life in glory

Isaiah 45:6-25; Ps Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior; Luke 7:18-23

Today in the life of the Church, we honor the memory of St. John of the Cross, a spanish priest and mystic.

He took it upon himself to draw a map of the journey to the mount of perfection. At the summit of the journey he wrote these words, "Here on this mount, dwell only the honor and glory of God."

Glory of God. Something to think about as we live and breathe.

There is attributed to God by the theologians a twofold glory: intrinsic glory of the inner life of the Trinity and the extrinsic glory that redounds to God through his external works.

The knowledge and love God has for himself in the mystery of his infinite beauty constitutes his intrinsic glory: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, this communion of perfect love, perfect giving one to the other.


God is infinitely perfect and has no need of anything outside of himself. Thus, the reason for creation must somehow be found in God's goodness and love. God created all things for himself; all things exist in and for God. God, out of love for the infinite goodness that he is, wills to communicate the good that he already possesses.

In case of creatures endowed with intellect and will, they are called to share in the glory of the inner life of the Trinity. By a process the Fathers of the Church did not hesitate to describe as "deification" and "divination". God's own glory shines forth resplendently in the souls of the Just.


The entire created universe exists in order to manifest the goodness, truth, and beauty of God; that is the extrinsic glory seen from the view point of the Creator. From the creature's side, the glory of God is seen in striving for greater perfection whereby God is praised and glorified.

The rational creature manifest the capacity to share in the very nature and life of God himself and the ability to give back to God, through praise and loving service, all that has been received. Thus, all is ordained to the same ultimate end, the glory of God.

As St. PAul reminds us, "whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, do all to the glory of God" that is reflect his beauty, his goodness, his truth, his love in the life you live.

Thus, sanctification and salvation are not an end in themselves but rather the most excellent and efficacious means of giving glory to the Most Holy Trinity. Total abandonment to God's will, which comes at the profound and painful purgation of self-love becomes the process by which glory is given.


Thus, "but trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home." Wordsworth

For further reading: Spiritual Theology by Fr Jordan Auman, free ebook online or at kindle.
St. John pray for us.