At the evening meal in the refectory, the monks are reading this unique biography of the servant of God, Don Dolindo Ruotolo (1882-1970), which draws the reader into the hidden holiness of a priest who lived entirely for God’s will.
A friend of Padre Pio, miracle worker, and endowed with the gift of prophecy, Don Dolindo wrote the famous Surrender prayer, often prayed as a novena.
Hardcover, 299 pages, published in Italian in 2020 and translated into English in 2026.
Jesus, I Surrender Myself to You is both a moving spiritual biography and a profound witness to the transforming power of surrender to God’s will. Drawing from the living memory of Don Dolindo Ruotolo through the testimony of his devoted niece Grazia, alongside the careful research of Luciano Regolo, this work reveals the hidden sanctity of a priest whose life became a continual offering to Christ.
From a childhood marked by poverty, suffering, and misunderstanding to years of ecclesial persecution endured in silence, Don Dolindo’s life was forged through obedience, humility, and radical trust in Divine Providence. Though burdened with immense trials, he developed an astonishing intimacy with Christ, becoming a spiritual father whose simple prayer of surrender continues to bring peace and consolation to countless souls around the world.
“Reading will always accompany the meals of the brethren. The reader should not be the one who just happens to pick up the book, but someone who will read for a whole week, beginning on Sunday. Let there be complete silence. No whispering, no speaking–only the reader’s voice should be heard there.” – The Rule of St. Benedict, chapter 38
