This morning's General Audience began at 10:10am in Saint Peter's Square, where the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with groups of pilgrims and faithful from various parts of Italy and all corners of the world.
In his discourse, the Pope continued the cycle of catecheses on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, focusing his meditation on the gift of piety.
Following the summaries of His catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father spoke greetings to each of the linguistic groups of faithful who were present.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the imparting of the Apostolic Blessing.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today, I want to dwell on a gift of the Holy Spirit that is often misunderstood or considered in a superficial way, but which touches at the heart of our identity and our Christian life: the gift of piety.
We should clarify right away that this gift is not the same as having compassion for someone; to possess the gift of piety indicates the fact that we belong to God, that our profound connection with God is a relationship that gives meaning to our lives and keeps us balanced, in communion with Him, even in the most difficult and troubled moments of our lives.
This relationship with the Lord is not meant to be a duty or an imposition. It is a relationship that comes from within. It is a living bond at the level of the heart: it is a friendship that we share with God, given to us by Jesus, a friendship that changes our lives and fills us with enthusiasm and joy. Thus, the gift of piety awakens in us a sense of gratitude and praise. This is the reason for and the most authentic understanding for our worship and our adoration. When the Holy Spirit helps us to feel the presence of the Lord and especially his love for us, it warms our hearts and moves us naturally to prayer and celebration. Piety, therefore, is synonymous with an authentic religious spirit of filial confidence in God, the ability to pray with love and simplicity that is characteristic of people who are humble of heart.
If the gift of piety helps us to grow in our relationship and our communion with God, and if it helps us to live as his children, it also helps us to share this love with others and to relate to others as brothers and sisters. Then, we will be motivated by sentiments of piety - not pietism - in relation to those who are close to us and to those who we meet every day. Why do I say that this is not pietism? Because some may think that piety comes from closing our eyes, and putting on an imaginary face, pretending to be a saint. In the dialect of Piemonte we say: to make a mugna quacia. This is not the gift of piety. The gift of piety means being truly able to rejoice with those who rejoice, to weep with those who weep, to be close to those who are lonely or anxious, to correct those who are in error, to console those who are afflicted, to welcome and assist those who are in need. There is a very close relationship between piety and gentleness. The gift of piety that the Holy Spirit gives, makes us meek, calms us, makes us patient, at peace with God, and helps us to serve others with gentleness.
Dear friends, in the Letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul affirms: All those who are guided by the Spirit of God are sons of God, for what you received was not the spirit of slavery to bring you back into fear; you received the spirit of adoption, enabling us to cry out, Abba, Father! (Rom 8:14-15). Let us ask the Lord to send us the spirit of his Spirit so that we can overcome our fears, our uncertainties, our restlessness and our impatience, and bear joyful witness to God and to his love, adoring the Lord in truth and in service to others with meekness and with a smile that is always given joyfully by the Holy Spirit. May the Holy Spirit give us all this gift of piety.
Following the syntheses of the catechesis, the Holy Father also spoke greetings to each linguistic group of visitors. To English-speaking pilgrims, he said:
I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims taking part in today’s Audience, including those from England and Wales, the Netherlands, Canada and the United States. Upon all of you, and upon your families, I invoke the peace of the Risen Lord and the manifold gifts of the Holy Spirit. God bless you all!
In his discourse, the Pope continued the cycle of catecheses on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, focusing his meditation on the gift of piety.
Following the summaries of His catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father spoke greetings to each of the linguistic groups of faithful who were present.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the imparting of the Apostolic Blessing.
Catechesis of His Holiness, Pope Francis
for the General Audience
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today, I want to dwell on a gift of the Holy Spirit that is often misunderstood or considered in a superficial way, but which touches at the heart of our identity and our Christian life: the gift of piety.
We should clarify right away that this gift is not the same as having compassion for someone; to possess the gift of piety indicates the fact that we belong to God, that our profound connection with God is a relationship that gives meaning to our lives and keeps us balanced, in communion with Him, even in the most difficult and troubled moments of our lives.
This relationship with the Lord is not meant to be a duty or an imposition. It is a relationship that comes from within. It is a living bond at the level of the heart: it is a friendship that we share with God, given to us by Jesus, a friendship that changes our lives and fills us with enthusiasm and joy. Thus, the gift of piety awakens in us a sense of gratitude and praise. This is the reason for and the most authentic understanding for our worship and our adoration. When the Holy Spirit helps us to feel the presence of the Lord and especially his love for us, it warms our hearts and moves us naturally to prayer and celebration. Piety, therefore, is synonymous with an authentic religious spirit of filial confidence in God, the ability to pray with love and simplicity that is characteristic of people who are humble of heart.
If the gift of piety helps us to grow in our relationship and our communion with God, and if it helps us to live as his children, it also helps us to share this love with others and to relate to others as brothers and sisters. Then, we will be motivated by sentiments of piety - not pietism - in relation to those who are close to us and to those who we meet every day. Why do I say that this is not pietism? Because some may think that piety comes from closing our eyes, and putting on an imaginary face, pretending to be a saint. In the dialect of Piemonte we say: to make a mugna quacia. This is not the gift of piety. The gift of piety means being truly able to rejoice with those who rejoice, to weep with those who weep, to be close to those who are lonely or anxious, to correct those who are in error, to console those who are afflicted, to welcome and assist those who are in need. There is a very close relationship between piety and gentleness. The gift of piety that the Holy Spirit gives, makes us meek, calms us, makes us patient, at peace with God, and helps us to serve others with gentleness.
Dear friends, in the Letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul affirms: All those who are guided by the Spirit of God are sons of God, for what you received was not the spirit of slavery to bring you back into fear; you received the spirit of adoption, enabling us to cry out, Abba, Father! (Rom 8:14-15). Let us ask the Lord to send us the spirit of his Spirit so that we can overcome our fears, our uncertainties, our restlessness and our impatience, and bear joyful witness to God and to his love, adoring the Lord in truth and in service to others with meekness and with a smile that is always given joyfully by the Holy Spirit. May the Holy Spirit give us all this gift of piety.
Following the syntheses of the catechesis, the Holy Father also spoke greetings to each linguistic group of visitors. To English-speaking pilgrims, he said:
I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims taking part in today’s Audience, including those from England and Wales, the Netherlands, Canada and the United States. Upon all of you, and upon your families, I invoke the peace of the Risen Lord and the manifold gifts of the Holy Spirit. God bless you all!
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