Spirituality of the Beatitudes

The Beatitudes from Jesus's Sermon on the Mount offer a succinct summary of his essential teaching for Christians. In probing the meaning of these eight verses, Michael Crosby cuts to the heart of Matthew's Gospel: a spiritual message that is at once personal and deeply social.

Crosby posits that Matthew's Gospel was written for a more affluent church community. As such, his Gospel offers a particularly telling challenge to Christians of the developed countries of the West. To pray in the spirit of the Beatitudes is to answer a radical call to conversion: to begin a journey into God's Reign of peace, justice, mercy, and renewal.

"I hope this book finds a wide audience, for it will help many Christians read the Scriptures with new insight and challenge."--Donald Senior, CP

"Accessible, passionate, and wise."--Warren Carter

"[Father Crosby is] a superb guide who is able to interpret these beatitudes and make them come alive . . . "--Barbara E. Bowe, RSCJ