On the Evangelical Beatitudes

COMPENDIUM

The Evangelical Beatitudes are eight in number:

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
2. Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
3. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
5. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
6. Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the Children of God.
8. Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus Christ puts the Beatitudes before us to make us detest the maxims of the world, and to invite us to love and practice the maxims of His Gospel. The world calls blessed those who abound in riches and honors, who live joyously and have no chance of suffering. The poor in spirit, according to the Gospel, are those who have their hearts detached from all riches, make good use of them if they possess them, do not seek them eagerly if they are without them, and endure the loss of them with resignation if they are taken away. The meek are those who treat their neighbors with gentleness, and put up with their failings with patience, and also any wrongs they may have received from them, without quarreling, resentment, or vindictiveness. Those who mourn and yet are said to be blessed are those who suffer tribulations with resignation, who are grieved for sins committed, for the evils and scandals they see in the world, for being so far from paradise and for the danger of losing it. Those who hunger and thirst after justice are those who ardently desire ever to grow more and more in divine grace and in the exercise of god and virtuous works. The merciful are those who love their neighbor in and for the love of God, and have compassion on his afflictions, both spiritual and temporal, and do their best to alleviate them according to their ability and position. The clean of heart are those who have no leaning towards sin and hold aloof from it, and especially keep away from all kinds of impurity. The peaceable are those who keep peace with their neighbors and are at peace within, and take pains to make peace between those who are at variance. Those who suffer persecution for the love of justice are those who bear with patience derision, rebukes, and persecutions for the Faith and Laws of Jesus Christ.

The various rewards promised by Jesus Christ in the Beatitudes all signify, under various names, the eternal glory of heaven. The Beatitudes not only secure us the eternal glory of paradise, but they are also the means of leading a happy life, so far as this is possible, in this world. For even in this life, those who follow the Beatitudes enjoy an inward peace and content, which is the beginning, although incomplete, of eternal felicity. Those who follow the maxims of the world are not happy, because they have not true inward peace of soul and run the danger of damnation.

CATECHISM

926. Name the Beatitudes.

The Beatitudes are eight: 1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven; 2. Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land; 3. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted; 4. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall be filled; 5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy; 6. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God; 7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the Children of God; 8. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

927. Why did Jesus Christ propose the Beatitudes to us?

Jesus Christ proposed the Beatitudes to us to make us detest the maxims of the world, and to invite us to love and practice the maxims of the Gospel.

928. Who are they whom the world calls blessed?

The world calls those blessed who abound in riches and honors, who lead a pleasant life, and who meet with no occasions of suffering.

929. Who are the poor in spirit whom Jesus Christ calls blessed?

The poor in spirit are, according to the Gospel, those whose hearts are detached from riches; who make good use of riches should they have any; who do not seek them too eagerly, if they have none; and who suffer the loss of such things with resignation when deprived of them.

930. Who are the meek?

The meek are those who act tenderly towards their neighbor, bear patiently with his defects, and accept the offences and injuries they receive from him without contention, resentment, or vengeance.

931. Who are they that mourn, yet are called happy?

They that mourn, yet are called happy, are they who suffer tribulations with resignation, and who mourn over sins committed, over the evils and scandals that prevail in the world, over paradise because it is so distant, and over the danger there is of losing it.

932. Who are they that hunger and thirst after justice?

They that hunger and thirst after justice are those who ardently desire to increase daily more and more in divine grace and in the exercise of good and virtuous works.

933. Who are the merciful?

The merciful are those who love their neighbor in God and for God's sake, compassionate his miseries, spiritual as well as corporal, and endeavor to succor him according to their means and position.

934. Who are the clean of heart?

The clean of heart are those who retain no affection for sin and keep aloof from it, and who above all else avoid every sort of impurity.

935. Who are the peacemakers?

The peacemakers are those who preserve peace with their neighbor and with themselves, and who endeavor to bring about peace and concord between those who are at variance.

936. Who are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake?

They who suffer persecution for justice' sake are those who patiently bear derision, reproof, and persecution for the sake of the Faith and of the Law of Jesus Christ.

937. What do the various rewards promised by Jesus Christ in the Beatitudes denote?

The various rewards promised by Jesus Christ in the Beatitudes all denote under different names the eternal glory of paradise.

938. Do the Beatitudes procure us the glory of paradise alone?

The Beatitudes not only procure us the glory of paradise, but are also the means of leading a happy life, as far as this is possible here on earth.

939. Do those who follow the path of the Beatitudes receive any reward in this life?

Yes, certainly; those who follow the path of the Beatitudes do receive a reward even in this life, inasmuch as they enjoy interior peace and contentment, which is the beginning, even though an imperfect one, of the happiness of heaven.

940. Can those who follow the maxims of the world be called truly happy?

No, because they have no true peace of soul, and are in danger of being lost eternally.