[Question:]{.underline} In order to avoid the error of naturalism, must I despise natural virtues?
[Answer:]{.underline} The Church has defined, against Jansenism, that there is such a thing as natural virtue, that it is good, and consequently not to be despised. However, it cannot possibly be of itself any help towards attaining a supernatural goal, the supernatural domain being infinitely above the natural.
This being said, the naturally acquired cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance, learned by repeated efforts, and the natural virtues associated with them, are a marvelous preparation for the infused, supernatural virtues. When the supernatural virtues are received, they immediately take advantage of all the acquired good habits, which give the facility in the exercise of supernatural virtue. A person who practices natural temperance, for example, will become very generous in practicing the supernatural virtue when in the state of grace, and he will have an especial ease and joy in so doing, that a person who has never practiced natural temperance would not have.
This applies to the public, social order of the state also. When a state promotes natural virtues, such as temperance, fortitude, and justice, then the citizens will have a certain preparation and facility in the supernatural order, if they should receive the Faith and the state of sanctifying grace. Consequently, Catholic men should do all in their power to bring about a social order that is based upon the practice of natural virtue, i.e., that is based upon the natural order. It is a great help to the Church for the salvation of souls. Strange though it may seem, it is precisely the error of naturalism that prevents this, because it denies the natural order and the importance of natural virtue. Denying the reality of human nature and the natural law as well as original sin, its wounds and consequences, naturalism arrives at the strange paradox of denying the very existence of natural virtue. This perversion of nature makes it very difficult to accept the Church and supernatural revelation, given that graces builds on nature.
Answered by Father Peter Scott, SSPX.