Nothing like being humbled by a 16th century French author.

I am relieved to report that my French Renaissance prose class is going slightly better than it was at the offset. We have moved on from the scandal-loving Rabelais, and I'm not having to skim over semi-pornographic passages and I don't fear looking up the meaning of words anymore. Not only that, but this last reading that we did was actually quite inspirational.  

Lady Oisille:

"My children, what you ask of me, to find what would undo human despair, is no easy task. I have spent my entire lifetime searching and have found but one solution--the reading of Holy Scriptures. There one finds true and perfect spiritual happiness, itself the basis for bodily repose and health. If you ask what, in all these years, has assured my joy and good health, I can tell you this. The moment I rise in the morning, I pick up the Scriptures and read. I meditate upon the goodness of our God, who for our sake sent his son on earth to bring us the holy word and the good news for the remisson of our sins and the payment of our debts. This he does through his gift to us of love, worthiness, and ultimate sacrifice. These thoughts fill me with such joy that I take my psalter and in great humility give enthusiastic voice to the wonderful hymns and canticles that the Holy Spirit inspired in David and the other psalmists. The happiness this brings me is so great that whatever the travails of the day, I see them as so many blessings. For through faith I have him in my heart who has taken these burdens upon himself for my sake. 

"Likewise before supper, I withdraw to take in some spiritual nourishment, to think of all that has transpired during the day, so that I might ask for God's forgiveness and give thanks for his many kindnesses. And thus I retire with my thoughts of his love, peace, and power, protected thus against all evil. And this, my children, after years of searching in vain for happiness in other places, is the activity I have chosen. I am of the opinion that if every morning you were to give one hour over to reading and to saying your prayers devoutly at Mass, you would find, even here in this barren place, the splendors of any city. For whoever knows God discovers beauty everywhere, and whoever does not finds all things ugly. 

And so I tell you, follow my counsel if you wish to live in joy."

So there you go. Now go read your scriptures!! ;)
But seriously. Oisille is supposed to be like the evangelist in the story, so she's always encouraging people to read the scriptures for themselves (the reformation... go figure), but I just love at the end there how she talks about taking time at the end of the day to think about what has gone on, ask God's forgiveness, and "give thanks for his many kindnesses." How wonderful would it be to go to bed every night with your thoughts centered around Heavenly Father's "love, peace, and power, protected thus against all evil." No wonder that's where she found happiness. I think I'll try this method, too.