Human virtues act as the foundation for the supernatural virtues.

In today's gospel, we learned how the seed of divine grace falls upon different, terrain, among thorns, on the roadway, worn down by many travelers, on rocky ground and on good soil. God wants us to be like good soil, which revives the seed, and in due time, brings forth much fruit. The human virtues can be thought of as the terrain in each person. If the land is well worked, if a person is well disposed, then the action of divine grace can foster the development of the supernatural virtues. Many virtuous men who, perhaps through ignorance have lived apart from God to have the capacity to receive the grace of faith. Noble human conduct is the foundation for the supernatural edifice. Grace builds on nature.

The life of grace in each Catholic Christian is not super imposed on human reality. On the contrary, grace, penetrates, in riches and perfects human nature. That is why the Church requires its saints to be heroic in practicing not only the theological virtues, but also the moral or human ones; end it is why men who are truly united to God through the theological virtues of faith, hope and love also perfect themselves humanly: they are refined in their relationships with others; they are loyal, affable, well-mannered, generous, sincere, precisely because they have placed all their affections in God.

The supernatural order lifts up and perfects the natural order, working in a manner which is suitable to its proper dignity and nature. This is so because both orders proceed from God, who cannot be at odds with Himself.

~ In conversation with God, Daily Meditations by Francis Fernandez