Whether piety is a gift?

❌ Objection 1 : It seems that piety is not a gift. For the gifts differ from the virtues, as stated above (FS, Question [68], Article [1]). But piety is a virtue, as stated above (Question [101], Article [3]). Therefore piety is not a gift.

❌ Objection 2 : Further, the gifts are more excellent than the virtues, above all the moral virtues, as above (FS, Question [68], Article [8]). Now among the parts of justice religion is greater than piety. Therefore if any part of justice is to be accounted a gift, it seems that religion should be a gift rather than piety.

❌ Objection 3 : Further, the gifts and their acts remain in heaven, as stated above (FS, Question [68], Article [6]). But the act of piety cannot remain in heaven: for Gregory says (Moral. i) that "piety fills the inmost recesses of the heart with works of mercy": and so there will be no piety in heaven since there will be no unhappiness [*Cf. Question [30], Article [1]]. Therefore piety is not a gift.