“These women, albeit shrouded in mystery and wonderful, fantastical tales, remind us that the Church teaches that actual grace and the natural virtues exist outside of Her, and that Christians are to honor Truth no matter whence it comes in the temporal realm. That the majority of Church Fathers adopted a form of Platonism, considering the philosopher an ally against naturalism and materiaism, that St. Thomas Aquinas and the Scholastics who followed used the Truths spoken by Aristotle for the same, that medieval Catholic civilization revered the “Nine Worthies”
5 – three of whom were pagan, three of whom were Old Testament Jewish – as the embodiment of chivalry – these things remind us that arrogance and spiritual pride have no place in a Catholic’s life. While there is an “us” and a “them” with regard to sanctifying grace, there is no “us” and “them” with regard to actual grace and the
natural virtues. Further, we can’t presume to know who’s been blessed by sanctifying grace – i.e., we can’t know who the “them” is in that regard; we can only know who is formally outside of the Church and, therefore, whom we need to evangelize – in all charity and
prudence – and pray for.
Treat all men with charity, honor Truth wherever it is, and live a deeply Catholic life. “Spread the Gospel and let God sort 'em out.” This is all we can do.”
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