A Great Man

A young Benedict XVI

The tides come in, and they go out, but some things tower above.

The modern culture took Vatican II, the great council of the Church in the early 1960s, and ran with it. All the rules, it seemed, were out the window. A desire to mimic the culture invaded, attempts were made to unceremoniously push traditions into the background. Historically, after great councils, it takes quite some time to process the changes, to rein it all in, teach the right lessons, and point the Church in the proper direction.

Pope Benedict XVI was the perfect man for the job. After helping craft a historic catechism, he held fast to great truths, re-opened the door to the great church traditions, reconnected it with its past, and established a foundation for the future. A future that does not involve taking a poll on what positions are popular, but rather a future built on the Way, the Truth and the Life. It is that mission that he thought he could help by passing his office to someone less frail than he felt he was.

The media and self-appointed pundits in the coming weeks, months and years may try to characterize this papacy as scandal-filled, rudderless, and generally against whatever it is they believe that day. This is because they cannot see. This is because they are awash in a culture that swirls in all directions. But in the center of the waters for these last seven years towered the rock that they could not move.

Thanks to Benedict XVI, a great man, on a job well done. Our prayers are, and always will be, with you.