Beatitudes

The beatitudes pronounced by our Lord in his sermon onthe Mount are acts rather than habits of the soul. Hence thebeatitudes differ from the virtues and from the gifts, all of which are habits.

The rewards (the blessedness) promised in thebeatitudes are not exclusively for enjoyment in heaven; some ofthem at least may have a beginning in this present life. For rewards that can be perfectly enjoyed in the perfect state of manin heaven, may, in some measure, be partially enjoyed in the present and imperfect state of man on earth.

The beatitudes are suitably enumerated in scripture. They seem to carry man from the things of sense, through the active life, to contemplation. First, man is taught not to seek happiness in the things of sense-riches, honors, self-indulgence; he is to be poor in spirit, meek, mourning. Next, man is directed towards happiness in his activity with reference to his neighbor; he is to thirst after justice, he is to be merciful. Finally, man is to prepare for contemplation, for seeing God; he is to be clean of heart, he is to be a peacemaker.

The rewards promised in the beatitudes-kingdom of heaven, land (of the living), fullness of justice, mercy obtained,sight of God, full status as children of God-all these rewards are to be obtained perfectly in heaven; they are included inthe perfect happiness of heaven. It is suitable that these phases of the perfect heavenly reward should be enumerated in thebeatitudes for our better understanding.