Do not neglect hospitality

As a participant/observer at several Catholic Worker houses, Harry Murray witnessed firsthand the response of Workers to the needs of the homeless. In this book, he examines the significance of the Catholic Worker movement's practice of hospitality to the homeless and contrasts it with professional rehabilitation as an approach to aiding the poor. Murray traces the notion of hospitality in various societies throughout history, in myth, and especially in the Christian tradition. He recounts the origins of the Catholic Worker, analyzes the place of hospitality within its philosophy, and portrays the practice at three Worker houses: St. Joseph's House in New York City, St. Joseph's House in Rochester, NY, and the Mustard Seed in Worcester, MA. Weaving together personal experiences with sociological analysis, Murray describes the practical difficulties of providing hospitality to anyone who needs it. He characterizes each organization's institutionalized anarchy, the decision-making process, the philosophy of personalism in action, as well as the daily challenge to recognize the divinity within each guest.