The Glory of God is man fully alive

This saying has always kind of perplexed me. Mainly because it forces me to wonder what is man fully alive? Well after this year in theology I think I may have an answer. Man fully alive is not measured by how much money you make or how many things you have. It is measured by how you lived your life doing what you do. Such as if you are called to be a teacher then teach to the best of your ability. Or if you decide to pursue a business career then do it to the best of your ability. Also why you are going about your life path just try to do as God commanded. Sin as little as possible. Be a good person. Help others. Do everything you do to praise God. But most of all just live a good life. God created us. And any creator wants to see his creations turn out well. So the best way to glorify God is to live to your full potential. Because if we don't then we didn't fully glorify God. Everything we do we should do it for the glory of God. So even if it's just a mindless desk job do it to the best of your ability and God will be pleased. There's a reason why sloth is one of the seven deadly sins. Lack of trying does no one any good and doesn't bring glory to our creator. Work hard and just do your best. God doesn't expect you to always succeed but he expects you to always try. That way we can be man fully alive.

Prayer

There are many types of prayer in the Church. Prayer plays a large role in the Church because it is our way to communicate with God. Some of the forms of prayer are meditative, group prayer (such as mass), prayer of Thanksgiving, prayer of intercession, and prayer of petition. We as humans can only communicate with God through prayer and there for use different forms of prayer to talk to him.

The Glory of God is Man Fully Alive

The quote "The Glory of God is man fully alive." was said by St. Irenaeus. St. Irenaeus was a second century  saint. He was a Bishop in the Church of Lyons. Now back to the quote. The idea that the Glory of God is man fully alive has been debated.

The thought that man can decide the Glory of God seems to be overstepping our boundaries. It makes it seem like we are deciding how glorious God is even though His glory cannot be decided by us. Man cannot come to know God but with this quote it makes it look like we are capable of coming to know him.

The Call to Priesthood

Priesthood doesn't seem like the kind of thing every guy wanted. No sex, no money, and total obedience. It doesn't sound like fun but in recent years the amount of seminarians is going up. More men are joining the seminary in recent years. Priests have a large in the Catholic Church. They are to lead their Parish. They must serve all members of their Parish and are to be their Father.
Here is a video about the call to Priesthood.

Antinomianism

Antinomianism is the belief that there are no laws God expects Christians to obey. This belief is against the Church because the Church believes that the one can achieve Heaven through God's Grace and through their works. A Christian must represent God in all that they do. This means that they must have laws to follow in order to be able to represent him properly.

Prayer

Prayer is what you make it. Private and intimate or in a group. Prayer can take all shapes. Song, thoughts words anything you want. As long as you focus on the thing that matters. God. Tell him your wants and needs. Tell him your fears. Ask for strength. It doesn't matter what he'll be there.

God is there

Sometimes you feel just plain sad or alone. We've all felt it. And the toughest thing to remember is that God is always there. Most people look for some big miracle to see God's presence but sometimes it's as slight as a brief feeling of happiness. Or a painting you've never noticed in the corner of the room that you realize you love. God is present always but look for him in the small things.

A reflection on John Martyr

John Martyr was an early Church members in A.D. 150 who wrote a letter to the Roman emperor to try to convince him that the Christians are not crazy people but a harmless and loving religion. Probably what amazed me the most about this was how even at the beginning they believed in the transmutation of the bread and wine to flesh and blood. Another interesting thing was that the early church had reading, had Eucharistic prayers, they even had a collection! So the mass has not changed all that much.

Treating People Like People

Today I watched a video of a homeless man named Ronald Davis. He talked about people calling him a bum and not having respect for him. This made me start to think. How should we treat people? As a Catholics we must treat all people equally.

Treating people equally means all people from the homeless people on the corner to the prominent business man. He spoke of the people just ignoring him and telling him  to get a job. He said the problem is that people are judging him and not treating him like a person.
Here is the Video

All Are Welcome

The Church teaches that all people are welcome but also gives specific rules that its members are required to live by. The Church accepts all people just does not necessarily accept their actions. The Church is open for all including those who are in a state of sin. The Church does not accept their actions.

The Church accepts all people but has its ground rules that must be followed. Just being a member of the Church does not guarantee salvation. To receive salvation one must work toward it through their actions. People must strive toward holiness it is not just given.

Helpful link here.

Stigmata

Stigmata is when a person receives the wounds of Christ. It does not happen very often. St. Pio was one of the most recent to receive stigmata. Stigmata is one of the greatest things that can happen to anybody because it allows you to take part of the suffering of Christ. Almost everybody who has had stigmata was declared a saint.

Divorce

"Every one who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery" (Luke 16:18; cf. Mark 10:11–12). Jesus himself forbade divorce. This is why the Church teaches against divorce. Because Christ commanded. Besides if you really love someone enough to get married wouldn't you be able to make things work?

Miracles

The miracle of Lanciano is when a Basilian hieromonk was hired to celebrate mass at St. Longinus. The monk had doubts concerning the real present of Christ. During the mass, as he was saying the Words of Consecration, The bread and wine changed. But not the normal change into Christ being present in the bread and wine. It actually became living flesh and five globules of blood corresponding to the wounds Christ suffered. This is an officially recognized miracle and after Scientific study it is still not able to be disproved. The Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ since he is really present. But this time it became actual flesh and blood. An amazing sign and proves Christ really is present.

Confirmation

A Cathachumen is a person studying and growing to be ready for the sacrament of confirmation. I am currently partaking in this activity. Basically you are asked to reflect on your Catholic life. Things such as what will you do next is commonly asked. That’s a tough question. What are we going to do after? Will we feel any different? My hope is that the Holy Spirit will guide me better to make better decisions. Is it likely to happen? Yes if I listen. But sometimes it’s hard to hear so I hope I also gain some better hearing.

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The Sacraments are with us

The sacraments correspond to human nature focusing mainly on sin. Such as Baptism and reconciliation help human kind with our inclination to sin and allow us to be saved despite it. Matrimony represents the human inclination to find a partner that love him or her. Anointing of the Sick reflects human nature to seek comfort and forgiveness at the end of our life. The sacraments are there for us throughout our lives. We just have to seek them.

Jesuits

The Society of Jesus, more commonly known as the Jesuits are a religious order in the Catholic Church. They were established by St. Ignatius of Loyola. Members have to take vows of poverty, chastity, obedience to Christ, and obedience to the Pope. Jesuits are one of the most well known religious orders in the Catholic Church. They are also the largest order. 

Sacerdotalism

Sacerdotalism is the belief that a priest is an essential mediator between Christ and His Church. People cannot go to God by themselves but must go through a Priest. A Priest is necessary whether it is through receiving Eucharist, Reconciliation, or Anointing of the Sick. 

 

Transubstantiation

Transubstantiation is the term used for the conversion from the bread and wine to the Body and Blood of Jesus. It is the change of the substance but not the accidents. The accidents are the physical properties and the substance is what it truly is.  Many Protestant Churches believe in consubstantiation. This is the belief that  Christ is around it but that it is not his true body and blood.

Source of Salvation

Many people question the source of salvation in the Catholic Church. Whether by faith alone, faith and works, or only works. According to the Bible one is saved by faith and works. One must believe in Christ and also work to be like him.

Schism

Schism has had a profound effect on the Catholic Church. Schism is the separation from the Church due to no longer accepting the authority of the Pope. The two largest schisms in the Catholic Church are the Orthodox Churches and the Protestant Churches. Schism hurts the Church and is considered the greatest wound against unity. This is because it usually involves a large group of people leaving the Church at once.