Explorers of Divine Magnificence: The Spirituality of Don Dolindo and St. Charbel
In the book of Numbers, Moses sends twelve men to explore the Promised Land before the Israelites enter it. Ten men return discouraged, exaggerating the difficulties and stirring fear among the people. Only Joshua and Caleb encourage the Israelites, saying, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land” (Numbers 14:7).
In his commentary on this passage, the Italian priest Don Dolindo Ruotolo (1882-1970) explains that the two faithful explorers, Joshua and Caleb, represent the few who still trust in God.
Don Dolindo writes, “The Saints, especially those elevated to the highest stages of contemplation, are the explorers of divine magnificence.” Like Joshua and Caleb, these holy explorers enter God’s kingdom, gather its abundant fruits, and carry them back to encourage others in their faith journeys. While some exaggerate the difficulties of the spiritual life, the saints show by their lives that the path of holiness leads to unimaginable richness.
One such holy explorer is the Lebanese Catholic Maronite monk, St. Charbel Makhlouf (1828-1898). From an early age, Charbel felt called to contemplative life. While a child, he often prayed in a grotto dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, a kind of first hermitage. After joining the Lebanese Maronite Order, he embraced the monastic vows and was ordained a priest. His single-minded pursuit was union with God.
