O.K. lawn is cut.
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
- "The Beatitudes are at the heart of Jesus’ preaching…Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…
- “The Beatitudes depict the countenance of Jesus Christ and portray his charity. They express the vocation of the faithful associated with the glory of his Passion and Resurrection; they shed light on the actions and attitudes characteristic of the Christian life; they are the paradoxical promises that sustain hope in the midst of tribulations; they proclaim the blessings and rewards already secured, however dimly, for Christ’s disciples;”
(emphasis mine because I am drawing attention to the fact that Christ is here speaking to those “in the midst of tribulation” including those “poor in spirit” who are in the midst of spiritual tribulation, whether that means severe spiritual and mental depression and loss, or the dark night of the soul of which St. John of the Cross spoke-- this is my point).
From Bishop Fulton Sheen’s Life of Christ: “The Beatitudes cannot be taken alone: they are not ideals; they are hard facts and realities
inseparable from the Cross of Calvary.” Again, emphasis mine to point to the fact that we are dealing with tribulations here and our sufferings being united in Christ’s so that our suffering may be transfigured.
From St. John Chrysostom’s commentary on the Beatitudes (and Chrysostom could obviously understand the Greek in which the Beatitudes were written). Chrysostom points out something I picked up on in reading the above posts where people simply proclaim “poor in spirit” means humble and that is that, so just “lighten up”. No, there is a Greek word for humble but St. Matthew did not use it, because for him “poor in spirit” means much more than humble but an
“utterly broken last lowliness of mind”, which was the point I have been trying to get across all the time and which I believe the O.P. on this thread Saintlucy correctly understood. Here is St. John Chrysostom:
"What is meant by “the poor in spirit?” The humble and contrite in mind. For by “spirit” He hath here designated the soul, and the faculty of choice. That is, since many are humble not willingly, but compelled by stress of circumstances; letting these pass (for this were no matter of praise), He blesses them first, who by choice humble and contract themselves.
But why said he not, “the humble,” but rather “the poor?” Because this is more than that. For He means here them who are awestruck, and tremble at the commandments of God. Whom also by His prophet Isaiah God earnestly accepting said, “To whom will I look, but to him who is meek and quiet, and trembleth at My words?” For indeed there are many kinds of humility: one is humble in his own measure, another with all excess of lowliness. It is this last lowliness of mind which that blessed prophet commends, picturing to us the temper that is not merely subdued, but utterly broken, when he saith, “The sacrifice for God is a contrite spirit, a contrite and an humble heart God will not despise.” This Christ also now blesses."
Hope this helps. God Bless.
I will check on this thread later though.
We are speaking of someone of great faith despite all their tribulations sorrows sinfulness and misery.
I started panicking awaiting your response.
As I said, I was interpreting as I understood it from others, but of course I agree with Fr. Serpa. I guess I was just trying to emphasize another not mutually exclusive aspect.