MOST ENLIGHTENING

... Nothing is more enlightening than turning to Jesus' words and seeing His way of teaching the truth. Jesus explained with great simplicity what it means to be holy when He gave us the Beatitudes (cf. Mt 5:3-12; Lk. 6:20-23). (63)

IDENTITY CARD

The Beatitudes are like a Christian's identity card. So if anyone asks: "What must one do to be a good Christian?", the answer is clear. We have to do, each in our own way, what Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount... In the Beatitudes, we find a portrait of the Master, which we are called to reflect in our daily lives. (63)

"TRUE HAPPINESS"

The word "happy" or "blessed" thus becomes a synonym for "holy". It expresses the fact that those faithful to God and His word, by their self-giving gain true happiness. (64)

THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT

The Beatitudes are in no way trite or undemanding, quite the opposite... We can only practice them if the Holy Spirit fills us with His power and frees us from our weakness, our selfishness, our complacency and our pride. (65)

LISTEN TO JESUS

Let us listen once more to Jesus, with all the love and respect that the Master deserves. Let us allow His words to unsettle us, to challenge us and to demand a real change in the way we live. Otherwise, holiness will remain no more than an empty word. (66)

THE WORKS OF MERCY

Those who really wish to give glory to God by their lives, who truly long to grow in holiness, are called to be single-minded and tenacious in their practice of the works of mercy. (107)

A SIMPLE LIFE

... We will find it hard to feel and show any real concern for those in need, unless we are able to cultivate a certain simplicity of life, resisting the feverish demands of a consumer society, which leaves us impoverished and unsatisfied, anxious to have it all now... When we allow ourselves to be caught up in superficial information, instant communication and virtual reality, we can waste precious time and become indifferent to the suffering flesh of our brothers and sisters. Yet even amid this whirlwind of activity, the Gospel continues to resound , offering us the promise of a different life, a healthier and happier life. (108)

"POWERFUL WITNESS"

The powerful witness of the saints is revealed in their lives, shaped by the Beatitudes and the criterion of the final judgment. Jesus' words are few and straightforward, yet practical and valid for everyone... I recommend rereading these great biblical texts frequently, referring back to them, praying with them, trying to embody them. They will benefit us; they will make us genuinely happy. (109)

(Source: Apostolic exhortation, Guadete et exsultate, March 19, 2018)