In the Autobiography of Benjamin...
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In the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, that old statesman tells of living in a boarding house in England in his younger years. There was another boarder, a single woman of seventy, who lived up in the garret. As a young woman, she had lived in a convent somewhere in Europe and had intended to become a nun, but for some reason, the country did not agree with her, and she returned to England. But she vowed to live as much like a nun as she could. Accordingly, she had given all her estate to charity, keeping only a small amount to live on, and then she regularly gave away even much of that, living on a watery gruel. She was so saintly that the owners of the house let her live there free, actually deeming it a blessing to have her in the house.
Every day, a priest came to hear her confession. Her landlady wondered how the old woman could possibly have anything to confess daily, and asked her about it. The woman said, "Oh, it is impossible to avoid vain thoughts."
She needed to hear Jesus' words about his yoke being easy and his burden being light.
Every day, a priest came to hear her confession. Her landlady wondered how the old woman could possibly have anything to confess daily, and asked her about it. The woman said, "Oh, it is impossible to avoid vain thoughts."
She needed to hear Jesus' words about his yoke being easy and his burden being light.
