Do not neglect hospitality
Book Description
In a world where professional social services often treat homelessness as a problem to be solved, Harry Murray reveals a radically different approach rooted in ancient spiritual wisdom. Drawing from his intimate observations within Catholic Worker houses, Murray explores how the simple act of opening one's door can become a profound spiritual practice.
This thoughtful examination traces the sacred tradition of hospitality across cultures and throughout history, showing how welcoming strangers has long been understood as a pathway to encountering the divine. Murray takes readers inside three Catholic Worker communities in New York City, Rochester, and Worcester, where volunteers embrace what he calls "institutionalized anarchy" - a way of living that prioritizes human dignity over bureaucratic efficiency.
Through vivid personal accounts and careful sociological analysis, Murray demonstrates how these communities practice "personalism in action," seeing each homeless guest not as a case to be managed but as a person carrying divine spark. He honestly portrays the daily challenges and practical difficulties of maintaining open doors, while revealing how this radical hospitality transforms both those who give and those who receive.
For readers seeking authentic ways to live their spiritual values, Murray offers a compelling vision of service that goes beyond charity to embrace genuine encounter with the sacred in everyday life.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~8 hours)
📄 Length: 285 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Hospitality
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects
- ✓ Explore Charities
- ✓ Explore Sozialarbeit
- ✓ Explore Church
- ✓ Explore Church work with the homeless -- United States
- ✓ Explore Catholic Church
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects of Hospitality
