As regards human merit, Matilda only appears occasionally to attach some weight to it in speaking of others; of herself, she says she has nothing to bring to God but her sin.
The Journey to Eternal Peace.
It will be best to describe Matilda’s spiritual life as far as possible from her own words. She gives us in parables the history of her soul. Sometimes it seems well to give these in full, at other times to give the sense whilst omitting repetitions.
She tells us that for a long time she was without rest or peace, knowing not only the guilt, but the power of sin, and she looked hither and thither for that which would meet her need. And the mind, as it were, disputed with the soul, for the mind would have her to seek her peace in the things that could be seen. And thus it said—
“O soul, in the Magdalen’s bitter tears
Do the streams of comfort flow.”
But the soul made answer—
“Hold thy peace,
For my need thou dost not know.
The comfort I crave is joy divine,