“Piety has its own good manners.” (Saint Josemaria).
I recently read a story about Saint Padre Pio and his vision of a Holy Soul from Purgatory. In the vision, the Holy Soul appeared to the Saint wearing the Capuchin Habit, which is the order of Monks to whom Saint Padre Pio belonged. The Holy Soul spoke to the Saint of his torment at having been in Purgatory. He explained that though he had committed no grave offences during his lifetime, he had been guilty of a lack of genuine piety in his dealings with the Blessed Sacrament. He explained that it was his responsibility to care for the Altar. And while he did this well, he did not genuflect in front of the Blessed Sacrament as contained in the Tabernacle each time he passed in front of it. And this lack of reverence meant that he was unable to enter into Heaven until he had atoned for this sin.
And this calls to mind the story of Christ in the temple… “In the temple Jesus found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, ‘Take these things away; you shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade.’ His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for thy house will consume me.’” (John 2:13-25).
And I have been reflecting on Christ’s anger here. And it is interesting to me because He was NOT angry with the sinners. He was not angry with Saint Matthew the Tax Collector. He was not angry with Zacchaeus, whose house He ate at that day. He was not angry with Saint Simon Peter who deserted Him. He was not even angry with Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him.
But there He is in that story… Angry. Turning tables, shouting at people. Why?
Because there was no genuine piety in their interactions with God in God’s house. Saint Josemaría said, “Piety has its own good manners. Learn them. It's a shame to see those ‘pious’ people who don't know how to attend Mass... nor how to bless themselves (they throw their hands about in the weirdest fashion), nor how to bend the knee before the Tabernacle (their ridiculous genuflections seem a mockery), nor how to bow their heads reverently before a picture of Our Lady.”
And there I am – like the money lenders in the temple, throwing my hands about or genuflecting as though I am performing a dance at a circus.
When there is my Blessed Lord. Right there in the Tabernacle. And when the day of judgement comes, what defence shall I have for my lack of genuine piety? I shall have none. Instead, I shall stand in front of the Lord, and unless I repent and change my ways to adopt genuine piety with Him, He shall be standing in front of me with a whip…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.