The artifact presented here is a note of thanks, written in Mon. G. Battista Montini’s own hand on his business card. It was written on July 22, 1937. At the time this note was written, he had recently been appointed a Referendary Prelate of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, and in late 1937, after his mentor Giuseppe Pizzardo was named a cardinal and was succeeded by Domenico Tardini, Montini was named Substitute for Ordinary Affairs under Cardinal Pacelli, the Secretary of State.
The term, Sac included in his name is the Latin abbreviation for Sacerdote, meaning priest.
The note on this card seems to be a reference to Psalm 30: 5
For his anger lasts but a moment; his favor a lifetime. At dusk weeping comes for the night; but at dawn there is rejoicing.
He precedes this biblical reference by offering his thanks to whomever this is being sent.
We are including this information with this simple note from a future pope & saint, because it is one more example of the, “Living History of the Papacy,” contributing to the myriad examples of the, “infinite courtesy” of the future Paul VI. And it causes one to muse about the circumstances that contributed to his writing it.
G. Battista Montini became Pope Paul VI in 1963 upon the death of Pope John XXIII.
Pope Paul VI was canonized on October 14, 2018.
-
- Photo and Blessing of Pope Paul VI while he was the Archbishop of Milan
-
- Lead Seals and Chains From the 1963 Conclave Electing Paul VI Pope
-
- Pope St. Paul VI: Zucchetto
-
- Pope Paul VI: A Ciborium from His Pontificate
-
- The Last Purificator Used by Paul VI before His Death , Close up of Date
