What are the Beatitudes?

• A. The Ten Commandments
• B. The Parables
• C. The Mass Prayers
• D. The Beatitudes

Answer: (D)

Beatitudes are Jesus’ blessings that describe who is blessed in God’s sight and what kind of life leads to the Kingdom of Heaven. They come from the Sermon on the Mount and picture an upside-down kind of happiness rooted in humility, mercy, and seeking righteousness. Each line begins with “Blessed are…” and names a characteristic—being humble, mourning, being gentle, longing for justice, showing mercy, keeping a pure heart, being a peacemaker, and enduring hardship for righteousness. The message isn’t just rules or stories; it’s guidance on how to live as part of God’s family and promises a loyal reward, like comfort, mercy, and seeing God.

These aren’t the Ten Commandments (those are explicit laws), aren’t the Parables (short stories with lessons), and aren’t the prayers said at Mass. They’re a distinctive teaching about blessedness and life in God’s kingdom.