Thank you everyone for being here. It's a delight to be a speaker at this illustrious conference.

This is my favorite kind of conference. I don't have to fly anywhere. I do not like getting on airplanes.

I don't understand why do they have to call the place you leave from the terminal.

That doesn't help. It doesn't encourage me anyway all right so there is a

handout on the website for the conference and I've printed a copy out here I

like to give you something to look at during the talk and also provide some references,

some resources. I'm drawing from ancient writers and contemporary scholars.

Matthew chapter 5, the beatitudes.

It's really at the heart of the Gospels.

And in Catholic tradition, there really is no section of Jesus's

teaching that's more influential. Why are the beatitudes so important for Christian life?

I want to talk about that here, but before we get any further, I'd like to begin with a word of prayer. And this is

one of my favorites. This is a prayer attributed to St. Thomas Aquinas, the prayer before study.

If you'll join me. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

Ineffable Creator, you are proclaimed the true font of light and wisdom, and the primal origin

raised high beyond all things. Pour forth a ray of your brightness into the darkened places of my mind.

Dispers from my soul the twofold darkness into which I was born, sin and ignorance. You make eloquent the tongues of

infants. Refine my speech and pour forth upon my lips, the goodness of your blessing. Grant to me

keenness of mind, capacity to remember, skill in learning, subtlety to interpret, and eloquence

in speech. May you guide the beginning

of my work, direct its progress, and bring it to completion, you who are true God and

true man, who live in reign, world without end. Amen. St. Augustine, pray for us. St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us. Our Lady, seat of wisdom, pray for us.

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