"Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." - Matthew 5:5"Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." - Matthew 5:5
Why is it a blessed thing to mourn? Even in the natural order sorrow chastens and purifies the character. It thus paves the way for super natural graces. Sorrow, too, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, detaches our hearts from the world, makes us feel our dependence upon God, turns our hearts to Him, makes us long for Heaven. Do not then lament if sorrow overtakes you, but rather rejoice, for "Blessed are they that mourn."
Blessed again are they that mourn over their sins. It is the best penance that we can do. But we cannot really mourn over sin unless we have that aversion from it in which purity of heart consists. Blessed too are they that mourn over the sins of others, and are grieved at heart by reason of the manifold offences committed against the Divine Goodness, and of the loss of so many souls dear to the Heart of Jesus. Let us pray for a more heart felt sorrow for sin. How lightly at present we esteem it!
Those who mourn with supernatural sorrow shall surely be comforted. Their consolation is not far away. It will soon pour sweetness into their heart; nay, their very sorrow has in it already an element of sweetness which tells of the joy in prospect and of Heaven to come at last, where in one moment we shall be consoled and compensated for all the mourning of this valley of tears.
- taken from The Ministry of Jesus Christ: Short Meditations on the Public Life of Our Lord, by Father Richard Frederick Clarke, SJ