7 July 2013 The second, third, fourth and seventh Beatitudes “Blessed are the meek” -- not only those who are so naturally, but also and especially whoever, though naturally fiery and passionate, have mastered impatience, anger, the desire of revenge, and all other feelings incompatible with peace of heart -- “for they shall possess the land” (Mt 5:5). As St Augustine said, because they shall hold earthly possessions in peace, being loved and esteemed by all. According to St Bernard, because they shall possess the land of their own hearts; be masters of their actions for the angry man is not his own master. St Jerome and most doctors said, because they shall possess the right of heritage the land of the living, heaven, according to David: ‘I believe to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.’ Great blessings, then, even in this life are promised to meekness. It is worth the trouble to acquire it in perfection. This consists in being able to control the first burst of impatience, to live peacefully with bad-tempered people, to preserve liberty of spirit and an unbroken peace in the midst of the vicissitudes of life. There is a superior degree of this perfection on which our Lord has bestowed a separate blessing (the seventh), that of being able to preserve or restore peace and union among men, among our brethren. “Blessed are the peacemakers” for they shall so resemble God their Father and be worthy in an especial manner to be called “the children of” God (Mt 5:9). How do I stand as regards the perfection of meekness, of peace with myself, with others? “Blessed are you that weep.” (Mt 5:4) ... those who are full of remorse, whose delight is in weeping and mourning before God over the miseries of their exile, the wounds of their soul, and especially at the thought of the many injuries done to God, of the numerous souls falling every instant into hell, and of the unhappy beings who are rushing blindly there. They are blessed, says Jesus, for they “shall be comforted” (Mt 5:4) in this life by inspiration of grace and by unspeakable sweetness which is found in the tears of remorse. “I have found greater happiness”, says St Augustine, “in weeping at the foot of my crucifix than I found in frequenting theatres”. Because they shall be comforted without end in heaven. “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice.” (Mt 5:6) Jesus Christ declares that blessed are they who are trying to become better, more pure, more humble, more mortified, more united to God, never thinking they have sufficiently obeyed the precept, “Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48). At the same time he condemns the conduct of the lukewarm who thinks he has done enough by keeping out of grievous faults and remaining at what he has achieved. Are we among the former? If so, rejoice greatly, for we shall share their happiness. Like them, we will taste, even in this life, the peace and joy of divine consolations. After this life we will be satisfied with the abundance of heavenly delights. Fear, then, to degenerate from our first fervor and fall into lukewarmness. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp427-9 ‘Those who mourn, the meek, the peacemakers’ ‘Those who mourn’: our Lord is saying they are blessed who suffer from any kind of affliction -- particularly those who are genuinely sorry for their sins, or are pained by offences others offer God, and who bear their suffering with love and in a spirit of atonement. “You are cyring? Don’t be ashamed of it. Yes, cry: men also cry like you, when they are alone and before God. ‘Each night’, says King David, ‘I soak my bed with tears.’ With those tears, those burning manly tears, you can purify your past and supernaturalize your present life.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 216) The Spirit of God will console with peace and joy, even in this life, those who weep for their sins, and later will give them a share in the fulness of happiness and glory in heaven: these are the blessed. ‘The meek’: those who patiently suffer unjust persecution; who remain serene, humble and steadfast in adversity, and do not give way to resentment. The virtue of meekness is very necessary in the Christian life. Usually irritableness, which is very common, stems from a lack of humility and interior peace. ‘The peacemakers’: those who foster peace, in themselves and in others; and, as a basis for that, try to be reconciled and to reconcile others with God. Being at peace with God is the cause and the effect of every kind of peace. Any peace on earth not based on this divine peace would be vain and misleading. Ref: “The Navarre Bible, The Gospel of St Matthew”, 1988, pp55-6 The Blessed Virgin our Hope We can have recourse to her always especially in moments of difficulty. “I am the Mother of Fair Love ... in me is all hope of life and vigour.” (cf Sir 24:24) The Church has put these words on the lips of Our Lady for centuries. The Old Testament records how Patriarchs and prophets lived the virtue of hope in a special way, as did all the devout Israelites. The Blessed Virgin Mary added to that clamor of hope, of longing for prompt arrival of the Messiah, more vigorously than the patriarchs and prophets, and all mankind together. That hope was greater in Mary because she was confirmed in grace; therefore, preserved from all presumption and from any lack of confidence in God. Even before the Anunciation, Mary had penetrated into Sacred Scripture more than any human intellect had ever done; and clarity in knowledge of what prophets had announced went on increasing until it reached a point of total confidence that what had been announced would come true. “When in danger, anguish, or in doubt, think about Mary, invoke Mary. Let Mary always be on your lips, may she never be absent from your heart.” (St Bernard, “Homily 2 on the ‘missus est’, 7”) Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:462-4 • Dedication of Our Lady of Arras, in the year 1484 by Peter de Ranchicourt, bishop of that city. This church was built by St Vaast, Bishop of Arras, in the year 542, according to Baronius, by the Liberal donations of the first kings of France. The Normans destroyed it in 583, and, after being rebuilt, was burnt by lightning in the year 1030, and built again in the year 1040. — Locrius, lib. ii. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Our Lady of Arras, Netherlands (1380). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • Our Lady of 's-Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands, 1380). (http://www/mariedenazareth.com) • Our Lady of Roermund / Arras. Netherlands. 1380. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Roermund / Arras Holland 1380. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • It is related that in the year 1410, Our Lady of Haut, in Hainault, restored life to a child of Brussels who had been drowned in a well. This child, having been taken out of the well dead, was devoted to Our Lady, and he immediately came to life. — Justus Lipsius, History of Our Lady of Hal, ch. 16. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)