“Hold fast to me and enter into the depths of your being” (Inner Word).
If we want to follow the Lord, it is essential that we cultivate our inner life. Otherwise, we run the risk of remaining in an outward Christianity that does not reflect the beauty of the faith nor possess the strength of conviction necessary to help our Heavenly Father invite men to His Kingdom, to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
“The Spirit himself joins with our spirit to bear witness that we are children of God” (Rom 8:16).
The gift of piety leads us to adhere to God with filial love, not wanting to offend Him in any way.
The spirit of piety touches and enlivens our spiritual life with a new, mild and gentle radiance. Under its influence, our relationship with God and with our neighbour will reach a new level of love. Piety wants to conquer the heart of God, whom it recognises as the most loving Father.
Therefore, it is not content with avoiding everything that could affect even in the slightest way the relationship with Him (which is the effect of the gift of fear); it goes further, wanting to please the Lord in all things. The man moved by the spirit of piety seeks to live as a true child of God. In this way, even the hardest and heaviest obligations can become easy and sweet. In this context, it is worth remembering a phrase of the venerable Anne de Guigné (who died in the odour of sanctity when she was only 11 years old): “Nothing is difficult if one loves God”.
