R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad;
your reward will be great in heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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.”

Instead of the 8 Beatitudes of our Lord, what might the 8 false beatitudes of the Devil look like?  

Maybe something  like this: “Blessed are you who say on Sunday they are too tired to go Mass or have too much to do … I got you!” says the Devil. Or, “Blessed are you who do nothing but gossip about others; you are my secret agents … I got you!” the Devil jeers. “Blessed are those who have no time to pray; you are my prey,”  the devil declares delightedly. “I got you!” Basta! These are but a few false beatitudes that come from the devil, and they are so very different the Lord’s eight Beatitudes.

The eight Beatitudes of our Lord show us the values that Christ cares about — those virtues which ultimately lead to the rewards of eternal salvation.  

Consider the virtues of justice, humility, truth, and dependence on God, as we have heard from first reading from the prophet Zephaniah. Also, the Eight Beatitudes tell us to use the heaven-sent gifts that we have received from the Holy Spirit as St. Paul states in his letter to the Corinthians. 

The Beatitudes of our Lord tell us to identify with the poor, with those who mourn, with those who hunger for justice, to be compassionate people, to be a people pure of heart,  to be peacemakers in our dealings with one another and with family,  and also to be a people who reach out to needy and to the sick.  Do all of this, even if someone makes fun of us because we follow Jesus and His Catholic Church. 

There is a book from the early Church called the Didache, a first century Catechism — all about the Way of Jesus that leads to eternal life. The Church Fathers state that there are only two ways: one of Death, and the other of Life.  The first is the world’s way — the way of death.  The better way is the Way of Christ: Be blessed —be happy by living the Beatitudes each day. It is the Way of Life, the Way to true happiness, the Way to Heaven.

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica – Saint Anthony Parish

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth,
who have observed his law;
seek justice, seek humility;
perhaps you may be sheltered
on the day of the LORD’s anger.

But I will leave as a remnant in your midst
a people humble and lowly,
who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD:
the remnant of Israel.
They shall do no wrong
and speak no lies;
nor shall there be found in their mouths
a deceitful tongue;
they shall pasture and couch their flocks
with none to disturb them.

R. (Mt 5:3) Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind;
the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
the LORD protects strangers.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow the LORD sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
or:
R. Alleluia.

Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters.
Not many of you were wise by human standards,
not many were powerful,
not many were of noble birth.
Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise,
and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,
and God chose the lowly and despised of the world,
those who count for nothing,
to reduce to nothing those who are something,
so that no human being might boast before God.
It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus,
who became for us wisdom from God,
as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,
so that, as it is written,
“Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.”

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.