Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5:3-12)

The eight Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5:3-12) are, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church n. 1716, «the heart of Jesus’ preaching». They are at the beginning of the Lord’s first great discourse on the Kingdom, and they draw — in eight paradoxical beatitudes — the portrait of the true disciple: poor in spirit, meek, merciful, pure of heart, peacemaker, persecuted for the sake of justice. St Gregory of Nyssa († 394) wrote the treatise De Beatitudinibus, and St Thomas Aquinas in the Summa Theologiae Ia-IIae q. 69 showed how each Beatitude corresponds to a gift of the Holy Spirit. St John Paul II, in Veritatis Splendor 16 (1993), taught that «the Beatitudes, before being commandments, are promises». This prayer meditates the eight Beatitudes, one by one, in the Douay-Rheims Bible translation (1582-1610, totally in the public domain).

(Before the Gospel opened at Mt 5, with calm:)

I. «Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.» (Mt 5:3) — Lord, grant me the detachment from material goods which kills covetousness and pride in me.

II. «Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.» (Mt 5:5) — Grant me the tears which purify: those of repentance for sins, those of compassion for the sufferings of the neighbour, those of longing for heaven.

III. «Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.» (Mt 5:4) — Grant me the meekness which conquers violence, the patience which resists provocation, the gentleness in dealings which wins hearts.

IV. «Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.» (Mt 5:6) — Grant me hunger for what is just according to you, and not according to the changing opinions of men.

V. «Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.» (Mt 5:7) — Grant me the heart which forgives before being offended, and which does to others what I myself expect from you at the hour of judgment.

VI. «Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.» (Mt 5:8) — Grant me the purity of heart — in thoughts, in glances, in desires — which prepares from this life onward the beatific vision.

VII. «Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.» (Mt 5:9) — Grant me the interior peace which conquers restlessness, and the vocation to be an instrument of your peace where there is discord.

VIII. «Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.» (Mt 5:10) — Grant me the courage of public faith in a world which despises your Law; and, if it be your will, the grace to suffer something for your Name.

IX. «Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake. Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven.» (Mt 5:11-12) — Lord, rejoice me in the injustice borne for you; let me remember that the reward is not from here.

Amen.