N THIS THIRTEENTH anniversary of Summorum Pontificum, I had planned a surprise for our readers. I spent many hours working on this item I was preparing for you—but in the end, things didn’t work out. I’m sorry. I have nothing to give you on this special day. And yet…this can be a reminder. God’s goodness does not depend upon me or my efforts. The Holy Providence of Almighty God will continue, even if I were to die this afternoon.
As Father Valentine Young used to say: “The cemeteries are filled with people who thought they were indispensable.”
If I could add one thing: I truly believe the actions of Pope Benedict XVI will go down in history as bold, unforeseen, and crucial. We owe B16 so much. “Summorum Pontificum” was the final step in a series of steps Cardinal Ratzinger began in the 1980s. Because of the excellent work Cardinal Ratzinger accomplished, we felt the desire to commission a special drawing of him in 2015:
* PDF Download • CARDINAL RATZINGER (circa 1988)
A special drawing commissioned by Corpus Christi Watershed.
Again, I’m sorry I don’t have a gift for you today. But this helps me remember that—at the end of the day—God is in control. We must coöperate with His Grace; we are the creatures and He is the Creator. And yet, as Pope Pius IX reminded us: “He who does God’s work does not do so in vain.”
