Lord, I need to have an authentic piety that comes from the heart. I have been guilty of irreverence to God and I’ve also been guilty of false piety, too. Please, Lord, be merciful to me and help me understand the virtue of piety so I can have a heartfelt reverence toward you when I participate in worship at Mass. Please elevate my soul and help me avoid being distracted by the external things that go on at Mass. Let me worship you with a humble and contrite heart; I know it is right and just and you deserve my loving piety and devotion.
Do not let me compare myself with others while in Mass. I don’t want to judge them or find myself performing the prayers of the Mass with a cold and unfeeling heart. If you help me overcome all forms of false piety and grow in the virtue of authentic piety, I know my worship will be pleasing to you. I want to please you more than anything; it is an injustice when we show irreverence to God in Mass, and it is equally unjust when we worship with false piety and pride.
Jesus, I want to love you deeply from my heart, and not be focused on what is going on around me during church. Guard my heart and mind to stay focused on you with a loving and contrite spirit of humility. Please do not let my mind wander from worshipping you by distraction or judging the people and things around me. I renounce the sin of pride that makes me look at others and judge how they look and worship in Mass. Lord, please give me authentic piety. Help me root out all false piety that comes from the sin of pride. Please, Jesus, convict my heart with guilt every time I perform a pious act without humility, contrition, and love in my heart for you.
Lord, help me overcome false piety and irreverence to God. By your loving mercy, I can grow in holiness and have an authentic piety to God when I worship at Mass.
AMEN.
Believing in God, the only One, and loving him with all our being has enormous consequences for our whole life.
It means coming to know God's greatness and majesty:
"Behold, God is great, and we know him not." Therefore, we must "serve God first".
It means living in thanksgiving: if God is the only One, everything we are and have comes from him: "What have you that you did not receive?"
"What shall I render to the LORD for all his bounty to me?"
Do I have Irreverence to God? False Piety or True Piety?
Let’s begin our reflection with a few thought provoking questions:
Do I love God in worship with a heart that is humble and surrendered to him? Do I prepare myself in advance to meet Christ, eyelash to eyelash, in the holy Eucharist? Do I confess my sins and ask forgiveness before receiving the Bread of Life into my body, as I am supposed to be a temple of the Holy Spirit?
If we cannot love God from our hearts this is a great injustice to God. He deserves proper worship, our deference and reverence. Most importantly, God deserves our love. After all, loving God with all our hearts and putting him above all other things is a commandment (Exodus 20:3-8).
If we offend God through hardness of heart and we do not apologize, then how can our love be true, and our worship truly pious?
What are the Characteristics of Impiety, or Irreverence to God?
The next part of our meditation will focus on the sin of impiety or irreverence to God. It’s really a sin of disobedience and selfishness, a lack of love for God.
St. Hildegard says impiety, or irreverence to God, tears good things to pieces, biting them openly like a beast. She calls them deceitful because they conceal things. According to St. Hildegard, impiety “rejects true teaching and goodness and obedience and subjection, which are in God, and it lacks the beauty of justice in all things” (Liber Vitae Meritorum, The Second Part Concerning Impiety, 53).
In the vision of St. Hildegard impiety speaks, saying: “I do not want to obey either God or man. For if I were to obey either of them, he might order me to do something best for him and not for me. He might not think about my good, but might say to me: ‘Go away.'” Impiety continues, “For if anyone injures me, I will return that injury a hundred-fold. I will act so that no one will dare to resist me. For I do not want to lie under anyone’s feet. I will do whatever is for my own good, as anyone who is not a fool does. If God wants me to do what pleases him, I will not do it unless it also brings good to me.“
Ask yourself, am I guilty of having any of these characteristics? If your conscience is pricked, take a moment right now to pray a prayer of repentance. Ask the Lord to help you overcome impiety and irreverence to God so that you might grow in holiness and develop the virtue of true piety, which we will look at next.
Replacing Irreverence to God with Authentic Piety
Piety and Her Appearance
by St. Hildegard von Bingen
And the third figure, on the left, manifests Piety, who never cherishes hatred or envy of human happiness, but always rejoices at and embraces human good fortune. By her freshness and her outpouring of generosity, abstinence is able to resist the Devil, who whispers to her from the left. For in the struggle for the banner, Piety is the full work of abstinence, and always is the victor.
Hence she is clad in a tunic of hyacinth red; for her splendid work surrounds her, yet in her beautiful patience she hides bloody injuries beneath it, suffering all of them according to My Son’s example in His Passion. On her breast is the picture of an angel, a wing out on either side. This means that each person should imitate the angels in his mind by loving each of God’s ordinances, and lift himself up into flight on one wing and on two, which is to say by the One God and by twofold virtue; meeting the good and the bad on both sides, not unduly exalted by the good or prostrated by the bad. He should gaze on God in purity of heart, and therefore rise upward and not cast himself down to earth.
And therefore its right wing stretches to the figure’s right shoulder; for on the right, the side of salvation, human happiness comes to the help of Piety, because My Son brought back Man to his true country. And its left wing stretches to her left shoulder; for on the left, the side of the Devil’s snares, a faithful person casts off the work of darkness by extending his wing for a flight upward to the refuge of My Son. And thus he is strong against all adversity and imitates the life of the just, as this virtue declares in her already quoted words.
Scivias, Book 3 Vision Six Paragraph 30
Week 10 of the Virtue Meditations Series
Replacing Irreverence to God with Authentic Piety
In the above passage from Scivias, St. Hildegard helps us recognize all the virtues present in a righteous soul possessing true piety. This is because piety is not just a virtue, but also a gift of the Holy Spirit. You see, God is all good and all-powerful; by his grace, he elevates his creatures to become more holy and righteous. We cannot merit this on our own, but by faith in God and by his freely given grace we are elevated to replace irreverence to God with authentic piety just by asking for this gift from our hearts.
Reflection:
The Scriptures teach us that piety is more than a virtue. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
a spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
A spirit of counsel and of strength,
a spirit of knowledge and a spirit of godliness,
and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.” (Isaiah 11:3, Greek Text)
Piety empowers us to develop the habit and disposition of holiness. Piety makes us docile to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, motivating us to faithfully obey, respectfully honor, and love with gratitude our God who redeems us. When we have authentic piety we do good works and offer worship purely for the love of God, recognizing we owe everything to him alone.
Authentic Piety comes from the Heart
What is the Difference between False Piety and True Piety?
Now that we understand impiety or irreverence to God, let’s look at the virtue of piety. When we ask for authentic piety the Holy Spirit moves our hearts toward love and also convicts our hearts of sinful habits that need correcting.
Saint Hildegard of Bingen beautifully describes the soul that possesses true piety. She defines a pious soul as one incapable of hatred or envy, one who is generous, possessing the patience of a saint. The soul with authentic piety practices abstinence, and overcomes the temptations of the evil one. The man with true piety can elevate himself above the things of this world when he worships God, and his worship comes from a pure heart full of love. The pious soul is not weak and can battle all kinds of adversity with peaceful perseverance because of his strong faith in Christ.
We are not to have false idols or put any person or thing above God. He commands us to keep the Lord’s day holy and set it aside for proper worship. Let’s continue this meditation on piety by focusing on our intentions in worship. Now will look at the difference between false piety and true piety. Where is your heart when you enter the church? How do you prepare yourself to meet Christ at the altar?
Think about your typical Sunday. How do you begin your day? Do you prepare in advance by meditating on the Daily Mass Readings?
Do you long for the reception of Our Lord in the Eucharist? Do you have intentions to offer from your heart?
What if I Cannot go to Mass?
Maybe you are in a situation that prohibits you from attending Mass. If so, are you in this situation by your own choice? If your answer is yes, ask yourself, “Am I guilty of breaking the first three commandments?” Take some time to pray about your situation this week, and ask the Lord what you can do so that you are able to return to the Mass.
If your answer is no, you are not separated from the Mass by your own free will, then what can you do during this time of suffering you are experiencing? Ask the Lord to send you the Holy Spirit this week to comfort you and help you suffer well.
It is our duty to be perfect as God is perfect, and so we need to strive for this perfection in our daily walk with Christ and in whatever situation we find ourselves in. Pray for docility toward the Holy Spirit and the desire to obey the teachings of the Church. Seek a solution to your problem and pray for spiritual discernment. Let the Lord speak to you through the Scriptures. If you seek God with your whole heart, eyelash to eyelash, he will give you the gift of piety and you will be led to worship him as he desires. God will not abandon you.
All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity. All are called to holiness: "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
In order to reach this perfection the faithful should use the strength dealt out to them by Christ's gift, so that . . . doing the will of the Father in everything, they may wholeheartedly devote themselves to the glory of God and to the service of their neighbor. Thus the holiness of the People of God will grow in fruitful abundance, as is clearly shown in the history of the Church through the lives of so many saints.
How Can I Exhibit Authentic Piety in my Life?
Remember, piety comes from the heart and is a gift of the Holy Spirit. We must pray for this gift and our worship must come from a place of love and docility to the will of God. If we can do this, we will grow in the virtue of authentic piety.
Let’s consider how we might do this practically. Ask yourself, “Do I begin each day with respect for God and with obedience to his precepts? Am I beginning my day with prayer, asking for holiness and praying for God’s will to be manifested in my life? Do I do what I say I will do, or do I make promises that I am too weak to fulfill for God or for others? Do I love God enough to be faithful to him?” Take a few moments to consider your answers. Journal about it at the end of this meditation. Perhaps make a resolution you can keep this week.
You should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth. Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion, Who was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed to the Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.
Going Further:
A great way to reflect on the difference between false piety and true piety, and the virtue of piety in general, is to meditate on the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14). In this parable Jesus shows us what false piety looks like and how it is attached to pride. This story also shows us how those with authentic piety pray.
In this meditation on true piety, try to put yourself in the place of the Pharisee and consider how you may have behaved similarly to him in the past. Then consider the prayer of the Tax Collector. Do you think like him and pray as he does? Take a few moments to pray from your heart about true piety verses false piety. You may want to journal about it this week. Has God spoken to your heart about the virtue of piety? What is he saying to you?
Let us Pray:
Now that we understand the virtue of piety, let’s begin with a prayer of petition for it.
Virtue of Authentic Piety
Prayer of Petition
Eternal Father, I am the work of your creation, made in your image and likeness but too weak to conquer the devil by my own power. I ask you for the grace to grow in virtue, surrendering all my thoughts, words, and deeds to you. Please help me resist the devil and all his tricks. Jesus says that whoever believes in him will do the works that he does and that whatever we ask in Jesus’ name he will do so that You may be glorified. Heavenly Father, you sent us your Son to show us what it means to have perfect virtue in life. Jesus is fully human and fully divine and has perfect virtue. Father, have mercy on me and please give me the grace I need to grow in the virtue of authentic piety so that I might grow in holiness and imitate Christ in my thoughts, words, and deeds. AMEN.
True Piety, Or Authentic Piety, versus False Piety in the Gospels
Now let’s contemplate the Lord by listening to him speak to us through this Gospel message. Slowly meditate on the following passage from the Sermon on the Mount. Reflect on what it means to have authentic piety. Take your time. Pause over a word or phrase that speaks to your heart about false piety versus true piety. Reread the passage again, and ask Jesus to show you how to have authentic piety and overcome false piety or irreverence to God. Choose a word or phrase from this passage to write in your journal about the virtue of piety, and add your thoughts. Go back and prayerfully re-read this throughout the week.
Virtue of Authentic Piety
From the Sermon on the Mount
from the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 6
Teaching About Almsgiving
[Jesus said:] “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”
Teaching About Prayer
[Jesus said:] “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
The Lord’s Prayer
[Jesus said:] “This is how you are to pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one.
If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
Teaching About Fasting
[Jesus said:] “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
Treasure in Heaven
[Jesus said:] “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”
Let us Pray:
Prayer for Authentic Piety
Finally, let’s pray for those who have joined this prayer community.
Virtue of Authentic Piety
A Prayer for an Increase in Virtue for Others
Lord Jesus Christ, you say that when two or more are gathered in your name, you are with us. Jesus, in your name I lift up every person who has joined this prayer challenge or will join it in the future. I ask you to give us all the grace we need to grow in virtue and holiness so that we may love and serve you in our lives and through the people we love and care for. Help us in our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Guide us all by your Holy Spirit and give us the strength to overcome every temptation from the evil one. We ask all this in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN.
Together as a group we will pray for each other and strive to have authentic piety. Remember, it’s your heart that God wants to capture. Your efforts are out of love for him and a desire to imitate him as best you can in holiness.
If you fail, do not quit trying. Be merciful to yourself and learn to love the process of striving to be more like Jesus every day. Take it one day at a time. Keep your gaze on Jesus. Being virtuous is a process. No one is perfect, so just start anew every time you fail.
How do I Practice Virtue?
You’ve learned about the 10th Virtue, and you’ve prayed for God to give you grace. Now what? Let’s take a look at the Catechism for some guidance on how we can make Week 10 a successful effort.
Pastoral discernment is needed to sustain and support popular piety and, if necessary, to purify and correct the religious sense which underlies these devotions so that the faithful may advance in knowledge of the mystery of Christ. Their exercise is subject to the care and judgment of the bishops and to the general norms of the Church.
At its core the piety of the people is a storehouse of values that offers answers of Christian wisdom to the great questions of life. The Catholic wisdom of the people is capable of fashioning a vital synthesis. . . . It creatively combines the divine and the human, Christ and Mary, spirit and body, communion and institution, person and community, faith and homeland, intelligence and emotion.
This wisdom is a Christian humanism that radically affirms the dignity of every person as a child of God, establishes a basic fraternity, teaches people to encounter nature and understand work, provides reasons for joy and humor even in the midst of a very hard life. For the people this wisdom is also a principle of discernment and an evangelical instinct through which they spontaneously sense when the Gospel is served in the Church and when it is emptied of its content and stifled by other interests.
Making Resolutions
Take a moment to reflect on the virtue of authentic piety. What are the ways you can freely practice this virtue this week? Ask the Lord to give you opportunities, and when you feel the Holy Spirit prompting you, take action. Write down your resolutions for this coming week in your prayer journal. Remind yourself to complete these resolutions daily for this entire week, and as the Spirit prompts you, feel free to write about your experiences with this virtue throughout the week.
In My Thoughts:
Jesus, this week I promise to take time daily to conform my thoughts by… (make your intention).
In My Words:
Jesus, this week I promise to take time daily to conform my words by… (make your intention).
In My Actions:
Jesus, this week I promise to take time daily to conform my actions by… (make your intention).
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Week 11 Mental Prayer Meditation
Overcome the Urge to Lie to Myself and Embrace the Truth
“Overcome the Urge to Lie to myself and Embrace the Truth “- Join us for our 11th meditation on the 35 virtues of St. Hildegard of Bingen.