Cardinal Heenan begins this book by reflecting on the experience of the Vatican Council the impact of personalities, ideas and movements which struck each individual bishop with such force and which under the Holy Spirit, gradually welded this great concourse of men from such various intellectual, racial and even religious backgrounds into the Council. He then councentrates on the Council's concern for the priests who are the pastoral arm of the Church and discusses the gradual evolution of the Council's Decree The Priestly Ministry and Life and its implications for the Clergy. His reflections on the Decree are practical and stem from his personal experience as diocesan priest and bishop in three great industrial dioceses; unless the priest is holy he is nothing given holiness there is a necessary organisation of the daily routine which is essential if priorities are to be met and if the work of the clergy is to be effective.