Easy Essays

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I first met Peter in December 1932, when George Shuster encouraged him to reach out to me because our ideas aligned closely, particularly our critiques of the social order and our sense of personal responsibility. We felt that the world was not meant to be as troubled as it was, believing that "in the Cross was joy of Spirit." Acknowledging original sin, we also held that, as Julian of Norwich stated, "the worst had already happened" with the Fall, and Christ had repaired that "happy fault." This acceptance of Christianity's paradox shaped our views. Peter's teachings were remarkably simple, evident in what we called his Easy Essays, yet many overlooked their significance. It was his sanctity that infused these writings with dynamism. While he synopsized countless books for his students, these essays were his only original contributions. Even during his prime, we frequently used them in our writings and speeches, as he believed in the power of repetition to drive home his points—much like water slowly shaping stone. -- Dorothy Day