Peter Maurin’s Ecological Lay New Monasticism: A Catholic Green Revolution Developing Rural Ecovillages, Urban Houses of Hospitality, & Eco-Universities for a New Civilization

This book describes the vision of a Green Revolution proposed by Peter Maurin, co-founder with Dorothy Day of the Catholic Worker Movement. Peter’s vision may be described as a new lay ecological monasticism for individuals and families. His program included three interrelated projects: 1) creation of rural ecovillages pursuing prayer, study, and agriculture; 2) creation of urban houses of hospitality to welcome the marginalized poor; and 3) ecological universities in which workers would become scholars and scholars would become workers. Peter saw the entire program as part of the search for a post-capitalist and post-Marxist new civilization, yet one rooted in ancient human spiritual, social, and ecological traditions.