POPE FRANCIS CATECHISM ON THE HOLY SPIRITS GIFT OF PIETY General Audience,St. Peters Square ,Wednesday, June 4, 2014 The gift of piety really means to be able to rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep, to be close to those who are lonely or anxious, to correct those who are in error, and to comfort the afflicted, to welcome and assist those in need. Dear brothers and sisters, Today we want to dwell on a gift of the Holy Spirit that is so often misunderstood or considered in a superficial way, and instead touches at the heart of our identity and our Christian life: it is the gift of mercy . It should be clear now that this gift is not identified with having compassion for someone, have pity of others, but indicates that we belong to God and our deep connection with God, a relationship that gives meaning to all our lives and we maintains balances in communion with Him, even in the most difficult and troubled. 1. This relationship with the Lord is not intended as a duty or an imposition. It is a bond that comes from within. It is a living relationship with the heart : it is our friendship with God, given to us by Jesus, a friendship that changes our lives and fills us with enthusiasm and joy. For this reason, the gift of piety awakens in us the first of gratitude and praise. This is actually the reason and the truest meaning of our worship and our worship . When the Holy Spirit makes us feel the presence of the Lord and all His love for us, warms the heart and moves us quite naturally to prayer and celebration. Pity, then, is synonymous with authentic religious spirit of filial confidence with God, the ability to pray with love and simplicity which is characteristic of the humble of heart. 2. If the gift of piety makes us grow in relationship and communion with God and leads us to live as his children, at the same time helps us to pour out this love on the others and recognize them as brothers . And then, yes, we will be motivated by feelings of pity - no pity! - In relation to those around us and those we meet every day. Why do I say not to pity? Why do some people think that having compassion is close your eyes, make a face like a little picture, pretend to be a saint. In Piedmont we say: do the Mugna quacia. This is not the gift of piety. The gift of piety really means to be able to rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep, to be close to those who are lonely or anxious, to correct those who are in error, and to comfort the afflicted, to welcome and assist those in need. There is a very close relationship between the gift of piety and gentleness. The gift of mercy that gives us the Holy Spirit makes us meek, makes us calm, patient, at peace with God, serving others with gentleness. Dear friends, in the Letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul says, All who are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God, and ye have not received a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit adopted as children, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! ( Rom. 8:14-15). We ask the Lord that the gift of his Spirit can overcome our fears, our uncertainties, including our restless, impatient, and can make us joyful witnesses of God and of his love, worshiping the Lord in truth and also in the service of others with meekness and always with a smile that the Holy Spirit gives us joy. That the Holy Spirit offers to all of us this gift of compassion. Greetings: I am pleased to welcome you dear French friends, especially parishes and youth from France and Switzerland. A few days before Pentecost, I invite you to ask the Lord for the gift of his Spirit to be joyful witnesses of his love. Enjoy your stay in Rome! I am pleased to welcome the dear friends of the French language, particularly the parishes and young people who came from France and Switzerland. A few days after Pentecost, I invite you to ask the Lord for the gift of his Spirit to be joyful witnesses of his love. Enjoy your stay in Rome! 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! I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims present at this Audience, especially those from England and Wales, the Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Canada and the United States. Upon you and your families I invoke the peace of the Risen Lord and the many gifts of the Holy Spirit. God bless you all! I cordially greet the pilgrims and visitors German language and particularly the Gospodi Choir of the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Johannes Kreidler. I wish you a pleasant and interesting stay here in Rome. The Holy Spirit escort you on your ways. I greet with affection the German-speaking pilgrims, especially the chorus Gospodi of the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Johannes Kreidler. I wish you a beautiful and inspiring stay in Rome. The Holy Spirit will lead you on your way. I cordially greet the Spanish-speaking pilgrims, especially the groups from Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Guatemala, Dominican Republic and other Latin American countries. May the Heart of Jesus, which is especially dedicated June, teach us to love God and neighbor children as brothers. Thank you. Dear friends from Angola, Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking countries: welcome! Faced with the challenges and difficulties of life, let us ask the Lord for the gift of piety, so that we always remain firm in the joyful witness of our Christian faith. God bless you! Dear friends came from Angola, Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking countries: welcome! Faced with the challenges and difficulties of life, ask the Lord for the gift of piety, so that we will remain steadfast in joyful witness of our Christian faith. God bless you! I welcome all pilgrims Arabic speakers, especially newcomers from the Middle East! Summoned the Holy Spirit always, and lift up prayers to him talent piety to grow always in relationship with God and that you can pour this love to others and admit their brothers to you! Bless the Lord! I extend a cordial welcome to the Arabic-speaking pilgrims, especially those from the Middle East! Always invoked the Holy Spirit, and pray, asking for the gift of piety to grow in relationship and communion with God and this love can pour on the others, recognizing them as your brothers! The Lord bless you! Regards Polish pilgrims. Today, in a special address to the young people who gather on the Lednice, at the baptismal Polish sources in order to renew their commitment to Christ and to the Church. This year, the desire to explore and experience the mystery of the divine sonship of Jesus, and - in Him - those who by baptism have a share in his life, death and resurrection. You want to think about what it means to be a child of God and experience His love. You want to live that love so much, to bear witness to it to others. Our filiation of God is faithfulness, gratitude and participation. It is the faithfulness of Gods love, who first loved us, he created us and died for us his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. It is gratitude for his fatherly mercy, joy, that opens eyes and hearts to the presence, for the good and the beauty of the brothers. It is a participation in the love of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit, who leads us to joys and sorrows, happiness and suffering, prosperity and failure. Dear young people, have the courage! Respond with enthusiasm for the love of God, as beloved children; Respond with confidence when you return to the Father as prodigal sons. Rejoice always the grace of divine sonship and carry this joy to the world. Pope John Paul II, who eighteen years ago started with you Lednické way, let you lead and obtain all the graces needed to get your young life was full and generous. I entrust you to the care of the Virgin Mary with affection I bless you. I greet the pilgrims from Poland. Today in particular, I appeal to young people who gather in Lednica, the baptismal fonts of Poland, to renew their commitment to Christ and the Church. This year you want to deepen and live the mystery of the divine sonship of Jesus and - in Him - to all those who, through Baptism, share in His life, death and resurrection. Do you want to reflect on what it means to be children of God and experience His love. Do you want to live this love in order to testify in front of others. Our sonship is loyalty, gratitude is, is holding. And loyalty to the love of God who loved us first, He created us and gave us his only Son, Jesus Christ. And gratitude for his fatherly mercy, joy that opens our eyes and hearts to the presence, goodness and beauty of the brothers. And participation in the love of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit, which brings us to the sharing of joys and sorrows, happiness and suffering, prosperity and adversity. I extend a cordial welcome to the faithful of the Italian language. I welcome the pilgrims of the Diocese of Como, led by Bishop Coletti, and those of Bergamo, who came to give thanks to God for St. John XXIII . I greet the Sisters of Medea St. John the Baptist and Saint Catherine of Siena, and the Ministers of the Sick of St. Camillus, gathered here on the occasion of their General Chapters; as well as the priests of the Secular Institute of the Sacred Heart. I greet the many parish groups, especially the faithful Paderno Dugnano and Canepina. I greet the military, the young athletes of the Pilgrimage Macerata to Loreto with the flame of peace, accompanied by the bishops and Giuliodori Vecerrica, and the group Little Sunflower, Pieve di Soligo. I wish you all that this meeting will inspire a renewed commitment to peace and fraternity. A special thought to young people, the sick and newlyweds. We are preparing for the Solemnity of Pentecost, dear young people, I invite you to give space to the initiative of Gods Spirit in your life; dear sick people, the Holy Spirit grant you in abundance the gifts of fortitude and piety; and you, dear newlyweds, particularly participants in the Conference organized by the Focolar Movement, call him often in your married life.
Posted on: Sat, 07 Jun 2014 12:48:45 +0000