Here then is a preface to indicate that he began to address his disciples on a
CHAPTER 2: Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit and Those Who Mourn
Here then is a preface to indicate that he began to address his disciples on a subject which was very useful, and which also deserved to be diligently observed and retained. Because its intention is to show in what human beings ought to rest, and what they must seek above all. This question was much debated among the pagans: for this is the principal question that the Philosophers have discussed among themselves, namely, the highest good, as they call it: and it is as much as if it were said, The happiness of men. Now there is no one who does not desire to be happy: and even if unreasoning creatures could speak, and were capable of this felicity, they would say, Yes, it is only to be happy: and would aspire to that. The man therefore who feels his miseries and is troubled by them, must, on the contrary, know where his true good lies, and once he has discerned it, he strives toward that end as long as it is possible for him, to know how to be happy. Now those among the pagans who were more earthly, said only that we were blessed when there was no pain in us: the others, when we have all our pleasures and sensual delights: the others put happiness in virtue alone. And these spoke with greater refinement. For the name of virtue will always be held in honor: and even if the thing is despised, even the basest person will still be ashamed of not valuing what is more honorable than all. Others proceeded more subtly, and said that virtue in itself could not make us happy, but that to enjoy happiness, we governed ourselves as it was appropriate: and when virtue was joined with contentment, that such a condition was to bring supreme happiness. However, after all the arguments on either side, if "everyone still desires to be at ease: and we are so preoccupied with this imagination, that we always consider unhappy those who are afflicted with poverty and scarcity, or with illnesses, or who drag themselves painfully through this world, and who never have a day of health, or who are in reproach and disgrace, all the more that this is contrary to our nature. Because we will never be able to persuade ourselves otherwise, however, we will be governed by our natural reason and judgment: we will never be able to make ourselves believe that a man is happy, when he is beaten, tormented, and when he is despised, when he is plundered, and when he will only moan and sigh all the time of his life. In short, we cannot believe the happiness we desire, with disgrace, with poverty, with hunger and thirst, and all other afflictions.
Now let us look at what condition our Lord Jesus Christ calls us into his school, it is that we renounce ourselves, and that each one bears his cross. Now this word cross is as much as if it were said, that each person carries his own gallows, that we are there as poor people always having the knife on our throats,