I hear speak of nothing but perfection, but I
see it practiced by just a few. Each pictures
perfection in his own way. Some see it in
simplicity of dress, some in austerity, some in
almsgiving, some in the frequenting of the
Sacraments; others see it in prayer, others in
passive contemplation, and still others in
those freely-given or gratuitous graces—but
they all err, taking the effects for the cause and
the means for the end. I, for my part, know of
no other perfection than that of loving God
with one’s whole heart and one’s neighbor as
oneself. He who conceives any other type of
perfection deceives himself, because the
accumulation of all the other virtues without
this love is nothing but the amassing of
stones. And if we do not immediately and
perfectly enjoy this treasure of holy love, it is
our own fault, because we are too
parsimonious and hesitant with God, and we
do not give ourselves entirely to Him as did
the Saints. St. Francis de Sales Lives of the
Saints, page 11

From this holy thought, who does not realize that St.
Francis de Sales’ perfection could not help but be
real and very sublime, when his love of God and
neighbor was so holy and so pure? The same can be
said of St. Vincent de Paul.