The Greatest Of Goods

Haec est summa omnium bonorum; haec est optima pars, quae nunquam auferetur, sed magis atque magis in pectore habentis ardescit; de qua duo dixerunt discipuli, cognita Domini facie in fractione panis: 'Nonne cor nostrum ardens erat in nobis, dum loqueretur in via, et aperiret nobis Scripturas'? Vos eam in Scripturis quaerite sanctis, intentissime scrutantes eas, ut cognoscatis Dominum vobis loquentem in eis.  Quid dulcius est quam Dei omnipotentis frui confabulatione? Quia qui legit sacratissimos sermones Domini, per sanctos suos nobis traditos, Deum loquentem audiet; et qui orat, Deo loquitur. Hae sacratissimae vicissitudines diem et noctem ducant in jubilationem; nec saecularis occupatio spiritalem subruat jucunditatem; quia vanitas vanitatem est, hujus saeculi deliciae et falsi amores; quia omnes hujus vitae jucunditates velut umbra transeunt, et velut spuma super aquam facile dissipantur. Ideo, dilectissimae et nobilissimae virgines, animas vestras in omni sanctitate et religione lectionisque studio exercete, ut Spiritus sanctus de coelo vestrae devotionis corda saepius visitare dignetur, qui pectora inhabitare dignoscitur charitate plena, et in sancta sapientia sollicita mente sudantes. Alcuinus,ex Epistola CXXXIX, Ad Sororem et Filiam Source: Migne PL 100.379a-b

This is the greatest of all goods, this is the best part, which can never be taken away, but it burns more and more in the heart of the one who possesses it, concerning which the disciples said, recognising the face of the Lord in the breaking of bread: 'Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking on the way and opening the Scriptures to us?' 1 You now look for it in the Sacred Scriptures and intently scrutinise them that you know the speech of the Lord in them. What is sweeter than to achieve conversation with God? He who reads the most sacred words of the Lord, by the saints handed down to us, hears God speaking, and he who prays, speaks with God. Let these most sacred exchanges day and night lead into jubilation, and do not let worldly occupations submerge spiritual happiness; because that is the vanity of vanities, the delights and false loves of the age, everything pleasing in this life passing like a shadow and like the foam on a wave disappearing. Therefore most delightful and noble ladies, exert your souls in every holy and religious work, that your devout hearts be often worthy of the visitations of the Holy Spirit from heaven, He who sees in hearts full with charity a habitation, and in minds straining in care for holy wisdom. Alcuin of York,Alcuin, from Letter 139, To a Sister and a Daughter 1 Lk 24.32