Pietas
By Jasper
Aeneid is an epic poem written by Virgil, the Roman poet, between 29 and 19 BC. This mythical story recounts the travels of Aeneas, a Trojan hero, who faced numerous challenges as he journeyed throughout Italy. The Romans are Virgil’s primary audience as he intertwines and connects their Roman roots to Troy and Homer’s story of The Iliad and The Odyssey. We not only read about the warnings of war and the Trojan horse, but also of the trials and testing of Aeneas’ personal character and relationships.
It appears that Virgil wants to legitimize the current leadership in Rome to his readers while also reinforcing the “Pietas” virtues that are the underpinning for their society. While “my readers” might not embrace all of the elements within the poem we can learn from some of its virtues.
Our Country, like Rome, has been attacked and is falling from within. We have experienced our own Trojan horse(s) that has been ushered into our education system, government, and economy to name a few. We are not only confronted with Trojan horse policies, but pierced by the arrows that have been launched by our own leaders, media, and institutions. The fabric of our everyday life and our virtues are being tested.
Pietas was one of the primary virtues embraced by ancient Romans. Pietas defines one’s loyalty, devotion, behavior, and duty. Pietas virtues are simply the intertwining of ones…
Love of God,
Love of Neighbor, and
Love of Country.
It has been said, that if you “lose the love of any one of them you will lose all of them”. Where has our love for God gone? Now, less than fifty percent of our country actively worships God. I admit, especially during this Pandemic Era, I have fallen short in attending worship services. I believe I have grown spiritually, but have pulled back from my devotion of “religion” and some of its institutions. Has this past year changed our love for God or how we experience, encounter, and express our love for God? Believers are separating one’s devotion and charity for God from the persona of the local “church”.
This season of social distancing has also challenged how I might best express my love for my neighbor. Yes, maybe I have contributed more to the local food pantry or strived to financially help individuals and families who are going through economic tests. Yet, I have relied more on texting and zoom hugs then offering my presence and devotion in person. I miss my neighbors and interacting my neighbors. As a matter of fact, I recently moved to a new neighborhood and I do not even know my neighbors. However, the swords of politics, policies, and personalities raise up in banners and social media postings. Are my neighbors more than the passing hello, cordial wave, and occasional encounter? Is there a divination of uncivil unrest that is teeming across our country? Can anyone find Mr. Roger’s neighborhood?
The television mirrors many of our citizens and non-citizens actions that show a lack of love for our Country, its flag, and its pillars. Did we at one time embrace, salute, and honor our Flag and Country because we realized its greater good and blessings were far more than our Country’s shortcomings? Do we still realize our citizenship responsibility is not to tear down our Country, but to offer our best character, virtues, and values to build it up and make this Land into a more Perfect Union ? It saddens my heart to see our Flag stamped on, burned, kneeled before, and abused. There are forces that hate nationalism and patriotism. Do we have to be of one world government to experience peace and prosperity?
Where are we headed? What path are we individually and corporately wandering through our lives at this time?
What has happened? What has replaced our Love for God, Love for Neighbor, and Love for Country?
I would suggest that overtime our society has reinforced, magnified, and accepted the tenets of ones…
Love of Money,
Love of Self, and
Love of Power.
Love of Money is replacing our Love for God. Love of Self is replacing our Love of Neighbors. And Love of Power is replacing our Love of Country. We must find ways in which money is not deified, where self is found in self-sacrifice, and power is realized in the common good.
What virtues are you pursuing and striving to excel in? What are your Pietas?
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