Robert EllsbergRecensioni

This comprehensive anthology highlights the work and vision of Dorothy Day (1897–1980), co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement, and one of the most challenging and inspiring figures of recent history. Through her lifelong option for the poor, her devotion to active nonviolence, and her combination of the works of mercy with the struggle for justice, Day fashioned a new face for the gospel in our time. By the time of her death in 1980 she was widely regarded as the radical conscience of the American Catholic church. In 2000 the Vatican recognized her cause for canonization and she was officially named "Servant of God." - from the publisher

selected writings

practical lessons on life in Spirit

Gandhi was unwilling to accept Christian dogma, but in Jesus he recognized and revered one of history's great prophets of nonviolence. His criticism of contemporary Christianity was the failure of most Christians to embody the radical and revolutionary faith and action of Christ.

Humble & inspiring -- yet revolutionary -- simple, pithy gems..

Outstanding introduction to the writings of Thich Nhat Hanh, with and excellent introduction and commentary by Sister Annabel Laity.

Provides a biographical portrait of 365 saints and religious people, from the Virgin Mary to Martin Buber.

Robert Ellsberg’s All Saints is a collection of daily reflections on saints, prophets, and witnesses for our time. This great resource brings together spiritual figures of many faiths. These include mystics, martyrs, social activists, artists, writers, and composers. Some of these individuals have been canonized, many have not been, and others would not. But the book tells a story of 365 holy ones in 365 days of devotion.
This devotional is a rich collection that is well suited for daily prayer and meditation. It makes the “biblical cloud of witnesses” come alive. In this diverse text Ellsberg’s has shone the light on individuals with unique and amazing spiritual paths. This book is therefore a rare treasure that broadens the Catholic notion about sanctity. With this work Ellsberg has undoubtedly proven himself to be a major spiritual writer.

"Blessed Among Women" - apparently a popular title. I'm reading about one woman per day. The quality is uneven. It's hard for me to believe the same person wrote all these vignettes! Some of them are deep and wide; others read like fables. Their collective power sweeps one along into a new sense of women present.I especially appreciated his understanding of what it means to be "virgin" as a designation in the Catholic Church. My own understanding was that being virgin meant risking barrenness, being empty. Mr.Ellsberg reads it as being a woman uniquely free.(pg.203)

The final pages are stunningly moving.

I need to read the stories of people who have a vision. This selection of short one-a-day heroes is a short on women, but I hear he has a new book out which focuses on women. I mean to buy it.

I'm still reading this book. Because it's an anthology of her writing, it feels best to read in short bits every day. I remember Nick reading it every morning for about a year; I'm following his example. Her clear, sweet moral vision is razor sharp without being harsh.

a little too religious for me but Verrrrry interesting.½

These selections from Dorothy Day's writings are simply wonderful, inspiring pieces that I turn to again and again to deepen my understanding of nonviolence, of love and of justice. A must-read book for everyone!

His poetry is beautiful in its simplicity (though I definitely have favorites) and his books are stunning, though not fiction.

All Saints is a collection of short bios, ranging from a few paragraphs to 2 pages of "saints"--both traditional and modern-- whose lives are models of courage in living. There is one for every day of the year, making it an easy book for daily use.

Ellsberg's choices cover a huge range, from saints acknowledged by Christian churches to others outside of that communion whose lives are thought-provoking and challenging; a brief list demonstrates the eclectic nature.

January 1: Mary, Mother of Jesus (1st century)

January 7: Felix and Mary Barreda, lay apostles and martyrs (died 1983 at the hands of the contras in Nicaragua)

February 14: St. Valentine, Martyr (d. 269) of whom very little is known

March 1: George Herbert, Anglican Vicar and Poet (1593-1633)

March 26: Harriet Tubman, Abolitionist (1820-1913)

June 12: Anne Frank, Witness of the Holocaust (1929-1945)

November 9: Kristallnacht Martyrs (1938)

December 22: Chico Mendes, Brasilian Rubber Worker and Martyr (d. 1988)

as well as more traditional saints such as Benedict, Augustine, Brigid, Prisca, Teresa of Avila, and Therese of Lisieux.

These bios are not the usual pious hagiographies of people who are somehow superhuman, but down-to-earth accounts of the lives, such as we are able to glean from records in the case of the earliest saints, of real people faced with the same challenges as all of us have today. Far from being otherworldly, these saints are shown to be people who not only faced but lived up to the challenge of leading an ethical life in the midst of every circumstance guaranteed to make it difficult if not nearly impossible to do so. As such, they are worthy role models for all of us in today's life, no matter what religious or ethical persuasions we hold.

Saints 24/7? They're actually much more interesting human beings than sociopaths. This modern-day Book of Hours brings them back to the fore.

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