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LESSED are they that suffer persecution for Justice’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.’ All those who suffer for having done right — for having set a good example — for having obeyed with simplicity — or for having put people who live irregularly to shame, so that the blame of causing others to be justly reproved is laid upon them, suffer persecution for Justice’ sake. Those also who daily carry their cross, and constantly persecute their own evil desires, suffer persecution for Justice’ sake.

This is the last and most perfect of all the Beatitudes, because it is the one that most vividly reproduces the character of the Son of God Himself.

Hence it is that He dwells on this one. Not content with having spoken of it like the rest,