Being pious is not squeezing one’s eyes shut to the world and putting on a sweet little angel face!
Piety is embracing God and others with real love, not fake devotion, says Pope
Piety is opening up one’s heart to God and one’s arms to embrace everyone as brothers and sisters, said today at his weekly general audience.
“The gift of piety that the Holy Spirit gives us makes us meek; it makes us peaceful, patient and at peace with God in gentle service to others,” he said.
Under a cloudless bright sunny sky in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis continued a series of audience talks about the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.
Focusing on the gift of piety, the Pope said he wanted to clarify its meaning right away “because some people think that being pious is closing your eyes, putting on a sweet angel face, isn’t that right? To pretend to be a saint” and holier than thou.
But piety is recognizing “our belonging to God, our deep bond with him, a relationship that gives meaning to our whole life and keeps us resolute, in communion with him, even during the most difficult and troubled moments” in life, he said.
Once people experience the loving relationship of God as father, “it helps us pour out this love onto others and recognize them as brothers and sisters,” Pope Francis said.
Focusing on the gift of piety, the Pope said he wanted to clarify its meaning right away “because some people think that being pious is closing your eyes, putting on a sweet angel face, isn’t that right? To pretend to be a saint” and holier than thou.
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