The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Piety
“Prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look towards Heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy” (St. Thérèse of Lisieux).
Note from the editor: This article is part of a series on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Read the articles about knowledge, fortitude, counsel, understanding, fear of the Lord, and wisdom.
Many married women look back at when they met their husband and see a moment when life was put on pause and dramatic lighting spotlighted two souls destined to be together. This light brightened more as the gaze deepened and love flourished. Others may compare this feeling to a detailed yet unfinished sculpture missing one vital piece, without which the masterpiece is incomplete and unable to be admired or understood in all its beauty. With a final touch of grace and steady hand, the artist can complete the work, making it awe-inspiring—complete, perfectly planned, and beautifully untouchable.
These examples can help us understand the undying love Christ has for us and his bride, the Church. What is the best way to stir in our heart every moment the passion to help this love story live on and grow through worship?
What Is Piety?
As we continue to move toward Pentecost, we shift our focus to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. One of those gifts, piety, is a devotion to God, through worship, by people in a state of grace. Not only does this beautiful gift help us to be more devout, respectful, and reverent, but it also develops our sorrow for sin, helping us to recognize when we have acted against God's will and stirring in our heart the desire to ask for forgiveness. Without piety, we are lost, and the blood within the heart of our faith thickens and slows. We can’t fully understand our faith without this gift, nor can we be as merciful and compassionate as God intends for us to be. Without worship and faith in God, there is nothing.
In addition to revering and worshiping God, Catholic Answers defines piety as also “paying due duty to all men on account of their relationship to God, and honoring the saints.” We are called through the Holy Spirit to love our neighbor and to show each other what being a disciple looks like. The saints did this best, and what better way to live piously than to mirror the lives of the saints in being Christ-like? Honoring saints involves honoring a life lived like Christ’s and praying for intercession. It’s also a form of evangelization by example.
The Holy Spirit works constantly in our lives to bring us toward piety, to push us to do what is good, and to guide us to sing the everlasting praises of God. In moments during Mass in particular, the feelings of warmth and love are often felt overwhelmingly present as we are physically in attendance with the body of Christ. As modern disciples kneeling before him in the Eucharist, we relive the apostles’ piety as they followed Jesus through his death and resurrection. Being reverent and present with Christ at the altar strengthens our hearts to carry on his work throughout the week. Going to Mass fills our cup, reminding us of the lessons that Christ taught his followers, which continue through the power of the Holy Spirit today.
Come, Holy Spirit
Stir in me the desire to seek the everlasting love of the Lord, a love that is unmatched to anything else. The greatest virtue is love (1 Corinthians 13:13), and the Church is the beating heart that pumps love into the veins of the fallen, the sinners, and the saints. Beginning in our pew on Sunday, let us all sing from the rooftops the good news through worship, praising that Christ is alive and that he is found within each of us.
Christina Sabo is the director of enrollment and public relations for St. John Paul II Catholic High School within the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. She strives to take in every moment of the day with a joyful heart, loves spending time with her family, and enjoys the great outdoors during her free time. You can follow her on social media or connect through LinkedIn.