All Saints: Blessed Are You

Sea of Galilee viewed from Mount of Beatitudes

  

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,

and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.

He began to teach them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you

and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.

Rejoice and be glad,

for your reward will be great in heaven.”

Matthew 5:  1-12a

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“If there is one thing typical of the saints, it is that they are genuinely happy.  They found the secret of authentic happiness, which lies deep within the soul and has its source in the love of God.  That is why we call the saints blessed.  The Beatitudes are their path, their goal, their native land.  The Beatitudes are the way of life that the Lord teaches us, so that we can follow in his footsteps.  In the Gospel of today’s Mass, we heard how Jesus proclaimed the Beatitudes before a great crowd on the hill by the Sea of Galilee.”

Pope Francis

Homily, 1 November 2016

For more information please visit:  http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-celebrates-mass-at-malmo

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“As Catholics, we are part of a great family and are sustained in the same communion.  I encourage you to express your faith in prayer, in the sacraments, and in generous service to those who are suffering and in need.  I urge you to be salt and light, wherever you find yourselves, through the way you live and act as followers of Jesus, and to show great respect and solidarity with our brothers and sisters of other churches and Christian communities, and with all people of good will.

In our life, we are not alone; we have the constant help and companionship of the Virgin Mary.  Today she stands before us as first among the saints, the first disciple of the Lord.  We flee to her protection and to her we present our sorrows and our joys, our fears and our aspirations.  We put everything under her protection, in the sure knowledge that she watches over us and cares for us with a mother’s love.”

Pope Francis

Angelus, 1 November 2016

For more information, please visit:  http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-angelus-be-salt-and-light

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