Blessed are Those Who Mourn

We learn from the Prodigal Son what it means to mourn. Remember, it is the story of a son who had everything one could ask but thought he could not be happy doing the will of his father, so he asks for his inheritance before his father’s death, wishing his father were dead, and then turns  to a life of sin in search of a false happiness. The young man turns away from his father, seeking to find happiness somewhere else. Once he hits rock bottom, he realizes his life of sin has only left him empty. Then he becomes a slave of his own doing and ends feeding pigs. But then he reflects on his situation and recognizes he’s not happy. This honest reflection is the beginning of his turning back to the house of his father.

These are the very steps of Mourning

• We all turn away from God in sin, but we can’t stop there, 

• Reflect and recognize that the experience of sin leaves us empty and unhappy

• This leads to a real sorrow for sin – a mourning

• Allow this sorrow to move us to return to Our Father

To Mourn means to have sorrow for our sin and then turn back to the Father.

To Mourn means to be human, imperfect, limited and fall in sin

Then to Mourn, to have Sorrow / Contrition

Gain Self-Knowledge (humility)

Go to Confession

Get up quickly and go forward

Perfection does not consist in never falling. Rather, perfection is found in getting up quickly after a fall! The more quickly I get up after a fall – the more perfect I have become!