Abstract
Mattox focuses on the role of the Catholic in commemorating the anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther. Within the Catholic Church, of course, Luther is a gift that has been at best awkwardly received. Still, Catholics have a role to play in the upcoming anniversary years. Recall that the work of Catholic scholars was crucial in initiating modern, critical Luther studies. Today, there is less work being done on Luther by Catholics than a generation ago. Still, in the publishing frenzy surrounding 2017, many Catholics took up issues in Luther's theology anew.