Respecting God’s Likeness in the Human Person
My God, I respect your image and likeness in all redeemed souls … [I do not] intend at any time to outrage anyone … and what I do upon him I intend to do only in order to help him imitate Jesus Christ, for all the good possible ends that are pleasing to you. (OOCC, X, p. 773; STA, 418)
Every human person is made in the image of God. The likeness of God in the human person consists of possessing the breath of life which belongs to God. The Book of Genesis says that as he receives the breath of life from God, he becomes a human being. Since he possesses the breath of life which is a gift from God, his dignity as the human person basically comes from God. Hence, every person must be treated with respect. St. Vincent Pallotti, being conscious of this truth, attempted to respect the image and likeness of God in every person. He pledged that he would never insult, outrage or show indignation towards any human person, for it would amount to offending God himself. Whenever he planned to do something to a human person, it was only for the purpose of helping that person to imitate Jesus Christ or for bringing the person to some good end which was pleasing to God. This dignified perception of the human person helped St. Vincent Pallotti deal with every person he encountered with respect, thoughtfulness and love.
Do I respect a human person because he is the image of God? What is my attitude towards other human persons? Do I insult, outrage or show indignation towards any human person? Do I treat every human person I encounter everyday with respect, thoughtfulness and love?
The Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being. (Gen. 2: 7)