God's Glory

"Gloria Dei est vivens homo." This is latin for "the Glory of God is the living man" a quote originally stated by Saint Irenaeus.  This is a statement which most people interoperate as "The Glory of God is man FULLY alive" This is because God wanted for us to live the best that we can and that is our true goal to please our Father.

But what does "The Glory of God is man fully alive" really mean? Well this means that each of us have calling, something which God calls us to do. Have you ever had that feeling that whatever you do not satisfy you enough as you would like? Well this is because you are not really being fulfilled. The only thing which can fulfill us is God, and if we don't move toward God calls us to do we are not living as fully alive. Because of Original Sin no man can be fully alive. Original Sin gave us the consequences of clouding our judgment and limiting will; therefore, no man can truly achieve call calls him to do.

Not being able to and not trying are two different things. Just because we fail at something doesn't mean we can't get close to achieving it. We must always strive to do what God calls us to do and eventually we might get very very very close, enough to be called that we are "fully alive". This is not mean that everyone should go become a priest. But we should all do what God calls us to do. Like if you are called to be a priest and become a priest. But if you're being called to be a surgeon or a accountant or lawyer then you should be what God calls you to do. 

We must always strive to do what we can please God. We must please Him and love Him. Simply the glory of God is man doing what God called for us to do and therefore live full lives in God.

Saint Ignatius Of Loyola

St. Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish knight from a local Basque noble family, hermit, priest since 1537, and theologian, who founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and was its first Superior General. Ignatius emerged as a religious leader during the Counter-Reformation. Loyola's devotion to the Catholic Church was characterized by absolute obedience to the Pope.

After being seriously wounded in the Battle of Pamplona in 1521, he underwent a spiritual conversion while in recovery. De Vita Christi by Ludolph of Saxony inspired Loyola to abandon his previous military life and devote himself to labour for God, following the example of spiritual leaders such as Francis of Assisi. In September 1523, Loyola reached the Holy Land to settle there, but was sent back to Europe by the Franciscans.

Ignatius and a few followers bound themselves by vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. In 1539, they formed the Society of Jesus, approved in 1540 by Pope Paul III, as well as his Spiritual Exercises approved in 1548. Loyola also composed the Constitutions of the Society. He died in July 1556, was beatified by Pope Paul V in 1609, canonized by Pope Gregory XV in 1622, and declared patron of all spiritual retreats by Pope Pius XI in 1922. Ignatius' feast day is celebrated on July 31. Ignatius is a foremost patron saint of soldiers, the Society of Jesus, the Basque Country, and the provinces of Guipúzcoa and Biscay.

St. Ignatius lived a very amazing life, from his career as a soldier and as a priest through his conversion and life as a priest. Ignatius never truly stopped being a soldier. He just instead of fighting for the kingdom of the Spanish king he fought for the kingdom of God. He swears allegiance to the King's representatives in the world, the pope. The Jesuits are the only religious group in the world who swore allegiance to the pope. He is an incredible role model for Jesuits and non-Jesuits alike.

Man Fully Alive

Today we'll examine the quote: "The Glory of God is Man Fully Alive" originally stated by St. Irenaeus.

Well certain things come to mind when the question is asked. What is 'Man Fully Alive'? Well it seems redundant and circular reasoning to say that it is the glory of God. That would lead us nowhere. So let's break it down bit by bit.

Man fully alive seems to suggest man being in the absolute state of doing what it was created for. The words 'fully alive' give the feeling of some sort of pinnacle, the highest order, a sort of utopia if you will. Well I would say then that to achieve this would be do fulfill what man was created for. That would certainly bring about a fullness withing one's self since man would be achieving its purpose. Now what exactly is that purpose?

Our very purpose is deeply written within our hearts. Due to natural law, we were born to be united back with God in Heaven. So to achieve being fully alive we would have to get to Heaven, but how exactly? Well, it would be doing what God wants us to do. Everybody is called to follow God's will; it is the universal call to holiness. Anyone can follow this in his/her own daily life. Whatever the vocation may be, all men are to serve one another to aid each other to get to Heaven.

Now let's look at the first part of the quote, "The Glory of God." Obviously this does not state that God is anything less than perfect. By the very definition, God is omnipotent, omniscient, etc. God is perfection itself. However, the glory of God is something that must be seen. Some people may never come to know God. The Glory of God is revealing Him to the world. This "glory" is the outward showing of God's existence upon the world.

Now to combine the two. "The Glory of God is Man Fully Alive." These two things together make a deep, profound statement. When man follows the will of God through his/her own universal call to holiness, the glory of God continues to spread. Also, man fulfilling his role in life manifests this glory upon the world linking people even closer to God.

The Glory of God is the visible manifestation of achieving the pinnacle point of what man was intended.