What are the Beatitudes?

The Beatitudes are eight blessings proclaimed by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-12), which form the heart of His moral teaching. They are: (1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (2) Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. (3) Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. (4) Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. (5) Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. (6) Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. (7) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (8) Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The Beatitudes turn worldly values upside down, revealing that true happiness (beatitude) is found not in wealth, power, or pleasure, but in humility, mercy, and faithfulness to God. The Catechism teaches that the Beatitudes 'reveal the goal of human existence, the ultimate end of human acts' (CCC 1719) and depict the very face of Jesus Christ.