Blessed are they who Mourn

The poetry of the Gospel

In one episode of the TV series Chosen, Jesus is preparing his sermon on the mount with the Apostle Matthew.  Matthew suggested that the sermon needed a better introduction.  Jesus agreed and  wrote a “Roadmap” into the sermon that the Faithful could use to find him, which he called the Beautiful Attitudes.  But Matthew chided Jesus again for not being more explicit: What do you mean by the salt of the Earth? he asked, and  Jesus replied “Come on Matthew… allow me a little poetry! 

But just like Matthew I have trouble understanding poetry and often yearn for more concrete explanations especially for some of the Beatitudes:  Who are the Meek?  Who are the Poor? And especially Who are they who Mourn?  I think perhaps Jesus used poetry precisely because the meaning goes deeper than words can express and applies to each of us differently.  Maggie’s expression of profound sadness in the last line of her song expresses her personal experience of mourning in which she seems to believe she is alone in her suffering. 

Many mourn their sorrowful station in life

To some the 2nd beatitude is more literal – mourning and suffering is part and parcel of the sick, the hungry, those in prison, the poor, the immigrants fleeing tyranny, and the persecuted living under pagan communist rule.  You might ask how is this form of suffering Holy?  Perhaps it is because when they Pray to God  asking for help, God gives them the strength to carry their cross along with Hope and Faith that their suffering is seen and will lead to happiness. 

The sinful mourn their sins

Still to others like me enjoying a comfortable life in the U.S. the 2nd beatitude is not so obvious and I need help to interpret the poetry.  One such source of wisdom is “The Imitation of Christ” - a book that has been used for over 600 years by both Saints and sinners alike for comfort and understanding of the Catholic Faith.  As literature it is said to be 2nd only to the Gospel in popularity. 

Here are some quotes from the Imitation of Christ on mourning, that spoke to me:

A good person always finds reason for mourning and weeping.  We must become aware that no one alive is without suffering, and the more intently we consider ourselves the more we grieve.  Our vices and sins are the reasons for this just grief and sorrow.

We should call to mind our past sins, think of Gods just judgement, the punishment due for our sins.  All this should inspire us with a “Holy Fear of God.” 

For us the figure of the Tax collector may be our proper mourning prayer.  “He bowed his head not even daring to look up to heaven and humbly prayed “Son of the living God, have mercy on me a Sinner”.

Mary mourned as only a mother could.

But there is a third kind of mourning experienced by Mary who we are called to imitate: “Was there ever any suffering like my suffering“(Lam 1:12)  In the “Glories of Mary” St Alphonsus describes the Seven Sorrows of Mary.  The fifth Dolor describes her martyrdom as she witnessed the crucifixion and death of her son… “There stood by the Cross his mother.” (John 19:25) The Stabat Mater  13th century hymn often chanted with the Stations of the Cross describes the sorrow in poetry:

At the cross her station keeping,

Stood the mournful Mother weeping,

Close to Jesus to the last

Through her heart, his sorrow sharing

All his bitter anguish bearing,

Now at length the sword has passed.

The “Glories” tell us that all the sufferings of Jesus on the cross were shared by his mother but her greatest suffering, was in hearing her son complain that even his eternal father had abandoned him “My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?  How, might Mary have asked, could God the Father literally forsake his only son?  For this daunting little bit of poetry the CCC sheds some light.

Jesus mourned for our sins.

Mans sins are punishable by death. By sending his own son on account of sin, God made Him who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf (2 Coth 5:21). Thus, Jesus fully assumed our sins, and God gave him up to death to satisfy divine justice.  On the Cross, Jesus could then say in our name My God my God, why have you forsaken me?  Catechism of the Catholic Church (603)

Christ: “With my hands stretched out and my body naked upon the cross I willingly offered myself to God my Father for your sins.  Nothing remained in me that was not taken up in sacrifice as atonement.” 

Humbled Sinner: “Grant to me then, the grace to cry for my sins, give me a truly contrite and humble heart, grant me through your infinite mercy that spirit of sorrow for sin that you promised to change into eternal joy in  heaven.”  From the Imitation of Christ

We are not alone.

… and through poetry, the sorrow of Jesus and Mary becomes the holy sorrow of the sinner, the sick, the hungry, the prisoner, the poor, the emigrant, the persecuted, and the poet-song writer-singer,  we are not alone in seeking the Kingdom of God.  

Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.