Fr. Frederick Edlefsen

The Holy Spirit’s subtle “whispers” play like background music, like a ship’s sails. The Spirit’s Gifts avail us to the Spirit’s breath.

Piety will not inspire lengthy prayers. Piety will give a sense of gratitude – affection – to the Father for creating you and to Jesus for redeeming you. Piety makes you grateful. Piety is the Holy Spirit’s Gift that gives you, like St. Therese of Lisieux, “spiritual childhood.” “Unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself life this child will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4).

Piety sanctifies and heals affections and emotions. Pray for this Gift if you suffer from emotional pain or memories. Piety is fruitful if you invoke the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph. Piety heals. You may feel it after extended periods – at least 20-30 minutes – of quiet meditation. Occasionally, inner calm emerges from within the soul and you sense the Spirit. If this happens, do not narrate or analyze old memories or emotions that might resurface. Don’t comment. Let it be. Allow the Spirit to work without interference. Piety perfects the virtue of Justice, and it produces the Beatitude, “Blessed are the gentle of heart, for they shall inherit the earth.”