Pope Francis reflects on the Holy Spirit’s gift of piety

June 04, 2014

Resuming his weekly catechesis on the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, Pope Francis devoted his June 4 general audience to the gift of piety.

Pope Francis began the current series of Wednesday audiences on April 9 but interrupted the catechesis to speak about Holy Week (April 16), the Resurrection (April 23), and his apostolic journey to the Holy Land (May 28).

The gift of piety, Pope Francis emphasized, is not to be confused with pity or compassion. Instead, piety indicates “our belonging to God and our profound bond with him, a bond that gives meaning to our lives.” This bond is not “a duty or an imposition,” but a “living relationship with the heart … our friendship with God, given by Jesus.”

The gift of piety awakens gratitude, praise, “the authentic spirit of filial confidence in God,” and the ability to pray “with love and simplicity,” he continued.

Piety, he added, is closely linked to meekness, leading us to love others with gentleness: to “be able to rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep, to be close to those who are lonely or in anguish, to correct those who are in error, and to comfort those who are afflicted, to welcome and help those who are in need.”

 

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Further information:

• Udienza Generale. Il Papa parla del dono della pieta (Vatican Radio)