Discover the profound mystery of the Catholic Priesthood through the eyes of two spiritual giants: Servant of God Don Dolindo Ruotolo and St. John Vianney. Their powerful insights reveal the Priest’s unique role as Christ’s living presence on earth. Join me in exploring these transformative teachings that will deepen your appreciation for the Priesthood instituted by Christ.
In a striking commentary on Deuteronomy 18, the Italian Priest Servant of God Don Dolindo Ruotolo (1882-1970) provides deep insights into the meaning and magnificence of the Catholic Priesthood. Though written decades ago, Don Dolindo’s words ring as true today as ever. He brings out the profound mysteries hidden in the literal sense of Scripture regarding the livelihood and authority of Priests.
With poetic eloquence, Don Dolindo explains that Priests, by virtue of their ordination, actually share in Christ’s own divine Priesthood in a substantial way. Their souls are transformed and empowered to mediate divine grace to the faithful through their ministry.
Don Dolindo writes:
The priestly character is not an external power, a simple mandate, but, as the faith teaches, it is indelibly impressed on the soul, it is so to speak like another soul that is infused into the Priest, it is the divine grace that establishes itself in him, and that is given to him like a fertile land that he can sow and exploit, like a wealth that he can trade and multiply.
The Priest does not merely represent Christ symbolically. Rather, Christ Himself actually lives and operates in and through the Priest. Don Dolindo says, “Jesus Christ, who is always the only and supreme Priest, lives in the Priest in such a real way that He becomes like his soul and heart: He is his portion and inheritance.”
This is reflected in the Priest’s supernatural authority to preach, sanctify, and govern in persona Christi. Don Dolindo writes, “The Priest does not have a human activity, does not have human knowledge, does not have human ministries, everything in Him is transformed, is incandescent, is alive.” Through ordination, Christ shares His divine “portion” with the Priest, who then ministers with Christ’s own authority, not merely human authority.
Don Dolindo uses vivid metaphors to describe the mystery of the Priesthood. For instance, he says that while lay members of the Church are incorporated into Christ’s mystical body, the Priest goes even further by incorporating Christ into himself: “I dare say that he is the reverse of the faithful person: he does not incorporate himself into Christ, but incorporates Christ into himself.” The Priest makes Christ’s living presence and action visible.
With poetic flair, Don Dolindo also compares Priests to the Levites of the Old Testament who were supported by the tithes and offerings of God’s people:
If the Priest has God for his portion and inheritance, if he has no portion in Israel, it means that the powers of his soul are transformed by the divine power, it means that he does not gather his activities from human nature, but from the omnipotent grace of God.
Like the Levites, Priests give themselves fully to divine service because God Himself is their “portion and inheritance.”
Don Dolindo reminds us that even the minor orders of Priestly ministry confer an exalted dignity on their recipients. He says that Jesus is present in them all:
The reader is Jesus Christ who bears the divine word; the doorkeeper is Jesus Christ who opens the doors of grace and those of Heaven; the exorcist is Jesus Christ who drives out demons; the acolyte is Jesus Christ who illuminates the darkness and offers the matter of His sacrifice.
The French Priest St. Jean Vianney (1786-1859) is the patron saint of parish Priests and is also known by the name Curé of Ars. He often echoed similar insights about the grandeur of the Priesthood. He once preached, “O, how great is the Priest! If he realized what he is, he would die…Without the Priest, the passion and death of our Lord would be of no avail. It is the Priest who continues the work of redemption here on earth.”
Don Dolindo and St. Jean Vianney both remind us that the Priest is so closely conformed to Christ that he makes Christ’s saving work tangible through the sacraments. As St. Jean Vianney said, “If we had faith, we would see God hidden in the Priest like a light behind glass, like wine mixed with water.” The Priest is a window into the divinity of Christ, a vessel of God’s grace.
St. Jean Vianney also echoed Don Dolindo’s teaching that Priests have God Himself as their inheritance when he said, “The Priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. When you see a Priest, think of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Like Don Dolindo, St. Jean Vianney saw intimate bonds between Christ and His Priests.
Both the Servant of God Don Dolindo and Saint Vianney remind us that Priests have an exalted vocation—not for their own glory, but to serve God’s people. As St. Jean Vianney once said, “The Priest is not a Priest for himself, he is a Priest for you.” Priests make Christ present precisely so they can distribute divine grace to souls.
Don Dolindo’s insightful commentary on the Old Testament foreshadowing of the Catholic Priesthood gives us renewed appreciation for this sublime calling. His words remind us to pray for Priests, support them in their ministry, and work alongside them to build up the Kingdom of God on earth. Priests are gifts from God to His Church. With Don Dolindo and St. Jean Vianney to guide us, let us strive to cherish these gifts.
Heavenly Father, we lift up our Priests to You in prayer. May they be faithful to their priestly calling, serving as You did, O Lord, with humility and generosity (Hebrews 5:4). Strengthen them by the power of Your Spirit to shepherd Your people in wisdom and grace (Jeremiah 3:15). As they preach, teach, and care for souls, remind them that they act in the name of Jesus, who called the Twelve and gave them authority (Mark 3:14-15). May they worthily offer the gifts and sacrifices of the new covenant as mediators between God and man (Hebrews 5:1). Give them courage to lead as examples of holiness (Hebrews 13:17). And may we, their flock, honor their priestly character by following their guidance with docility, knowing that they act as Your representatives (John 20:21, Matthew 28:18-20). For their tireless labors, give them double honor (1 Timothy 5:17). We ask this through Christ our High Priest, who lives and reigns with You forever. Amen.
Author’s Note: If you would like to read more about Don Dolindo’s spirituality, check out this book: Don Dolindo’s Spiritual Guidance.
Photo by Pete Sheehan on The Catholic Echo.
1Don Dolindo Ruotolo, Commento alla Sacra Scrittura (33 volumi), Apostolato Stampa, Napoli 1939.
2Vianney, J.-B. (1984). Thoughts of the Cure d’Ars. Tan Books.
3O’Brien, B. (1988). The cure of Ars: Patron saint of parish priests. Tan Books.
