I do not believe that it is possible to put into practice the commandments of Jesus and to become perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect [cf. Mt 5:48] without a certain degree of contemplation of Christ. Every saint is, in some manner or another, a true contemplator of Christ. We could never divide saints into active and contemplative saints according to the relationship to Jesus, but only according to their state of life, their outward disposition. Even Saint Ignatius [of Loyola] insisted that every great active is a great contemplative.
René Voillaume (1905–2003)