This image brought to mind, a friend of mind. She thought that she would whip her body and soul into shape, by attending daily Mass, and walking to work. She had her husband drop her off at the church. She started attending daily Mass. Afterwards, she walked to work.
She never persevered. She quit.
When I asked her why, she blamed the priests. She said the priests were too weird; they got to her. I asked her what that had to do with the Eucharist. She just gave me a quizzical look, but no verbal reply.
St. Catherine says the following about people like my friend, But there are many who begin their climb so sluggishly and pay what they owe me (God) in such bits and pieces, so indifferently and ignorantly, that they quickly fall by the way. The smallest wind makes them hoist their sails and turn back. They had climbed only imperfectly to the first stair of Christ crucified, and so they never reach the second, which is that of his (Jesus') heart.
