Editor-in-chief of Orbis Books, Robert Ellsberg cut his teeth as an editor of The Catholic Worker newspaper when he was just 20 years old. There he also traded literary notes with the great Catholic writer, activist and now “Servant of God,” Dorothy Day. On this episode of “The Spiritual Life,” Robert joins host James Martin, S.J., to share what he learned from Dorothy and his time at the Catholic Worker about ordinary holiness.

Timecodes:

0:00 Spiritual improv at the Catholic Worker
1:15 Introducing Robert Ellsberg, Orbis editor-in-chief
3:15 A primer on Servant of God, Dorothy Day
7:00 How Robert Ellsberg fell into the Catholic Worker at only 20 y.o.
13:50 Robert’s spiritual crisis and eventual conversion to Catholicism
15:50 Life at the Catholic Worker and getting to know Dorothy Day
22:40 “Don’t call me a saint” and Dorothy’s own expression of holiness
32:46 Letting go of the need to have the last word
35:33 Encountering God in nature
37:12 Audience Question: What saints can assist my prayer when I feel desolation around the church?

Read Fr. Jim's article on Dorothy Day: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2026/03/30/robert-ellsbergs-life-with-dorothy-day/

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: [email protected]
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