The Three Cities of Refuge: A Spiritual Roadmap
The Cities of Refuge: Don Dolindo's Roadmap to Spiritual Shelter
Have you ever read about the establishment of "cities of refuge" in Deuteronomy 19? It may seem like an obscure ancient custom with little relevance today. But what if there were actually deeper spiritual truths embedded in this passage? 20th century Italian mystic Don Dolindo offers a fresh perspective on the three refuge cities that opens up their allegorical meaning. Rather than dismissing the details as irrelevant, Don Dolindo shows how they prefigure the grace and shelter we find in Christ and His Church. Join me as we explore Don Dolindo's illuminating commentary on this overlooked portion of Scripture. You may be surprised by the timeless treasures these cities of refuge contain, and how their symbolism reveals the refuge we have in Trinitarian God. Don Dolindo uncovers insights that are profoundly relevant for anyone seeking shelter in the storms of life. Let's take a closer look at what his prayerful reading can teach us.
In Deuteronomy 19, Moses speaks of establishing "three cities of refuge" in the land of Israel after driving out the native inhabitants. These cities were to provide asylum for an accidental murderer, protecting them from vengeful family members. Though the literal meaning is clear, Don Dolindo saw this passage as an allegory for spiritual refuge in Christ. Let's explore how this little-known 20th century mystic unpacked the deeper significance of the three cities.Â
To understand Don Dolindo's commentary, we must first establish the biblical background. After conquering Canaan, Moses instructed Israel to "set apart three cities" equidistant from each other (Deut 19:2). These were refuge cities for "the manslayer who kills his neighbor unintentionally" (Deut 19:4). The roads leading to them were to be "prepared," so the fleeing person would have an unobstructed path (Deut 19:3). As long as the death was accidental, the avenger of blood could not kill the slayer until there was a trial. But by reaching a city of refuge first, the slayer was safe (Deut 19:6).
Don Dolindo saw in this passage a prophecy of Christ's redemption. Just as the refuge cities provided asylum for sinners deserving of death, Jesus provides a refuge from sin and eternal separation from God. After describing the establishment of the cities, Don Dolindo makes a typological leap: "And behold, in the new law, after Redemption, after the destruction of sin, our three marvelous cities of refuge, equidistant, that is, of the same divine nature, truly distinct, manifested clearly to us". The three cities foreshadow the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.Â
Through baptism, we cross the Jordan into a new promised land and find asylum in the Triune God: "We are involuntary murderers because we are stained by original sin, to which our personal will is unrelated, and we are delivered from eternal death in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit". Don Dolindo continues, "This refuge we find beyond the Jordan, that is, by passing through the healing waters of Holy Baptism." Just as the roads to the literal cities of refuge were paved and straight, baptism paves the way to safely reach our spiritual place of asylum.Â
But Don Dolindo does not stop there. He goes on to enumerate three more sets of "refuges" foreshadowed in the passage. First are the sacraments of Confession, Eucharist and Last Rites: "We find three cities of refuge even in our personal transgressions: the Sacrament of Confession, in which the soul is freed from Satan, the dreadful avenger who hates us; the Sacrament of the Eucharist, through which the weary soul, worn out from its arduous race, is nourished and strengthened; the Sacrament of the Last Rites, through which the soul is liberated from the remnants of sin". Each sacrament provides a means of grace to strengthen us on our spiritual journey.
The second set of three are Christological: "We find three refuges in Jesus Christ – the way, the truth, and the life – for in Him, we rediscover the path to Heaven, the truth that was lost, and the life that was forfeited". Jesus is the paved road allowing safe passage to the Father. The third triad relates to the interior life: "When the soul is faithful to the Lord and reaches the highest heights of holiness, it finds three even more beautiful refuges in contemplation, self-sacrifice, and a love that surpasses all senses – a pure appreciation of God above all things" . As we grow in devotion, we discover new avenues of resting in God's presence.Â
In summary, Don Dolindo provides a multilayered allegorical reading of the three cities. On one level, they symbolize Trinitarian refuge from sin in Baptism. On another level, they represent sacramental grace. Christologically, they reveal Jesus as the clear path to the Father. And for the advanced soul, they offer the spiritual refuges of contemplation, sacrifice and selfless love. Â
Don Dolindo continues using city of refuge imagery throughout the commentary on Deuteronomy chapter 19. He warns that without contrition, we foolishly "enter as a guilty one, profaning the supernatural refuge." Sin drives us out from God's protection, leaving us prey to "Satan, the dreadful avenger." But hope remains, for refuge is found in "the Church, in Faith, and in the Priesthood" which shelter us amidst "the darkness of our minds." We must continually seek the refuge of "the Eucharist, in prayer, and penance" to be strengthened against attacking storms .
In conclusion, Don Dolindo's penetrating and spiritual exegesis gives new insight into the establishment of Israel's cities of refuge. On the surface, they provided asylum for accidental killers. But their deeper significance as spiritual safe havens foreshadows the refuge we have in Christ and His Church. By reflecting on this little-noticed passage, we gain a richer understanding of God's perpetual invitation to abide in His merciful presence. Though we are all guilty of sin, God has paved an unobstructed road to find shelter in Him through the waters of baptism and the grace of the sacraments. When we humbly seek refuge in His Church, Christ protects us from the "avenger" Satan and lovingly leads us home to our eternal place of rest.
As we conclude our reflection on the cities of refuge, let us make Don Dolindo's prayer our own: "Let us take refuge in the arms of God's mercy, in the Heart of our Redeemer, and in the blessed Heart of Mary, when we recognize our weaknesses. Let us find refuge in the Church, in Faith, and in the Priesthood, amidst the darkness of our minds, the mysteries of our lives, and the needs of our souls. Let us seek refuge in the Eucharist, in prayer, and penance, amidst the storms that afflict us. In the Eucharist, we find life; in prayer, we find assistance; in penance, we find peace." Like the ancient Israelites, we too must flee from the vengeful forces that pursue us - "the world, which pursues us with its temptations to bring us death, from the devil, who deceives us with his temptations to separate us from God, from the flesh, which deludes us with its demands." Yet in God the Father we find life, in God the Son wisdom, and in the Holy Spirit love. As Don Dolindo reminds us, "God's law sets us free from the world's law, the wisdom of the Word sets us free from the illusions and lies of Satan, supernatural love sets us free from the chains of unruly passions and death that they bring." Let us live within the refuge of God's boundaries, witnessing to His truth, so that we may one day reach "eternal life, that is the supreme refuge from which no one can snatch us away, that is the end of all danger, that is the ultimate goal of all our activities."
