What are the beatitudes?

The beatitudes are the proclamations of eight types of blessedness delivered by Jesus in his first speech, the famous "Sermon on the Mount." Jesus commences his sermon with the beatitudes. This speech is recorded in the Bible in Mathew 5-7.

Each of the eight beatitudes is composed of two parts. The first part states that those who possess specific characteristics (i.e. meekness, humility, peacemaking) are blessed. The second part states what these blessed people expect to receive in return (i.e. entry into God's kingdom, comfort, inheritance of the earth).

The word "beatitude" comes from the Latin word "beatitudo," meaning "blessed."