How does Flaubert balance the romantic life of a saint with realistic details in "A Simple Heart?"

I think that Flaubert is able to bring about a fairly realistic
portrayal of his "saint," Felicite, in that he does not allow her religious zeal to escape the
difficulties faced in daily life. This is what makes her narrative so realistic. She must
encounter death on a sadly regular basis with the death of Virginie and the death of her nephew
in Cuba. Her religious faith does not prevent her from honoring Virginie's body and cleaning her
grave, realistic details that reflect Felicite's sense of honor and dignity and make her more
receptive to the reader. When LouLou flies away, Felicite becomes sick in trying to find the
bird. Her saintly status does not prevent her from dealing with illness. At the same time,
Flaubert shows that Felicite's saintliness is a challenge to social situations and does not seek
to evade the difficulty she faces in dealing with them. Helping the sick and the displaced, and
those who have sinned are all part of what she does and not elements from which Flaubert shies.
In this, Felicite is shown as a saint, and one that must deal with the daily challenges of being
in the world. It is here where Felicite becomes more receptive to the reader and to Flaubert, as
well.