This somewhat unusual but very important topic came to mind the other day because of what I heard someone say. You may be thinking to yourself, "Yes, all glory should go to God alone." Or you may be thinking, "It is only right that we praise God for what he does in the lives of men and women." I have always believed both of these things, but at one time I would have said that all glory is God's and any regard given to man is idolatry. (Which is partly true, but there is more I see now.) I'm sure there are others that would still say that too. But it just occurred to me the other day how my thinking of God has grown. I really hadn't though much about it because I have had the same general understanding as long as I can remember.
This is a significant issue because part of the Protestant Reform hinged on it. But I would suggest that many modern Protestants actually hold a Catholic or historic Christian view of God's Glory. Let's ponder this.
What is God's Glory? Is it something intangible that God has? So one would say all glory is God's alone. Or is it something we see, recognize, and experience? Of course it is, how else would we know God has glory?!
Now let's jump to the other side. Is it okay to thank someone for an act of kindness? Yes. Is it okay to revere someone who exhibits holiness (i.e. a pastor, or preacher)? Is it okay to remember with fondness someone who has died but touched your life in a powerful way? Yes and yes.
Here is the issue. I used to be of the mindset that praying to a saint (loved one that has passed on to Heaven) was idolatrous and that Jesus' mother Mary wasn't any more significant in and of herself than any other person. These are not uncommon Protestant views because if you give your attention to Mary or the saints, then you would be taking glory away from God. But are you really taking glory away from God?
I used to see humans and God as being in a power struggle for Glory. Which is half true. Yes we often try to take God's glory, but God is not trying to take ours. You see God in his very nature gives his life and love, which are the manifestations of his Glory. God is pleased to pour out his life for us. God is pleased when we become holy. God isn't trying to hold us down, he wants to lift us up. And so it is only acknowledging the reality of God's nature and in fact giving him more glory when we acknowledge his glory present in people and creation.
For this reason, it is good to ask Mary or other holy people in Heaven to pray for us. It is actually an act of recognizing God's glorious work in others and gives him more glory. Kind of like a parent helping their child to walk for the first time. People get excited for the child, and the parent doesn't get upset but is happy because they know that have helped that child do something good. And if you follow the child they will lead you to their parent.So you see how not recognizing God's presence in others in an effort to ONLY give him the glory may in fact fail to give him the glory he is due. Yet this is what motivated many iconoclasts.
Now if you actually start seeing something other than God as your god, then that is idolatry. But I wanted to share my thoughts on this, because I know I spent so much time worrying about how not to give glory to others, that I probably missed many chances to more fully honor my Creator.
Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the name of Jesus.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His angels and in His Saints.
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