Women in History: How Dorothy Day Changed My Life

For Holy Women's History Month, Maria V. Gallagher shares how she has found a soul sister in Servant of God Dorothy Day.

When I tell people the name of one of my favorite holy women, I am often met with a blank stare. The lack of recognition surprises me, given the fact that she lived in the 20th century and was no stranger to media attention.

That woman is the incomparable Dorothy Day.

A Kindred Spirit

In studying the life of Servant of God Dorothy Day, I have discovered a kindred spirit. From an early age, Dorothy found her calling in communications. She was a gifted writer and reporter and, as someone who worked in journalism, I find her dedication to informing the public admirable. She loved words as much as I do — though I dare say she could arrange them in a much better fashion!

Dorothy came to the Lord after traveling the path of hard knocks. She became pregnant as a result of a dalliance with a fellow journalist. The pregnancy ended in abortion: the great tragedy of her life. When she became pregnant later in life, she vowed to keep the baby and, over the objections of the father of the child, had the baby baptized. That Baptism rocked her world, and she became a devoted Catholic.

While I never suffered the tragedy of abortion in my own life, I have counseled many women who have. In my work in the pro-life movement, I have drawn strength and encouragement from Dorothy Day’s example of embracing life following the trauma of abortion. She recognized the inexhaustible mercy of God and she drew from it.

A Heart for the Poor

When I was starting out as a radio reporter, I liked to say that I wanted to “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” What I meant by this was that I desired to help the poor and to raise consciousness about their plight.

In her many works of mercy, Dorothy reached out to the downtrodden. She saw in them the face of Christ. She also wrote movingly of their struggles, recognizing their hardships and bringing those difficulties to the attention of the middle-class masses. I have tried to emulate her in my own writing about the poor and forgotten.

A Dedication to Female Empowerment

Dorothy championed the right of women to vote at a time when such a stand was considered scandalous. She eventually saw in the Church a lifeline for women. Devoted to the Blessed Mother, Dorothy recognized in Mary a model for women from all walks of life.

Likewise, I believe strongly in female empowerment. I see in the Blessed Virgin Mary the ultimate example of a woman living out her true calling. I argue that Mary embodied what Pope St. John Paul II would later describe as “the feminine genius.” I feel that Dorothy Day did, too.

I owe a debt of gratitude to Dorothy Day for helping me to understand how to use words to inspire and encourage. She has helped to make me a better writer … a better mother … and a better human being. I am so grateful to her for her perseverance in piety.

My dream would be to be in Rome for Dorothy Day’s canonization. Even if I never get to the Eternal City, I believe that Dorothy eventually will be declared a saint. She already is a soul sister to me!

Servant of God Dorothy Day, pray for us.

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Copyright 2026 Maria V. Gallagher
Images: (banner) Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix / Alamy Stock Photo; New York World-Telegram & Sun Collection, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons