🕊️ Wisdom from Don Dolindo on Handling Discord in the Church
Don Dolindo offers profound insights on how to deal with discord and dissatisfaction within religious communities. His words remind me of the story of the ten dissenting tribes, noting how this pattern repeats wherever authority exists - people always believe they know better how to reform things. ⛪
He beautifully compares prayer to artillery fire: "When great cannons are fired at targets a hundred kilometers away, the shot isn't aimed directly at the target but toward the sky. A projectile fired in a straight line buries itself in the ground and misses, but from above it follows a parabola and hits the mark." 🙏
What struck me most was his practical wisdom: Instead of spreading discontent through murmuring and criticism, we should:
- Take our concerns directly to those in authority with respect
- If unheard, turn to prayer rather than complaints
- Look inward to improve our own lives
- Trust in Divine Providence ✝️
He reminds us that murmuring is like "flooding water that overflows and drags everything to ruin, while prayer is water that evaporates to heaven and falls back gently as healing rain." Such a powerful image! 📿
In today's world of instant reactions and social media complaints, these words feel more relevant than ever. Don Dolindo encourages us to be elements of peace, fertility, and order in the Church through faithful prayer rather than criticism.
Sometimes the hardest path is to remain silent and pray, especially when we see things that need changing. But as Don Dolindo wisely notes, unauthorized attempts at reform often create more division and bring us "indescribable and fruitless bitterness." 🕯️
Source: Don Dolindo Ruotolo's Commentary on the Second Book of Chronicles (2 Paralipomena), Chapter 10
Author’s Note: If you would like to read more about Don Dolindo’s spirituality, check out those books: Don Dolindo’s Books.