Lives of the Saints

He studied the lives of the saints and recommended their biographies to Dorothy as examples of particular qualities of spirit on which a true humanism could be built.  "Peter was always getting back to Saint Francis of Assisi, who was most truly the 'gentle personalist.'  In his poverty, rich; in renouncing all, possessing all; generous, giving out of the fullness of his heart, sowing generously and reaping generously, humble and asking when in need, possessing freedom and all joy."--William D. Miller, Dorothy Day: A Biography, pg. 235.