One of the Beatitudes in particular, while not being the “key to all” of the Beatitudes, nevertheless “induces us to much reflection,” says Pope Francis. “And it is: Blessed are the meek. Meekness.” The Pope said this today during his morning Mass […]
L'Osservatore Romano
One of the Beatitudes in particular, while not being the “key to all” of the Beatitudes, nevertheless “induces us to much reflection,” says Pope Francis. “And it is: Blessed are the meek. Meekness.”
The Pope said this today during his morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta, Vatican Radio reported. The Gospel for today’s Mass is the recounting of the Beatitudes in Matthew.
The Holy Father, who often refers to the Sermon on the Mount in his teaching, spoke of the Beatitudes and their opposing “woe to you” statements in Luke, as steps that lead “forward in life” or to perdition.
The Beatitudes are a roadmap for Christian life, he said. And the “four woes” — Woe to the rich, to the satiated, to those who laugh now, to you when all speak well of you — are an “anti-law, the wrong navigator.”
These are the “three slippery steps that lead to perdition, just as the Beatitudes are the steps that take us forward in life,” he said.
And elaborating on that thought the Pope said the three steps that lead to perdition are: “the attachment to riches, because I need nothing;”
“Vanity – that all must speak well of me, making me feel important, making too much of a fuss … and I am convinced [that I am] in the right,” he said, referring also the parable of the self-righteous Pharisee and the Tax Collector: “O God I thank you that I am such a good Catholic, not like my neighbor…”
“The third – he said – is pride, the satiation and the laughter that closes one’s heart.”
“Jesus says of himself: ‘learn from me for I am meek of heart,’ I am humble and gentle at heart. To be meek is a way of being that brings us close to Jesus,” he said.
“The opposite attitude,” Pope Francis concluded, “always causes enmities and wars … lots of bad things that happen. But meekness, meekness of heart which is not foolishness, no: it’s something else. It’s the capacity to be deep and to understand the greatness of God, and worship Him.”
The Pope said this today during his morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta, Vatican Radio reported. The Gospel for today’s Mass is the recounting of the Beatitudes in Matthew.
The Holy Father, who often refers to the Sermon on the Mount in his teaching, spoke of the Beatitudes and their opposing “woe to you” statements in Luke, as steps that lead “forward in life” or to perdition.
The Beatitudes are a roadmap for Christian life, he said. And the “four woes” — Woe to the rich, to the satiated, to those who laugh now, to you when all speak well of you — are an “anti-law, the wrong navigator.”
These are the “three slippery steps that lead to perdition, just as the Beatitudes are the steps that take us forward in life,” he said.
And elaborating on that thought the Pope said the three steps that lead to perdition are: “the attachment to riches, because I need nothing;”
“Vanity – that all must speak well of me, making me feel important, making too much of a fuss … and I am convinced [that I am] in the right,” he said, referring also the parable of the self-righteous Pharisee and the Tax Collector: “O God I thank you that I am such a good Catholic, not like my neighbor…”
“The third – he said – is pride, the satiation and the laughter that closes one’s heart.”
Something to think about
Of all the Beatitudes – the Pope said there is one in particular: “I’m not saying it is the key to all of them, but it induces us to much reflection and it is: Blessed are the meek. Meekness”.“Jesus says of himself: ‘learn from me for I am meek of heart,’ I am humble and gentle at heart. To be meek is a way of being that brings us close to Jesus,” he said.
“The opposite attitude,” Pope Francis concluded, “always causes enmities and wars … lots of bad things that happen. But meekness, meekness of heart which is not foolishness, no: it’s something else. It’s the capacity to be deep and to understand the greatness of God, and worship Him.”
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