The Beatitudes are the eight blessings Jesus proclaimed at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, each beginning “Blessed are…” They describe the happiness God promises and the kind of person who receives it: poor in spirit, meek, mourning, hungry for justice, merciful, pure of heart, peacemakers and persecuted for the sake of justice. The Catechism says they “are at the heart of Jesus’ preaching” (CCC 1716). Below is the Bible text, the meaning of each Beatitude, what the Church teaches about them, and a prayer to live them.
The Beatitudes in the Bible
In St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus goes up a mountain, sits down like a teacher, and begins:
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him.
And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.
In the Douay-Rheims and the Latin Vulgate the Beatitude of the meek comes second and “they that mourn” third; most modern Bibles reverse the two. St. Luke gives a shorter version, the Sermon on the Plain, with four blessings and four woes (Luke 6:20–26).
The meaning of each Beatitude
| Beatitude | What it means | Promise |
|---|---|---|
| Blessed are the poor in spirit | Those who know they depend on God for everything, and are free from attachment to riches, pride and self-sufficiency | The kingdom of heaven |
| Blessed are the meek | Those who are gentle and patient, who do not grasp at power or answer violence with violence | They shall possess the land |
| Blessed are they that mourn | Those who grieve over sin, suffering and loss, and bring their sorrow to God | They shall be comforted |
| Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice | Those who long with their whole being to be holy and to see God’s justice done | They shall have their fill |
| Blessed are the merciful | Those who forgive, show compassion and practice the works of mercy | They shall obtain mercy |
| Blessed are the clean of heart | Those whose love for God is undivided, pure in thought, intention and desire | They shall see God |
| Blessed are the peacemakers | Those who build reconciliation in families, communities and the world | They shall be called children of God |
| Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake | Those who stay faithful to Christ when it costs them reputation, comfort or life | The kingdom of heaven |
The ninth verse, “Blessed are ye when they shall revile you… for my sake,” applies the last Beatitude directly to the disciples, and to us.
What the Church teaches
- The Beatitudes show us Christ. “The Beatitudes depict the countenance of Jesus Christ and portray his charity” (CCC 1717). Jesus himself is the poor, meek, merciful and pure-hearted one, persecuted for justice.
- They answer our desire for happiness. God placed in every heart the desire to be happy; the Beatitudes show where true happiness is found: in God himself.
- They point to our final end. They “teach us the final end to which God calls us: the Kingdom, the vision of God, participation in the divine nature, eternal life” (CCC 1726).
- They complete the Ten Commandments. The Commandments set the minimum of love; the Beatitudes show its fullness. See the Ten Commandments.
- They are a path for everyone, not only for priests and religious: every Christian is called to holiness in daily life.
St. Augustine, in his commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, linked the Beatitudes with the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, who gives us the strength to live them. See the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The Beatitudes in the liturgy
The Beatitudes are the Gospel of All Saints’ Day (November 1), because the saints are those who lived them, and of the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time in Year A. They are also a popular Gospel reading at funerals and weddings. See All Saints’ Day.
A prayer to live the Beatitudes
Written for this page:
Lord Jesus, you are the poor and humble one, the meek and merciful one.
Give me a heart that is poor in spirit and clean,
tears for what grieves you, hunger for what is right,
mercy for those who hurt me, and courage to make peace.
When following you costs me something, let me rejoice,
for my reward is in heaven with you. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
How many Beatitudes are there?
Eight, in Matthew 5:3–10. Verse 11 repeats the eighth one in the second person (“Blessed are ye…”), so some count nine.
Where are the Beatitudes in the Bible?
In Matthew 5:1–12, at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, and in a shorter form in Luke 6:20–23.
What does “blessed” mean in the Beatitudes?
It means truly happy, fortunate in God’s eyes, sharing already in the joy of the kingdom that will be complete in heaven.
Can I use the Beatitudes for an examination of conscience?
Yes. Ask yourself how you have lived each Beatitude. See the examination of conscience.
More Catholic teaching
- Psalm 37 (Delight in the Lord)
- Psalm 1 (Blessed is the man)
- The Ten Commandments
- The works of mercy
- The virtues
- Gifts of the Holy Spirit
- The seven deadly sins
- Precepts of the Church
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Matthew 5:1–12, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church 1716–1729.
- St. Augustine, Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, Book I.
- The explanations and the prayer were written for this page.