HOW A GIRL FOUND HER MOTHER (A True Story)
A poor servant girl in France once heard a sermon on the Holy Souls which made an indelible impression on her mind. She was deeply moved by the thought of the intense and unceasing sufferings the souls endure and horrified to see how cruelly they are neglected and forgotten by their friends on Earth.
Among other things the preacher stressed was, that many souls who are in reality near to their release—one Mass might suffice to set them free—are oftentimes long detained, it may be for years, just because the last needful suffrage has been withheld, or forgotten or neglected!
With her simple faith, Jeanne Marie resolved that whatever it might cost, she would have a Mass said for them, every month, especially for the soul nearest Heaven. She earned little and it was sometimes difficult to keep her promise, but she never failed.
On one occasion, she went to Paris with her mistress and there fell ill so that she was obliged to go to the hospital. Unfortunately, the illness proved to be a long one and her mistress had to return home, hoping that her maid would soon rejoin her. When at last the poor servant was able to leave the hospital, all she had left of her scanty earnings was one franc!
What was she to do? Where to turn? Suddenly the thought flashed across her mind that she had not had her usual monthly Mass offered for the Holy Souls. But she had only one franc! That was little enough to buy her food. Yet her confidence that the Holy Souls would not fail her triumphed. She made her way into a Church and asked a priest, just about to say Mass, if he would offer it for the Holy Souls. He consented to do so, never dreaming that the modest alms offered was the only money the poor girl possessed.
At the conclusion of the Holy Sacrifice, our heroine left the Church.. A wave of sadness clouded her face, she felt utterly bewildered.
A young gentleman, touched by her evident distress, asked her if she was in trouble and if he could help her. She told her story briefly and ended by saying how much she desired work.
Somehow she felt consoled at the kind way in which the young man listened to what she said and fully recovered her confidence.
“I am delighted beyond measure,” he said, “to help you. I know a lady who is even now looking for a servant. Come with me,” and so saying, he led her to a house not far distant and bade her ring the bell, assuring her that she would find work..
In answer to her ring, the lady of the house herself opened the door and inquired what she required. “Madam,” she said, “I have been told that you are looking for a servant. I have no work and would be glad to get the place.”
The lady was amazed and replied: “Who could have told you that I needed a servant. It was only a few minutes ago, that I had to dismiss my maid and that at a moment’s notice. You did not meet her?”
“No, Madam, the person informed me that you required a servant was a young gentleman.”
“Impossible,” exclaimed the lady, “no young man, in fact, no one at all could have known that I needed a servant.”
“But, Madam,” the girl answered excitedly, “that is the young man who told me,” pointing to a picture on the wall.
“Why, child, this is my only son who has been dead for more than a year.”
“Dead or not,” asserted the girl with deep conviction in her voice, “it was he who told me to come to you and he even led me to the door. See the scar over his eye, I would know him anywhere.”
Then followed the full story of how she had Mass offered with her last franc for the Holy Souls, especially for the one nearest to Heaven.
Convinced at last of the truth of what Jeanne Marie told her, the lady received her with open arms. “Come,” she said, “but not as my servant but as my dear daughter. You have sent my darling boy to Heaven. I have no doubt that it was he who brought you to me.”
--from Read Me or Rue It
Get to read amazing true stories similar to this in the booklet, “Read Me or Rue It” by Fr. Paul O’Sullivan, O.P. (E.D.M.). Get it snail-mailed to you FOR FREE just by signing up on the Prayer Warriors for Souls website: http://www.pwhs-mfi.org/ and start releasing the poor souls in Purgatory through your humble prayers!
"Our Lord told St. Gertrude the Great that the following prayer would release 1000 souls from Purgatory each time it is prayed...." (from Read Me or Rue It)
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my home and within my family, Amen.
*Pls. print this short prayer and say it as often as you can. The Holy Souls your prayers will have released will be praying for you, too!
...and I can just imagine how much rejoicing there is right now in heaven for another advocate for the Holy Souls has come to age. Praise be the Lord ! 