# Sermon on the Eight Beatitudes - Author: [Chromatius of Aquileia](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/authors/chromatius-of-aquileia/) - Latin title: *Sermo de octo beatitudinibus* - Date: ca. 388-407 (approximate) - Source: J.-P. Migne, ed., Patrologiae cursus completus, series Latina, vol. 20 (Paris, 1844-1864), digital text of the printed volume (Latin text: Migne, Patrologia Latina, vol. 20, digitized by Open Greek and Latin (patrologia_latina-dev, University of Leipzig), CC BY-SA 4.0) - Translation: Claude, from the original text, unless a passage says otherwise; each passage below gives the translator - Editions and translations: Modern editions: J. Lemarié and R. Étaix, SC 154 and 164 (Paris: Cerf, 1969-1971); CCSL 9A (Turnhout: Brepols, 1974). Cited only, not reproduced. - Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/ - Passages: 10 ## Sermon on the Eight Beatitudes 1 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/1/#p-1 - Source: PL 20:324c–325a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23 Summary: Preaching on a market day, Chromatius offers the beatitudes as pearls for sale and as steps of precious stone leading to the kingdom of heaven. ### Latin text Dat nobis, fratres, conventus hic populi et mercatus frequentia occasionem proponendi sermonis Evangelici. Solent enim saecularia esse spiritualibus exempla, et terrestria imaginem praebere coelestibus. Nam Dominus ac Salvator frequenter admonet nos per terrestria de coelestibus, cum dicit: Simile est regnum coelorum reti misso in mare. Vel certe: Simile est regnum coelorum homini negotiatori, quaerenti bonas margaritas. Si ergo mercatus hanc ipse continet rationem, ut unusquisque pro utilitate sua aut vendat quae sibi superflua sunt, aut emat quae desunt; non incondite et ego proponam mercem, quam mihi commisit Dominus, praedicationem utique coelestem: siquidem me minimum quoque, etsi indignum, tamen de servis illis, quibus Dominus talenta distribuit ad negotiandum lucrumque faciendum, elegit. Nec sane deerunt mercatores, ubi per gratiam Dei tales ac tanti auditores. Magis autem necesse est lucrum coeleste captari, ubi terrestre commodum non negligitur. Cupio, fratres charissimi, proponere vobis illas beatitudinum margaritas pretiosas ex sancto Evangelio: aperite itaque cordis vestri thesauros, emite, percipite avide, feliciter possidete. Dominus ac Deus noster unigenitus summi Patris, qui de Deo homo, de Domino magister dignatus est fieri, cum turbae multae ex diversis confluerent regionibus, assumptis discipulis suis, id est, apostolis suis: Ascendit in montem, et aperto ore suo docebat eos, dicens: Beati pauperes spiritu, quoniam ipsorum est regnum coelorum. Beati mites, quoniam ipsi possidebunt terram, etc.. Gradus quosdam firmissimos ex lapidibus pretiosis sternit quodammodo Dominus Salvator; per quos sanctae animae et fideles repere possint et ascendere ad summum illud bonum, id est, regnum coelorum. Breviter igitur, fratres charissimi, qualitates graduum cupio demonstrare, vestra modo mens tota et anima sit intenta, quia non sunt parva quae Dei sunt. ### English translation (Claude) This gathering of the people and the crowd of the market, brothers, gives us the occasion to set forth a Gospel sermon. For worldly things are accustomed to be examples of spiritual things, and earthly things to provide an image of heavenly ones. For our Lord and Saviour often admonishes us about heavenly things through earthly ones, when he says: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea.' Or certainly: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls.' If, then, a market has this very purpose, that each for his own advantage either sells what he has in excess or buys what he lacks, I too shall not unfittingly set out the merchandise the Lord has entrusted to me, heavenly preaching, that is: since he has chosen me too, the least and unworthy, as one of those servants to whom the Lord distributed talents to trade and make a profit. Nor indeed will buyers be lacking where, by the grace of God, there are such and so many hearers. But it is all the more necessary to seek heavenly profit where earthly advantage is not neglected. I wish, dearest brothers, to set before you those precious pearls of the beatitudes from the holy Gospel: so open the treasuries of your heart, buy, receive eagerly, possess happily. Our Lord and God, the only-begotten of the supreme Father, who deigned to become man from God, teacher from Lord, when great crowds were flowing together from various regions, took his disciples, that is, his apostles: 'He went up the mountain, and, opening his mouth, he taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they will possess the earth,' and so on. Our Lord and Saviour lays down, as it were, certain most firm steps of precious stones, by which holy and faithful souls can climb and ascend to that highest good, that is, the kingdom of heaven. So, dearest brothers, I wish briefly to show the qualities of the steps; only let your whole mind and soul be attentive, because the things of God are not small. ### Scripture references - Matt 13:47: quotation, high confidence - Matt 13:45: quotation, high confidence - Matt 25:14–30: allusion, high confidence - Matt 5:1–5: quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - Chromatius's Sermon on the Beatitudes has no public-domain English translation; the translation was re-read against the Latin. Quotations: Matt 13:47; Matt 13:45; Matt 5:1–5. Allusion: Matt 25:14–30. A section numeral was removed. ### Citation (SBL) Chromatius, Serm. Beat. 1 (PL 20:324c–325a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/1). ## Sermon on the Eight Beatitudes 2 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/1/#p-2 - Source: PL 20:325a–325c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23 Summary: Chromatius explains the first two steps: voluntary poverty for God's sake, and meekness, which is possible only for those who have renounced worldly cares. ### Latin text Beati pauperes spiritu, quoniam ipsorum est regnum coelorum. Mirum principium, fratres, doctrinae coelestis! non a terrore incipit, sed a beatitudine; non terrorem faciens, sed potius desiderium. Vice enim agonothetae vel munerarii, certatoribus in hoc stadio spiritali praemium grande proponit; ut dum aspiciunt praemium, nec labores timeant, nec pericula perhorrescant. Beati ergo pauperes spiritu, quoniam ipsorum est regnum coelorum. Νon simpliciter, neque confuse beatos pauperes dixit, sed addidit, pauperes spiritu. Nec enim omnis paupertas felix est: quia fit saepe ex necessitate, fit nonnumquam per pessimos mores, fit etiam ex indignatione divina. Beata ergo paupertas, est spiritualis: eorum scilicet hominum, qui spiritu et voluntate pauperes se faciunt propter Deum, renuntiando saeculi bonis, substantiam suam ultro erogando: quos merito beatos appellat, quia pauperes spiritu, quoniam ipsorum est regnum coelorum: per voluntariam enim paupertatem coelestis regni divitias assequuntur. Deinde ait: Beati mites, quia ipsi possidebunt terram,. Mire, post primum gradum, secundus ostenditur: Beati, inquit, mites, quoniam ipsi possidebunt terram, Sed sicut impossibile est, extra ordinem secundo sistere gradu, nisi ascenderis primum; sic homo mitis esse non poterit, nisi prius pauper spiritu fuerit factus. Quomodo ergo inter divitias positus animus, inter curas, et sollicitudines saeculares, ex quibus negotia, lites, provocationes, irae, exacerbationes sine intermissione nascuntur: quomodo, inquam, inter haec animus poterit esse mitis et lenis, nisi prius a se omnes causas iracundiae, occasionesque rixarum abrenuntiando praeciderit? Non fit mare tranquillum, nisi cessaverint venti; non extinguitur ignis, nisi materiam incendii spinarumque sarmenta detraxeris: sic nec animus erit mitis et quietus, nisi ea quae exsuscitant, et inflammant, fuerint abdicata. Bene ergo gradus jungitur gradui, quia pauperes spiritu ipsi incipiunt jam esse mites. ### English translation (Claude) 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' A wonderful beginning, brothers, of heavenly teaching! It does not begin with terror but with blessedness; it creates not terror but rather desire. For, like the president of the games or the giver of a show, he sets before the contestants in this spiritual stadium a great prize, so that, while they look at the prize, they may neither fear labours nor shudder at dangers. 'Blessed, then, are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' He did not call the poor blessed simply or indiscriminately, but added 'poor in spirit'. For not all poverty is happy: because it often comes from necessity, sometimes through very bad conduct, sometimes even from divine anger. Blessed, then, is spiritual poverty: that, namely, of those men who make themselves poor in spirit and will for God's sake, by renouncing the goods of the world and freely giving away their substance; whom he rightly calls blessed, because they are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven: for through voluntary poverty they attain the riches of the heavenly kingdom. Then he says: 'Blessed are the meek, for they will possess the earth.' Wonderfully, after the first step, the second is shown: 'Blessed,' he says, 'are the meek, for they will possess the earth.' But as it is impossible to stand on the second step out of order unless you have climbed the first, so a man cannot be meek unless he has first been made poor in spirit. For how could a soul placed among riches, among the cares and anxieties of the world, from which business, lawsuits, provocations, angers and exasperations are born without ceasing: how, I say, could a soul among these things be meek and gentle, unless it has first cut away from itself all causes of anger and occasions of quarrels by renouncing them? The sea does not become calm unless the winds have ceased; fire is not put out unless you have taken away the fuel of the blaze and the brushwood of thorns: so neither will the soul be meek and quiet unless the things that rouse and inflame it have been renounced. Well, then, is step joined to step, because the poor in spirit already begin to be meek. ### Scripture references - Matt 5:3: quotation, high confidence - Matt 5:5: quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - Quotations: Matt 5:3, 5 (the order of the Old Latin, with 'meek' second). A section numeral was removed. ### Citation (SBL) Chromatius, Serm. Beat. 2 (PL 20:325a–325c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/2). ## Sermon on the Eight Beatitudes 3 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/1/#p-3 - Source: PL 20:325c–326a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23 Summary: Chromatius explains the third step: mourning for one's sins, which the meek soul begins when it examines itself, and which brings God's consolation. ### Latin text Accedit et tertius: Beati qui lugent, quoniam ipsi consolabuntur. Quis nobis iste luctus intelligendus est salutaris? Utique non ille, qui ex rerum nascitur detrimentis, non qu(??)·ex amissione charorum, nec qui ex jactura saecularium dignitatum: quae utique omnia jam pauper factus spiritu non dolebit. Hic est luctus salutaris, qui agitur pro peccatis, pro recordatione divini judicii. Nam quia prius inter innumeras saeculi occupationes et asperitates animus constitutus, de se ipso cogitare non poterat; jam securus et mitis effectus, incipit se ipsum propius intueri, examinare actus suos diurnos atque nocturnos: et sic praeteritorum criminum vulnera incipiunt apparere, et tunc luctus ac lacrymae subsequuntur salutares, et adeo salubres, ut mox coelestis consolatio occurrat: verus enim qui dixit: Beati qui lugent, quia ipsi consolabuntur. ### English translation (Claude) The third is added: 'Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.' What saving mourning is to be understood by us here? Surely not that which is born of losses of property, not that from the loss of dear ones, nor that from the loss of worldly dignities: all of which the one already made poor in spirit will surely not grieve over. This is the saving mourning which is made for sins, for the remembrance of the divine judgment. For since the soul, previously placed among the countless occupations and harshness of the world, could not think about itself, now, made secure and meek, it begins to look at itself more closely, to examine its deeds by day and night: and so the wounds of past crimes begin to appear, and then saving mourning and tears follow, and so healthful that heavenly consolation soon comes to meet them: for true is he who said: 'Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.' ### Scripture references - Matt 5:4: quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - One word is marked uncertain in the digital text. Quotation: Matt 5:4. A section numeral was removed. ### Citation (SBL) Chromatius, Serm. Beat. 3 (PL 20:325c–326a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/3). ## Sermon on the Eight Beatitudes 4 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/1/#p-4 - Source: PL 20:326a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23 Summary: Chromatius explains the fourth step: after repentance the soul hungers and thirsts for God's righteousness and is filled. ### Latin text Accedamus, fratres, ad quartum. Beati, inquit, qui esuriunt et sitiunt justitiam, quoniam ipsi saturabuntur. Vere enim post poenitentiam, post luctus et lacrymas peccatorum, quae alia nascitur esuries et quae sitis, nisi justitiae? Sicut enim qui caliginem noctis emensus est, jam gestit proximam lucem; et qui choleram amaram digessit, escam concupiscit et potum: sic et mens hominis christiani, postquam per luctus et lacrymas sua peccata digesserit, jam solam Dei justitiam esurit atque sitit: et merito, ejus quam desiderat, satietate gaudebit. ### English translation (Claude) Let us go on, brothers, to the fourth. 'Blessed,' he says, 'are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.' For truly, after repentance, after the mourning and tears for sins, what other hunger and what thirst is born but for righteousness? For as one who has passed through the darkness of night already longs for the coming light, and one who has digested bitter bile craves food and drink, so too the mind of the Christian, after it has digested its sins through mourning and tears, now hungers and thirsts only for the righteousness of God: and rightly it will rejoice in the fullness of what it desires. ### Scripture references - Matt 5:6: quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - Quotation: Matt 5:6. A section numeral was removed. ### Citation (SBL) Chromatius, Serm. Beat. 4 (PL 20:326a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/4). ## Sermon on the Eight Beatitudes 5 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/1/#p-5 - Source: PL 20:326a–326b - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23 Summary: Chromatius explains the fifth step: one who has received mercy becomes merciful to others, even enemies, and will receive more mercy at Christ's coming. ### Latin text Occurrat et quintus gradus: Beati misericordes, quoniam ipsi misericordiam consequantur. Nemo alteri praestare poterit, nisi prius ipse sibi praestiterit, postquam sibi ergo misericordiam impetravit, satietatemque justitiae, incipit jam dolere de miseris, incipit jam pro aliis peccatoribus exorare: factus misericors in ipsos etiam inimicos, majorem sibi cumulum misericordiae per hujusmodi pietatem in adventu Domini praeparabit: ideo dicitur: Beati misericordes, quoniam ipsi misericordiam consequentur. ### English translation (Claude) Let the fifth step too come forward: 'Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy.' No one can give to another unless he has first given to himself; so after he has obtained mercy for himself and the fullness of righteousness, he begins now to grieve for the wretched, to pray earnestly for other sinners: made merciful even towards his enemies, by such tenderness he will prepare for himself a greater heap of mercy at the Lord's coming: therefore it is said: 'Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy.' ### Scripture references - Matt 5:7: quotation, high confidence ### Translation notes - 'incliti' is read as 'incipit'. Quotation: Matt 5:7. A section numeral was removed. ### Citation (SBL) Chromatius, Serm. Beat. 5 (PL 20:326a–326b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/5). ## Sermon on the Eight Beatitudes 6 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/1/#p-6 - Source: PL 20:326b–326c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23 Summary: Chromatius explains the sixth step: those who have climbed the earlier steps are pure in heart and will see God's brightness without hindrance. ### Latin text Adest, ecce gradus sextus: Beati, inquit, mundo corde, quia ipsi Deum videbunt. Plane jam mundo sunt corde, plane jam Deum videre poterunt, qui pauperes spiritu, qui mites, qui lamentati peccata, qui justitia refecti, qui misericordes, in adversariis quoque tam sincerum oculum cordis. et lucidum gerunt, ut sine aliqua malitiae lippitudine inaccessibilem Dei claritatem sine impedimento conspiciant. Munditia enim cordis, et conscientiae puritas nullam nubem ad intuendum Dominum patietur. ### English translation (Claude) See, here is the sixth step: 'Blessed,' he says, 'are the pure in heart, for they will see God.' Plainly they are now pure in heart, plainly they will now be able to see God, who are poor in spirit, who are meek, who have lamented their sins, who have been refreshed with righteousness, who are merciful, and who bear the eye of the heart so sincere and bright even towards adversaries that, without any bleariness of malice, they behold without hindrance the inaccessible brightness of God. For purity of heart and cleanness of conscience will allow no cloud to the sight of the Lord. ### Scripture references - Matt 5:8: quotation, high confidence - 1 Tim 6:16: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - Quotation: Matt 5:8. Allusion: 1 Tim 6:16. A section numeral was removed. ### Citation (SBL) Chromatius, Serm. Beat. 6 (PL 20:326b–326c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/6). ## Sermon on the Eight Beatitudes 7 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/1/#p-7 - Source: PL 20:326c–326d - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23 Summary: Chromatius explains the seventh step: the greater peacemaking is bringing pagans, sinners, heretics and divided churches to peace with God. ### Latin text Sequitur, fratres: Beati pacifici, quoniam filii Dei vocabuntur. Magna dignitas paci studentium, cum filiorum Dei appellatione censetur. Bona quidem et haec pacificatio quae fit inter fratres, propter substantiam saeculi litigantes, aut propter vanam gloriam, aut simultates: sed parva haec merces; quia dixerat Dominus in exemplum nostri: Quis me constituit judicem aut divisorem super vos? Jam enim praemiserat: ablata tua ne repetas. Et alio loco: Quomodo potestis credere, gloriam ab invicem accipientes? Potior ergo et sublimior pacificatio intelligenda est a nobis; illam dicam, qua homines gentiles, qui inimici sunt Dei, per instantiam doctrinae adducuntur ad pacem: qua peccatores emendantur, et Deo per poenitentiam reconciliantur; qua rebelles haeretici corriguntur; qua Ecclesiae discordantes ad unitatem pacemque formantur. Vere enim qui tales sunt pacifici, non solum beati sunt, sed digni merito filii Dei vocabuntur: ipsum enim Dei Filium Christum imitantes, qui pax nostra et reconciliatio ab Apostolo praedicatus est, societatem nominis ejus sortiuntur. ### English translation (Claude) There follows, brothers: 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.' Great is the dignity of those devoted to peace, since it is reckoned with the title of sons of God. Good indeed is this peacemaking too which is done between brothers quarrelling over worldly property, or over vain glory, or grudges: but this reward is small; because the Lord had said as an example for us: 'Who appointed me judge or divider over you?' For he had already said beforehand: 'Do not ask back what has been taken from you.' And in another place: 'How can you believe, who receive glory from one another?' So a better and loftier peacemaking is to be understood by us: I mean that by which Gentile men, who are enemies of God, are brought to peace through persistence in teaching; by which sinners are amended and reconciled to God through repentance; by which rebellious heretics are corrected; by which discordant churches are formed into unity and peace. For truly those who are such peacemakers are not only blessed, but will worthily be called sons of God: for, imitating Christ the Son of God himself, who was preached by the Apostle as our peace and reconciliation, they obtain a share in his name. ### Scripture references - Matt 5:9: quotation, high confidence - Luke 12:14: quotation, high confidence - Luke 6:30: quotation, high confidence - John 5:44: quotation, high confidence - Eph 2:14: allusion, high confidence - 2 Cor 5:18: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - Quotations: Matt 5:9; Luke 12:14; Luke 6:30; John 5:44. Allusions: Eph 2:14; 2 Cor 5:18. A section numeral was removed. ### Citation (SBL) Chromatius, Serm. Beat. 7 (PL 20:326c–326d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/7). ## Sermon on the Eight Beatitudes 8 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/1/#p-8 - Source: PL 20:326d–327a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23 Summary: Chromatius explains the eighth step: those who live righteously will be persecuted, and Christ leads them to rejoice even in death. ### Latin text Beati qui persecutionem patiuntur propter justitiam, quoniam ipsorum est regnum coelorum. Non est dubium, fratres, quin bono facto comes est semper invidia. Nam salva persecutorum crudelitate, ubi coeperis rigidam tenere justitiam, insolentiam repercutere, incredulos ad pacem Domini convocare; ubi coeperis denique a mundanis hominibus et erroneis discrepare, statim persecutiones oriuntur: necesse est surgant odia, aemulatio laceret. Sic denique ad illum summum gradum, ad ipsum caput atque fastigium, suos auditores adducit Christus, non tantum ut sustineant patiendo, sed etiam ut moriendo congaudeant. ### English translation (Claude) 'Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' There is no doubt, brothers, that envy is always the companion of a good deed. For, even apart from the cruelty of persecutors, when you have begun to hold to strict righteousness, to beat back insolence, to call unbelievers to the peace of the Lord; when, in short, you have begun to differ from worldly and erring men, at once persecutions arise: hatreds must rise, rivalry must tear. So, finally, to that highest step, to the very head and summit, Christ leads his hearers, not only to endure by suffering, but also to rejoice in dying. ### Scripture references - Matt 5:10: quotation, high confidence - 2 Tim 3:12: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - Quotation: Matt 5:10. Allusion: 2 Tim 3:12. A section numeral was removed. ### Citation (SBL) Chromatius, Serm. Beat. 8 (PL 20:326d–327a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/8). ## Sermon on the Eight Beatitudes 9 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/1/#p-9 - Source: PL 20:327a–328a - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23 Summary: Chromatius explains the final step, joyful endurance of persecution and death, as Paul climbed to martyrdom, and compares the beatitudes to Jacob's ladder. ### Latin text Beati, inquit, cum vos persequuntur, et exprobrant, et dicunt omne malum adversum vos, propter justitiam, mentientes: Gaudete et exsultate, quoniam merces vestra copiosa est in coelis: Sic enim persecuti sunt prophetas qui fuerunt ante vos. Perfecta virtus est, fratres, post totius justitiae ministrationes, propter veritatem opprobria ab hominibus sustinere, affligi cruciatibus, morte denique affici, nec terreri, proposito nobis exemplo Prophetarum, qui diversis modis propter justitiam lacerati, passionum Christi conformes et praemii esse meruerunt. Hic gradus celsior est, in quo Christum Paulus aspiciens dicebat: Unum autem, quae quidem retro sunt obliviscens, ad ea quae in primo sunt me extendens, sector ad bravium supernae vocationis Dei in Christo Jesu. Et adhuc apertius ad Timotheum: Certamen, inquit, bonum certavi, cursum consummavi. Quasi qui omnes gradus ascenderat, addidit: Fidem servavi: In reliquo reposita est mihi corona justitiae. Vere enim universo cursu completo hoc supererat, ut per tribulationes et passiones gaudens Paulus, ad gradum sublimiorem martyrii perveniret. Digne ergo Dominus servis suis suadet: Gaudete, inquiens, et exsultate, quia merces vestra copiosa est in coelis; et crescere per incrementa persecutionum evidenter ostendit. Ostensi sunt, fratres, octo gradus Evangelici, exstructi ex lapidibus, ut dixeram, pretiosis. Ostensa est illa scala Jacobi, cujus cacumen de terra pertingebat ad coelum, per quam qui ascendit, portam invenit coeli, ac per eam ingressus, sine fine in conspectu Domini laetus astabit, laudaturus Dominum cum sanctis angelis in aeternum. ### English translation (Claude) 'Blessed,' he says, 'are you when they persecute you, and reproach you, and say every evil against you, falsely, for righteousness' sake: rejoice and exult, for your reward is abundant in heaven: for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.' It is perfect virtue, brothers, after all the services of righteousness, to bear reproaches from men for the truth, to be afflicted with tortures, finally to be put to death, and not to be terrified, with the example set before us of the prophets, who, torn in various ways for righteousness, deserved to be conformed to Christ's sufferings and to his reward. This is the loftier step, looking to Christ on which Paul said: 'But one thing: forgetting what lies behind, stretching out to what lies ahead, I press on to the prize of God's upward call in Christ Jesus.' And still more openly to Timothy: 'I have fought the good fight,' he says, 'I have finished the course.' As one who had climbed all the steps, he added: 'I have kept the faith: for the rest, the crown of righteousness is laid up for me.' For truly, the whole course completed, this remained, that Paul, rejoicing through tribulations and sufferings, should come to the loftier step of martyrdom. Worthily, then, the Lord urges his servants: 'Rejoice,' he says, 'and exult, because your reward is abundant in heaven'; and he plainly shows that it grows with the increase of persecutions. The eight steps of the Gospel have been shown, brothers, built, as I said, of precious stones. That ladder of Jacob has been shown, whose top reached from earth to heaven, by which whoever ascends finds the gate of heaven, and, entering through it, will stand joyful without end in the sight of the Lord, to praise the Lord with the holy angels for ever. ### Scripture references - Matt 5:11–12: quotation, high confidence - Phil 3:10: allusion, medium confidence - Phil 3:13–14: quotation, high confidence - 2 Tim 4:7–8: quotation, high confidence - Gen 28:12: allusion, high confidence - Gen 28:17: allusion, medium confidence ### Translation notes - Quotations: Matt 5:11–12; Phil 3:13–14; 2 Tim 4:7–8. Allusions: Phil 3:10; Gen 28:12, 17. A section numeral was removed. ### Citation (SBL) Chromatius, Serm. Beat. 9 (PL 20:327a–328a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/9). ## Sermon on the Eight Beatitudes 10 - URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/1/#p-10 - Source: PL 20:328c - Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-23 Summary: Chromatius closes by inviting his hearers to 'trade' at this spiritual market, offering the virtues of the beatitudes to gain the pearls of the kingdom. ### Latin text Hic noster mercatus, haec nundina spiritualis. Demus, benedicti, quae habemus: offeramus spiritus paupertatem, ut accipiamus secundum promissionem regni coelestis ubertatem; offeramus mansuetudinem, ut terram possideamus et paradisum: defleamus peccata, et nostra et aliena, ut consolationem de Domini bonitate mereamur: esuriamus et sitiamus justitiam, ut copiosius saginemur: demus misericordiam, ut veram misericordiam consequamur: vivamus pacifici, ut filii Dei vocemur: mundum cor et castum corpus offeramus, ut lucido sensu Deum videre possimus: persecutiones propter justitiam minime timeamus ut coelestis Regni efficiamur haeredes: opprobria, cruciatus, mortem denique si eveniat, propter Dei veritatem gaudentes amplectamur et laeti, ut merces nobis cum Prophetis et Apostolis copiosa praestetur in coelo. Ut autem verbis finis cum praefatione concordet: si est gaudium mercatoribus propter lucra praesentia et caduca, magis gaudeamus omnes pariter et laetemur, quia tales Domini hodie invenimus margaritas, quibus nulla possint bona saeculi comparari. Quas ut acquirere, obtinere, possidere mereamur, auxilium nobis et gratia cum virtute, ab ipso Domino postulanda est, cui sit gloria in saecula saeculorum. Amen. ### English translation (Claude) This is our market, this our spiritual fair. Let us give, blessed ones, what we have: let us offer poverty of spirit, so that we may receive, according to the promise, the abundance of the heavenly kingdom; let us offer gentleness, so that we may possess the earth and paradise: let us weep for sins, both ours and others', so that we may deserve consolation from the Lord's goodness: let us hunger and thirst for righteousness, so that we may be fed more abundantly: let us give mercy, so that we may obtain true mercy: let us live as peacemakers, so that we may be called sons of God: let us offer a pure heart and a chaste body, so that with bright sense we may see God: let us not fear persecutions for righteousness at all, so that we may be made heirs of the heavenly kingdom: reproaches, tortures, and finally death, if it comes, let us embrace joyfully and gladly for the truth of God, so that an abundant reward may be given us in heaven with the prophets and apostles. And so that the end of my words may agree with the preface: if merchants have joy because of present and perishable gains, let us all the more rejoice and be glad together, because today we have found such pearls of the Lord, to which no goods of the world can be compared. That we may deserve to acquire, obtain and possess them, help and grace with power must be asked from the Lord himself, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. ### Scripture references - Matt 5:3–12: allusion, high confidence - Matt 13:45–46: allusion, high confidence ### Translation notes - Allusions: Matt 5:3–12; Matt 13:45–46. A section numeral was removed. ### Citation (SBL) Chromatius, Serm. Beat. 10 (PL 20:328c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/chromatius-sermo-beatitudines/10).