Question Six: On the Gift of Piety

S. Th. II-II, q. 121.

894. The gift of the Holy Spirit which corresponds to justice is piety toward God. - "The gifts of the Holy Spirit are certain habitual dispositions of the soul, by which it is promptly movable by the Holy Spirit (by a special motion). But among other things the Holy Spirit moves (by a special motion) to this, that we have a certain filial affection toward God, according to Rom. VIII, 15: You have received the spirit of adoption of sons, in which we cry: Abba, Father. And because it properly pertains to piety to exhibit office and worship to a father, it follows that piety, according to which we exhibit worship and office to God as Father, by the instinct of the Holy Spirit, is a gift of the Holy Spirit (a. 1)... Just as through piety which is a virtue, man exhibits office and worship not only to his carnal father, but also to all joined by blood, according as they pertain to the father; so also piety according as it is a gift, exhibits worship and office not only to God, but also to all men insofar as they pertain to God" (ad 3).

Hence it is understood that it corresponds to justice, because it is toward another as justice is. Yet it is more excellent than justice, for it surpasses even religion, which is the chief among the parts of justice: for religion exhibits worship to God as first principle, but piety to God as father.

It is exercised in diverse degree.

"The first grade of the gift of piety is that by which we bear ourselves toward others so mercifully, liberally, or communicatively, as is required for salvation. For we are bound to communicate our spiritual and bodily goods to our neighbors for cause, place, and time. Therefore, when from that which abounds to us we give to others, and do not will to communicate so much that we ourselves sustain some want, then we have attained the first grade of piety.

But its second grade is to communicate even from our necessities to our brethren.

The third grade is when a man sometimes expends himself, as the Apostle says: I will most gladly spend and be spent myself for your souls."¹

¹ Dionysius Carthusianus, De donis, tr. III, a. 40.

895. To the gift of piety there corresponds the second beatitude: Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth.

If the agreement of the gifts and beatitudes is considered according to matter and acts, the fourth and fifth beatitudes correspond better to the gift of piety, namely, the desire of justice and mercy toward others on account of God the common father. But the beatitudes are perhaps more fittingly considered according to their motives and according to the order of enumeration; and then the second has some agreement with piety, insofar as through meekness the impediments of the acts of piety are removed.