Life of Imperfection: An Opposition to God’s Designs
He who does not purposely devote himself to the attainment of sublime perfection is guilty of breaking a sacred obligation, which is inherent to his very nature, that aspect of which is the living image of God [who is Perfection]. (OOCC, II, p. 3)
The call to holiness is universal and is a call addressed to every person because by a person’s nature he is called to be the image of God’s perfection. Hence, giving oneself to a life of imperfection amounted to an opposition to the holy designs of God. For St. Vincent Pallotti, any person who purposely did not devote himself to the attainment of sublime perfection was guilty of breaking a sacred obligation inherent in human nature, that is, being the living image of God’s perfection. If a person did live a life of imperfection, he automatically went against the plan of God for the human person to be God’s image and the living image of God’s perfection. Hence, St. Vincent constantly attempted to perfect himself in every possible way, because he did not want to live a life of contradiction with himself and at the same time go against the plan of God.
Do I live a life of imperfection and thereby fail to be the living image of God’s perfection? Do I contradict my own nature by failing to be what God wants me to be? Do I make an honest effort to perfect myself so that I may not contradict my own nature and oppose the designs of God for me?
Whoever says, “I have come to know him” but does not obey his commandments is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. (I Jn. 2: 4 –5)