and cepted pattern. Assembly line pro­ slammed the window. We smiled erans' magazine. Hs asked if I office. A few visitors came in, three children with whooping duction in the factory, and mass at her mild di!ogust, since we were a veteran. I replied that I bringing boxes of clothes. Mnge cough (there are usually not more production on the land are part of learned a .long time ago that we was, then lie asked what was my was house.bound, what with the than three children in tbe city) a socia1 order accepted by the shall always remain poverty strick- attitude on the Catholic War Vet­ children having measles, Germ.an ls also hell. And what can be done great mass of our Catholics, priests en in this work. Just the other day eran's Organization. I said that I measles and chicken pox right about it? We are taught t9 suf­ and people. Even when they admit a dear friend donated a 1932 Chev- couldn't see any logical reason for after each other. Women were fer, to embrace the cross. On the it is had, they say, "What can we rolet, and lt was OK except for their use of the name Catholic, sick in the house, and some who other hand, St. Cathenne said, do ?" And the result is palliatives, the dead battery, gear shift out of since their program is almost iden­ were not sick were disorderly. "All the way to heaven is heaven, taking care of the wrecks of the order and a missing fender. And tical with the American Legion and During the last two months, Jo­ because He said I am the Way." social order, rather than changing we were truly glad to get it, hav- the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Like hannah and Tommy have been And He was a carpenter and wan­ it so that there would not be quite ing no.other transportation, and most organizations, they seldom get praying for a station wagon to take dered the roadsides of Palestine so many broken homes, orphaned reminded again that .we must ex- "to the root of major problems. children and their mothers to the and livtC: in the "fields and plucked children, delinquents, industrial pect the off-scourings. And thus far their activities have farm. They had gone up in it to the gra:n to eat on a Sunday as he accident5, so much destitution in Gratitud~ been con.fined to fighting Commu- Newburgh last year, but this year wandered with His disciples. general. I was visiting a priest friend one nists and pinning medals on Hearst the old wagon has fallen apart. So * * • Palliativc;s, when what we need night last week when an acquaint- hirlings for doing the same· thing. they haJ. started to pray. Lo and This morning as I went to Mass i!. a r ·volution, beginning now. ance of his came in. Introductions The Catholic War Veterans have behold, a friend of th~ farm my eyes stung from the fumes of Each one of us can help start it. were made; and we continued the accomplished nothing toward cor­ turned over his 1932 Chevrolet to the cars on Canal street. I crossed It is no use talking about how conversation.. The subject finally recting the conditions that produce me, and after seventy-five dollars' a vacant lot, a parking •lot filled bored Wl. are with the word. Let veeted to discussing the poor and Communists, such as Jim C:rowism, worth of work on it, I was able to with cinders and broken glass us not be escapists but admit that the great unwashed. The late ar- anti-Semitism, lack of equal rights drive Bridget, Anne and Dave back and longed for an ailanthus tree it is upon us. We are going to rival wasn't too pleased with his for all men regardless of race, to New York in it Ni.th no mishaps. to break the prison-gray walls have it imposed upon us, or we contacts with the poor, since he color or religion, poor housing We came over the new Storm King and ground all around. Last night n·e going to makE: our own. found them to be an ungrateful conditions, lack of living wage, and highway, ricked sweet clover on all"">f us from Mott street were at 'If we don't do something about lot. He related a recent incident, conditions in hospitals and other the way, enjoyed the view of the a· meeting at Friendship House to it, the world may well say, '"Why "in my work of collecting rents, I institutions around the country. river if we did not enjoy the sound hear Leslie Green, Distributist, bring children into the world, the came across -an aged couple who There is a crying need for the in­ we made between the echoing and the talk was good and stimu-

/ Fr. McSorley .Needs DEATH The .Ideal Apostolate St. Anthony Statue 1. Its object will be the santifica- 14. Humility · must especially News of the death of Claude McKay came to as.too late for a tion of its members by prayer and be inculcated, because · it is both Any reader who is able to do­ proper obituary. He was our dear friend. He visited us at Easton apostolic work. the instrument and cradle of apos- at one of our midwinter retreats, got sick during it and had to nate a five-foot statue of St. An­ 2. It must be subject to proper tolic action. have Fr. Roy c ontinu~ giving him the retreat as he lay in his bed. thony is invited to write to Father ecclesiastical authority. 15. Each member should be al- He went west for his health, was the guest of Fr. Garcia and · Francis McSorley, O.M.I., 4116 Bal­ 3. It must be based on a sound lotted a definite work obligation AIDmon Hennacy for a long time, went on to San Diego· and then timore avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. devotional foundation, embracing a every week, and be expected to went back to Chicago to die. He used to be a Communist and profound faith in the Holy Trinity report the following week on how he used to work on the Masses, where I also worked years ag-o. Father Mcsorley needs the _;>tatue for a new chapel erected in the -in God the Father and the love he has carried it out. He was a good friend of Max Eastman and I am sure Max did He bears His children, in God the 16. -The spirit of kindliness and everything he could to .dissuade him from entering the Church. by his brother, Father Son, the Redeemer, ;md in God the harmony between members must His conversion came about throui:-h his contact with Friendship James. If you are in a position to Holy Ghost, the Sanctifier-. prevail. House. Wben Time magazine printed the notice of his death, fill this need, your gift will be most the implication was that he had stopped writin&" on becoming a appropriately offered during this 4. It must be truly Christocen- 17. The Holy Eucharist, both as Catholic. Next month we hope to reprint some of his" sonnets, also month, as the 13th of June is the tric, that is, based on the doctrine a Sacrifice. and Sacrament, should a poem by James Rogan. At Chicago an ' our friends went to feast day of St. Anthony of Padua. of the Mystical Body of' Christ . occupy a central position in any his funeral l\fass and Bishop Sheil preached the funeral sermon. 5. It should embrace a devotion apostolic system, because it is the May be rest in peace. to Mary proportionate to the place source of graces required for action she occupies in the scheme of and a powerful instrument of con­ News also of the tragic death of Tom Delaney, who spent some Appeals Redemption as the channel of all version. time with us on the farm at Newburgh, came to us last wee~. We Geschwister Czerlitzka, graces. beg prayers for his soul. 18. Study should always be re­ Hofstederstr. 80, 6. It must insist on regular garded as a means to apostolic ac­ Bochum, Westfalen, prayer as an essential part of the tion, and not as the end in itself. Ge·rmany, Brit. Zone meetings and of the daily lives of 19. The ideal of · the movement the members. should be to establish personal Herrn Eduard Scherbeck; 7. It must give· the priest his contact with as many people as The .State, War Wielandsstr. 104, rightful place as t.eacher, counsellor possible, good and bad, with the Bochum, Westfalen, and guide of the members, and purpose of benefitting all. Germany, Brit Zone while it remains a lay movement, 20. All work should be allocated its laicism must not become ag­ and controlled by the movement. And the Popes Frl. Klara Mohr, gressive. 21. Politics and class distinctions W.interbach bei, 8. It must carry on an apostolate should be non-existent within the R as capitalism contributed to peace? St. Wendel, Saar, based on personal contact in a movement. Germany, French Zone manner that is at once enterprising, 22. Vagueness of every kind "The whole economic regime bas become hard, cruel and relentless should be avoided especially in the in a ghastly measure . . . this concentration of power bas, in its effortful and self-sacrificing. turn, allocation a n d performance of 9. It must be open to all practis­ led to a threefold struggle. First there is the struggle for economic Rev. J. F erretti, Catholic Mis­ work. supremacy itself; then the fierce battle to acquire control of the State, s ion , KRISHNAGAR, W est Ben­ ing Catholics wbo are sincere and 23. The work done each week 50 that its resources and authority may be abused in economic struggles, gal- (corr ect ad

r•1• Eigha THE CATHOLIC WORKER June, 1948 From The Mail B ag + of things on the failures of Chris­ him, M. Ostins said: "This is a plative one, we are al ways in tianity-on those of Christian little Vis1tandine who wants to go touch with the people around Marshall Plan A Benedictine Writes rulers and other responsible Chris­ to America but has not got a penny and thef love us very much. St. Procopius Abbey, tian bodies! How long shall we to her name. Couldn't you buy her We are now organizing· t he Washington, D. C. Lisle, Illinois. ourselves identify ·our Christian antiques?" With a surprised glance Legion of Mary, which will help Dear Editors: Dear Friends: cause, or rather Christ's Church at me Dr. Lcscene exclaimed: "A us greatly to esta blish a true General Marshal.l's proposals of · Many thanks for1 THE CATHO­ and interests, with this ·world, with Visitandine in the streets of Paris! Christian friendship in t he whore November 10 r ecognize and accept LIC WORKER. Your paper is a its material interests, its rulers and That is something unusual, since region, to bring everywhere the the division of Europe into east true Chr isti3J.1 publication. No~ice potentates? No one can tell, but the Visitation is a cloistered order." joy an d the consolation of God, and west, and aim to back West the rest of "Christian" publica­ one thing is certain wbich is this: "True," replied M. Ostins, "but she with t he material supplies which Europe against East Europe. In tions! During the war they propa­ As long as we do this, we are driv­ travels 1mder the obedience' of her are needed. .. Marshall's words: "We wish to see gat~d one form of "Christianity" ing the masses of the people away Superim-, her Bishop, and the Excuse my poor English . . . If this community restored as one of and now in the aftermath of the from Christ and His Church and Papal Nuncio." you want, write this again in the pillars of world security; in a terrible 5laughter they are propa­ bringing ever greater ruin on "Oh," said Dr. Lescene, "that is good English and print in your position to renew its contribution gating another kind of C~ristianity. Christianity. We stand in need of quite different!" Then with a paper. - to the advancement of mankind In the previous instance 1t was the complete Christian regeneration in broad smile he turned to me and We appeal for more American and in the development of a world fear of Hitler that dominated and Christ, with Christ and for Christ. said: "Dbn't worry abour your vocation, in or der to make other order based on law and respect for subdued their spir~t ; and now it ~s Unless wE: do this, no power will passage money. You will get it foundations in the United States, the iridividual." the dread of Stalin that predorru­ save us from the wrath of the under one condition; that is, that centers of · prayer and doctri11.e nates in them. Hence it is not people! you keep your baggage." By "bag­ in the middle of the Negr0es. Precisely what has the contribu- Christ that lives and moves in I believe your CATHOLIC gage" of c ourse he meant the sil­ Yours very t r uly and grateful, tion of West Europe been? them and shapes their policy and WORKER stands for all these ver candt labras. ·Father CRENIER, O.S.B. !- General Marshall state that speaks through their pages . . . Christian ideals, fights for them by The next morning his son St-PierrE: the sixteen European Marshall Their policy and their spirit is that prayer and fasting, and lives ac­ brought me a check for 50,000 Martiniq ue Plan countries plus West Germany, of the "Iron Curtain." "The Iron cord.fugly. even as Christ Himself francs which was the equivalent of French West Indies. "before the war accounted for Curtain; ' . soon to be released all lived. May the Holy Spirit abide $500, the entire amount I needed .. nearly one-half of the .world's trade. over the United States. BE SURE with you and comfort and Quite reas onably I felt that my They owned nearly t wo-thirds of TO SEE IT-AND GET OTHERS strengthen you in the midst of ad- confidence in God was answered Father Born the world's shipping. Their in­ TO SEE IT! ... It deals in a versities. · in a marvelous way. dustrial production was slightly Dear Friends: graphic rr.anner with. the Canadi~n Very sincerely yours in Christ, But Jet me tell you why my greater than that of the United spy ring throug}\ which the Soviet superiors in desired me to With regret I have to tell you State." In a word, the one-eighth Fr. Chrysostom Tarasevitch, that by order o! the Military government attempted to steal O.S.B. undertake the journey to the of the human race living in West ATOMIC ENERGY SECRETS." United States. Their whole pur­ Government of Dec. 18th Ger­ Europe had about four times its One can only weep at this kind pose was the welfare of 'our desti­ mans are fQ.rbidden to receive pro rata share of the world's busi­ of Christianity and say with the tute monastery and the poor sis­ letters or parcels over the Amer­ ness. ican Military mail. Disobedience Crucified Lord: "Father, forgive From France ters who live there. In brief, this 2-The free or sovereign nations will be punished militarily. Thus them, for they know not what they Ne\ York City. monastery, established in Grasse of West Europe, unable to agree are doing." When we identify our Dear Editors: in 1660, is falling to pieces. More- you are not allowed to use the APO-address f or me furthetly, among themselves as to how Christian cause with Hollywood, Contemplatives fe~l a peculiar over, many of the community are but you must send all letters and their disproportionate share of the politicians, adventurers, money­ diffidence in presenting their per- suffering from want and infirmity. world's business was to be divided, investors, oil - magnates, war­ sonal problems. Yet I am sure that Of our twenty-nine nuns, four sis­ parcels to my personel address in future. My address is as follows: have fought two ruinous wars in mongers, big corporation-lords, your readers will not take it amiss · ters have tuberculosis .of the lungs one generation "to prevent the fortune-seekers, traitors, all sorts if the spiritual daughters of St. and one has tuberculosis of the P. LUDGER BORN, S.J. (16) Frankfurt/Main-Sud 10, "St. forcible domination of their com­ of propagandists, then it is all over Francis de Sales use your coluinns bones; one is blind and onfi has munity by a single great power." to inform them of the really been suffering from a spinal dis­ Gt:orgen," U. S. A. Zone, Ger­ with us, for there ls no truth in us, 3-Marshall did not say 'this but even as there is no truth in them! desperate plight of our Visitation order for thirty-eight years and many. I hope you will help me fur­ we note in passing thal British It is not the Communists who are Monastery in Grasse, France. needs to be cared for like a baby. All during the war and there- The health of many other sisters therly in spite of this difficulty. policy, backed by the U. S. A .. has destroying Christianity and driving aimed consistently, not only to Christ from the masses of the peo­ after we were trying to imitate the is seriously affected from years of I will try to find another way. I don't know if I shall succeed; if prevent one power from dominat­ ple! No; it is we ourselves who heroic ~ ilence of our renowned malnutrition. ing the continent, but to keep have .brought ruin on it. We have sister, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. The yearly income of the mon­ it will be possible, I will let you grown accustomed to identify whose favorite maxim was astery ;s $150, which is scantily know it immediately. Europe divided, competitive and Christ's Church with material in­ "souffrir ·et se tai.re" (suffer and be augmentt:d by the mites we derive With kind regards, weak in order to strengthen tl1e silent). But now if I, a French- from our work. In the meantime Yours sincerely, and relative British (and American) terests. big possessions and big respectfully. buildings . . . and have forgotten woman, have come to America the nuns go hungry. But they keep position. P . LUDGER BORN, S.J. that He Himself had ·nowhere to from France and am not silent but up their mission of praying for tbe 4-This western state system of lay His head. Was His Mission begging, it is because there is no world and for thch· benefactors, competing sovereign nations, each • less effective? Was the mission of other wa) out. ' askii:ig ~ heir patrons and founders representing the interests of profit­ the first Christian Communities I think it might interest .your St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane Father Mahn hungry adventurers, has _brough-t which didn't set such value on readers to know how I managed Francis de Chantal to intercede New York City untold misery upon mankind and things material as we do also less to get to the United States .of with the Sacred Heart of Jesus for Dear Friends: brought itself to the verge of effective? The trouble with us is America. blessing and mercy for all. Tired, Just a note concerning send­ collapse by following the principle that matter dominates over the Wh en I left qur monastery in. hungry, hidden and alone, their ing money to Father Mahn. I of its individualistic, anti-social be­ spirit: we set greater value on ma­ Grasse, 1 h11d no money at all. I intercession for their Catholic quote his instructions: ing: "Every one for himself." terial interests than spiritual ones. had only a pair of antique silver Brethren and for the salvation of "Regarding the remittance of 5-lnstead of taking the next We side with the rich and power­ candelabras, which were originally souls is the central element in the alms, you may buy a bank draft obvious step and, in the interest of ful of this world, and therefore intended to adorn our chapel. But Providential design for them. or a check (a draft is better) mankind, proposing a generous against the poor and downtrodden besides ~hese I had unshaken con- We know that Americans are from the National City Bank of appropriation to expedite th e masses, rendering the Son of Man fidence in Providence. As soon as always asked for everything by New York; The Chase Bank of burial of this corpse of an out­ and His Church hateful to them, I got to Paris I went to an antique everybody who is in want; yet all New York or from The Chartered moded social order, General Mar­ for they mistake Him and His dealer's shop at' 11 Quai Voltaire. obtain help of one kind or another. Bank of India, Australia & shall wants to spend six or seven Church for ourselves, calling re­ The proprietor, · M. Ostins, is a That is why we also are asking for in New York. Because the first billion in the next year or so to ligion "the· opiate of the people." well-known Catholic businessman. help from charitable Catholics in two banks are the only American restore it to life. Again, we place greater con­ I asked him to buy my silver, ex- America. There would be some­ banks that have branch-office &-If plainin~ that I needed the money thing wrong with our humility did the social institutions of fidence in atomic bombs, in wars, in Hong Kong, while the last West Europe, twice in one genera­ in fire and sword, in killing our to get a ticket for ~ew York. He we not turn for help where we named bank is one of the most listened to my story with sympathy, know there is some chance for our tion, have bled the continent white adversaries than in converting powerful British banks in the and upset the life of the planet, them by fasting and prayer and 'althoug:1 he was not interested in appeal to be heard. Far East where any kinds of the imitation of Christ's own life. my candelabras. While I was talk- Very sincere ly yours, why iet the mad-men who support drafts or checks are cashed." the system, and to a decreasing And yet we. expect to conquer the ing to him and praying to the Sister Marie-Christin1?, The difficulty is that t h e s e extent gain by and from it, con­ world for Christ and to establish Sacred Heart of our Lord, Dr. of the Visitation of Mary. young p e o p l e in ban.ks don't His kingdom on earth! Thus far Lescene, a close friend of M. P.S. : Contributions and other tinue to make public policy in the know much about China. The future? Have the blood-baths of . we failed in our mission most Ostins, quite unexpectedly walked communications may be sent to: young lady was going to make l 914-18 ,and 1936-45 taught no miserably! The Communists in in. After. warmly greeting the SR. MARIE-CHRISTINE, the draft out to ~hanghai-im­ lessons'? Will it take another orgy Russia established their own order newcomer and introducing me to c/ o Mr. Robert L. Hoguet, agine what a distance away. I 15 William St., s p o k e up and said -no, Hong f destruction and murder to <;on­ New York 5, N. Y. Kong which was wrong not in vince the human family that· it is distance ·but in percentage for wicked 'folly to continue the sup­ Peter Maurin's Ten manipulation charges. I have to port of men and measures which Martinique take my letter with me next have demonstrated their impotence Commandments of Social Justice time-the banks don't know. He to bring order and ,peace to the Pa.'\'.. St-Pierre, earth? January 15th, 1948. wants it made payable to him, 1. Thou shalt love God-the Creator of Heaven and not the bank. He adds t hat a Sincerely Earth. The Catholic Worker Scott Nearing New York lined envelope for small amounts . 2. Thou. shalt love man - the masterpiece of God's Dear Friends: by air reaches him. Make check creation. Enclose my subscription. or draft payable to Father Lalt­ 3. Thou ·shalt honor the Pope God's spokesman to I am ver y grateful for .your rence Mahn, 65 Rua Do Campo, Appeals good propaganda. Many readers Macao, South China. Antonia Baum-Appelhofen Via . man. Regina Brady 4. Thou shalt live on the sweat of thy brow. of the Catholic Worker have Manzonl 13, Gorizia, Venezia helped us. Giulia, It aly. 5. Thou shalt distribute thy superfluous wealth among Tell them that our little foun­ :he poor. dation is going well, though Booklist Sister Klara, Misszioshaz, Tis­ zaszalk.a, Bereg Megye, Hungary. 6. Thou shalt consider the poor as the Ambassadors slowly and painfully. The Un.finished. Universe; Greg­ ,f God. Our monastic life is getting ory, T. S. (Faber & Faber. Eberhard Rehsenberg, 21 a more and more normal and the 7. Thou shalt offer' thy services as a gift. London, 1935) Gelsenkirchen i. Westfalen, Aug­ Christian friendship is improving Discourse on U$ury Wilson, ustastrasse 50. Germany-Brit­ 8. Thou shalt consider property as a trust. in the monastery and all around. Thomas (Harcourt Brace. NYC, ish Zone. 9. Thou shalt consider voluntary poverty as a worthy We a:re now ten in number. 1925) Rev. Father Joseph Hamm, ideal. Two of us are American: one Our Lady of Wisdom; Zundel, White and one Negro. We are Maurice (Sheed & Ward. NYC, Schauren be i Idar-Oberstein, 10. Thou shalt detach thyself from the things of this waiting for more three American 1940) Post Kempfeld a.d. Nahe, French world. Negroes, for priesthood. Work &r. Leisure; Gill, Er i c Zone, Germany (This priest Although our life is a contem- (Faber & Faber. London, 1935) needs candles and incense).