Daily Catholic reflections
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Daily reflections
Top sermons from Hippone TV, thoughtfully shared.
The Glory of God
Reflect on God’s grace in daily life.
Hope Renewed
The EIGHT BEATITUDES ACCORDING TO SAINT AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO
Introduction
The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) serve as the preamble to the Sermon on the Mount, outlining the "blessedness" or "happiness" of the Kingdom of Heaven. St. Augustine, in his work De sermone Domini in monte (Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount), provides a profound structural analysis, linking the seven main Beatitudes to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and viewing them as a ladder of spiritual ascent.
Some explanations of each Beatitude according to St. Augustine:
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit
Meaning: This refers to humility and the absence of pride. It is the recognition that we are nothing without God.
Augustine's Link: He connects this to the Gift of Fear of the Lord. This is not a paralyzing fear, but a "filial fear" that leads to humility. For Augustine, pride is the beginning of all sin, so humility must be the foundation of the spiritual life.
2. Blessed are those who mourn
Meaning: Mourning not just for physical loss, but for the loss of the "highest good" and for our own sins.
Augustine's Link: He links this to the Gift of Knowledge. Knowledge of our own limitations and the temporal nature of the world leads us to mourn our attachment to things that do not last, turning us back toward God.
3. Blessed are the meek
Meaning: The meek are those who do not resist God's will and who treat others with gentleness rather than anger.
Augustine's Link: He associates this with the Gift of Piety. Piety allows us to honor God's Word even when it reproves us, accepting the Scriptures with a gentle heart rather than a critical or rebellious one.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
Meaning: A deep, visceral longing for justice and for God’s will to be done.
Augustine's Link: He links this to the Gift of Fortitude. It takes spiritual "courage" or "strength" to persevere in the desire for what is right, especially when the world offers easier, less righteous paths.
5. Blessed are the merciful
Meaning: Showing compassion to others and forgiving those who have wronged us.
Augustine's Link: This is the Gift of Counsel. Through counsel, we realize that if we want God's mercy, we must offer it to others. It is the practical application of the "Golden Rule" in our daily relationships.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart
Meaning: Having a single-minded devotion to God, free from divided loyalties or hypocrisy.
Augustine's Link: He connects this to the Gift of Understanding. As the heart is purified of earthly attachments, the "eye of the soul" becomes clear, allowing us to "see" or understand the things of God.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers
Meaning: Those who seek harmony within themselves and among others, reflecting the peace of Christ.
Augustine's Link: This corresponds to the Gift of Wisdom. For Augustine, peace is the "tranquillity of order." Wisdom allows us to order our passions under the rule of reason and God, making us sons and daughters of God.
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake
Meaning: The confirmation and testing of all the previous Beatitudes.
Augustine's Link: Augustine notes that while there are seven distinct stages of spiritual growth (matching the seven gifts), the eighth Beatitude returns to the first ("for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"), signaling the perfection and completion of the Christian life through endurance.