self-control, in our fight against special faults, and in our relationships to men

and society. Moral progress may be a fruit of grace but it is not grace itself.

Grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restlessness.

It strikes us when we walk through the dark valley of a meaningless and empty life.

It strikes us when our disgust for our own being, our indifference, our weakness,

our hostility, and our lack of direction and composure have become intolerable to us.

It strikes us when, year after year, the longed for perfection of life does not appear.

Sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness, and it is as

though a voice were saying:

"You are accepted. You are accepted, acceptedby that which is greater than you.

Simply accept the fact that you are accepted."

If that happens to us we experience grace. After such an experience we may not be

better than before, we may not believe more than before.

But everything is transformed."