Beatitudes : Eight Steps to Happiness

by Cantalamessa, Raniero

• ISBN13: 9780867169225
• ISBN10: 0867169222
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-10-14
• Publisher: Servant Books

Summary

Meditations on the beatitudes given to Pope Benedict XVI and the papal household. Anyone who has tried to live the beatitudes will confirm that the task can be daunting. What does it mean to be a peacemaker? Do you really want to be reviled by others? If youre not rich compared to your immediate neighbors and friends, but youre rich compared to most of the world, what are you supposed to do about that?

Author Biography

Raniero Cantalamessa, O.E.M.CAP., is the preacher to the pontifical household. He is a former professor of the history of early Christianity, head of the department of religgious studies at the Catholic University in Milan, member of the International Theological Commission, and author of numberous books,including Sober Intoxication of the Spirit: Filled With the Fullness of God. He lives in Rome.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
The Beatitudes: Matthew And Luck	p. xi
Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit, For Theirs Is The Kingdom Of Heaven
The Poor and the Poor in Spirit	p. 1
The Theological Explanation Is Insufficient	p. 3
Poverty in Christ's Life	p. 6
To Be for the Poor and to Be Poor	p. 10
Why Voluntary Poverty?	p. 14
The Contemporary Relevance of the Beatitude on Poverty	p. 16
Blessed Are You That Weep Now, For You Shall Laugh
A New Relationship Between Pleasure and Pain	p. 20
Where Is Your God?	p. 24
"Let the Priests, the Ministers of the Lord, Weep"	p. 28
The Best Tears	p. 30
Blessed Are The Meek, For They Shall Inherit The Earth
Two Keys to Reading the Beatitudes	p. 34
Jesus, the Meek One	p. 37
Meekness and Tolerance	p. 39
With Meekness and Reverence	p. 42
Learn From Me, for I Am Meek	p. 43
Putting on the Meekness of Christ	p. 47
Blessed Are You Who Hunger Now, For You Shall Be Satisfied
History and Spirit	p. 49
Who Are the Hungry and the Satisfied?	p. 51
A Contemporary Parable	p. 56
"Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness"	p. 58
Physical Bread and Eucharistic Bread	p. 61
Blessed Are The Mercipul, For They Shall Obtain Mercy
The Mercy of Christ	p. 65
A God Who Delights in Showing Mercy	p. 67
Our Mercy: Cause or Effect of God's Mercy?	p. 70
Experiencing Divine Mercy	p. 72
A Church "Rich in Mercy"	p. 74
"put on…Compassion"	p. 75
Blessed Are The Pure In Heart, For They Shall See God
From Ritual Purity to Purity of Heart	p. 79
A Look at History	p. 83
We Have Two Lives	p. 86
One Kind of Collective Hypocrisy	p. 89
Religious Hypocrisy	p. 92
Blessed Are The Peacemakers, For They Shall Be Called Sons Of God
Who Are the Peacemakers?	p. 97
The Message for World Day of Peace	p. 99
Peace as a Gift	p. 101
Peace as a Task: Religious Peace	p. 104
Peace Without Religion?	p. 107
Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted For Righteousness'Sake, For Theirs Is The Kingdom Of Heaven
Two Reasons for Persecution: Righteousness and the Name of Christ	p. 113
Two Forms of Persecution: Death and Marginalization	p. 115
The Characteristics of a True Martyr: Love, Humility and Grace	p. 118
Persecuted Unjustly or Justly?	p. 124
Before Descending the Mount	p. 126
Appendix
An Examination Of Conscience Based On The Beatitudes	p. 133
Notes	p. 137
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