The Way Opens

Extract

Through the door of conversion we step out on to the way of perfection opening out before us like a rugged path leading up a steep hillside in some enchanted island. Looking up we see the way as strenuous but of incredible beauty. The brilliant greens of the hillside conceal some soft and smelly quagmires on either side of the path, but from the open door the vision appears stimulating and invigorating. The first view is of the general life of the Church, the island populated by a community all working together, helping each other up the side of the bill, marking out the waterlogged patches, stumbling here and slipping there, but not alone, as many helping hands stretch out to pick up the stumbler. They sing, too, and recite as they work together a common song and a common poem of praise to the Lord on the heighte. There are many choruses. Some of these men and women have cracked and harsh voices; but they all sing as they go. The door has opened into the liturgical life of the Church.