I have aimed to tell my story simply, and to keep as clear as possible of all abstruse metaphysical or theological discus sions; yet as I had in some parts the profoundest problems of human life to deal with, and as my own path to the Church led through the field of philosophy, I have not been able wholly to avoid them, and there are parts of the work which will have little interest for those who read only for amusement. I have aimed to write an instructive, not an amusing book.