Book Review : Strait is the Gate

This is a very impressive book in many ways. It’s easy to understand and to read, yet the feelings described are truly complex. It makes me wonder whether anyone could be like this in real life.

Alissa and Jerome are cousins and love each other, however Alissa will never agree to them becoming a couple because she is devoted to God.

Alissa believes that Jerome could make further progress in virtue and yet Jerome has told her that it was his love for her that first inclined him towards God. Alissa believes this love for her hinders him and holds him back from loving God more as Jerome was born for something better than to love her. She is willing to give up Jerome for this reason.

Alissa hoped that Jerome and her could walk through life as pilgrims together side by side towards God and yet her interpretation of God’s teaching is that the way is strait, so strait that two can’t walk together. For this reason, she can’t encourage his love any longer.