Advantages — Temporal Favours — Abbe Postel and the
Servant of Paris.
The following is related as a fact by the Abbe Postel,
the translator of F Rossignoli's work. It took place in
Paris, he says, about the year 1827, and is inserted as
No. 27 in. the Mervei les dn Purgatoire.
A poor servant, who had been brought up as a good
Christian in her native village, had adopted the pious
practice of having a Mass said every month for the suffering
souls. Her employers, having taken her with them to the
capital, she never once neglected it, and furthermore made
it her rule to assist at the Divine Sacrifice, and to unite her
prayers with those of the priest, especially for the soul that
had most nearly completed its expiation. This was her
ordinary intention.
God soon tried her by a long illness, that not only occa-
sioned her cruel suffering, but also caused her to lose her
place and draw upon her last resources. On the day that
she was able to leave the hospital, she had but twenty sous
left. After addressing a fervent prayer to Heaven, full of
confidence, she went in search of a situation. She was
told that she would probably find employment in a certain
family at the other end of the city, whither she went, and
as she was obliged to pass by the Church of St. Eustache,
she entered. The sight of a priest at the altar reminded
her that this month she had forgotten her usual Mass for
the dead, and that this was the very day upon which, for
many years, she had been accustomed to do this good work.
But what was she to do ? If she disposed of her last franc,
she would have nothing left, even to satisfy her hunger.
It was a struggle between devotion and human prudence.
Devotion gained the day. " After all," she said to herself,
" the good God knows it is for Him, and He will not forsake
me ! " Entering the sacristy, she gave her offering for a
Mass, at which she assisted with her usual fervour.
A few moments after, she continued on her way, full
of anxiety as may be readily understood. Being abso-
lutely destitute of means, what was she to do if she failed
to obtain employment? She was still occupied with these
thoughts when a pale young man of a slight figure and dis-
tinguished appearance approached her and said, "Are you
in search of a situation?" "Yes, sir." "Well, go to a
certain street and number, to the house of Madame .
I think you will suit her, and that you will be satisfied
there." Having spoken these words, he disappeared in the
passing crowd, without waiting to receive the poor girl's
thanks.
She found the streejt, recognised the number, and
ascended to the apartments. A servant came out carry-
ing a package under her arm and uttering words of com-
plaint and anger. "Is Madame there?" asked the
newcomer. "She may or she may not be," replied the
other. "What does it matter to me? Madame will
open the door herself if it suits her ; I will trouble myself
no longer about it. Adieu!" And she descended the
steps.
Our poor girl rang the bell with trembling hand, and a
sweet voice bade her enter. She found herself in the
presence of an old lady of venerable appearance, who
encouraged her to make known her wishes.
" Madame," said the servant, " I learned this morning
that you are in need of a servant, and I came to offer my
services. I was assured that you would receive me kindly."
" Oh, but, my dear child, what you tell me is very extraor-
dinary. This morning I had no need of one ; it is only
within the last half-hour that I have discharged an insolent
domestic, and there is not a soul in the world except her
and myself who know it. Who sent you, then ? " " It was
a gentleman, Madame ; a young gentleman whom I met on
the street, who stopped me for this purpose, and I praised
God for it, for it is absolutely necessary for me to find a
place to-day ; I have not a penny in my pocket."
The old lady could not understand who the person was,
and was lost in conjecture, when the servant raising her
eyes to the furniture of the little parlour, perceived a
portrait. "Wait, Madame," she said immediately, "do
not puzzle yourself any more ; this is the exact picture of
the young man who spoke to me. It is on his account
that I am come."
At these words the lady uttered a loud cry and seemed
to lose consciousness. She made the girl repeat the story
of her devotion to the souls in Purgatory, of the morning
Mass, and her meeting with the stranger ; then throwing
herself on the neck of the girl, she embraced her amid a
flood of tears and said, "You shall not be my servant
from this moment ; you are my daughter. It is my son,
my only son, whom you saw — my son, dead for the past
two years, who owes to you his deliverance, whom God
directed to send you here. I cannot doubt it. May
you, then, be blessed, and let us pray continually for all
those who suffer before entering into a blessed eternity."
Exract from Purgatory Explained by Father Schouppe SJ.
Tan Books
Let us continue to pray and sacrifice ourselves for our paralytics, sinners, and all the souls in purgatory.
Keep up the Great Work,
In Christ,
Big Brother #2
Servant of Paris.
The following is related as a fact by the Abbe Postel,
the translator of F Rossignoli's work. It took place in
Paris, he says, about the year 1827, and is inserted as
No. 27 in. the Mervei les dn Purgatoire.
A poor servant, who had been brought up as a good
Christian in her native village, had adopted the pious
practice of having a Mass said every month for the suffering
souls. Her employers, having taken her with them to the
capital, she never once neglected it, and furthermore made
it her rule to assist at the Divine Sacrifice, and to unite her
prayers with those of the priest, especially for the soul that
had most nearly completed its expiation. This was her
ordinary intention.
God soon tried her by a long illness, that not only occa-
sioned her cruel suffering, but also caused her to lose her
place and draw upon her last resources. On the day that
she was able to leave the hospital, she had but twenty sous
left. After addressing a fervent prayer to Heaven, full of
confidence, she went in search of a situation. She was
told that she would probably find employment in a certain
family at the other end of the city, whither she went, and
as she was obliged to pass by the Church of St. Eustache,
she entered. The sight of a priest at the altar reminded
her that this month she had forgotten her usual Mass for
the dead, and that this was the very day upon which, for
many years, she had been accustomed to do this good work.
But what was she to do ? If she disposed of her last franc,
she would have nothing left, even to satisfy her hunger.
It was a struggle between devotion and human prudence.
Devotion gained the day. " After all," she said to herself,
" the good God knows it is for Him, and He will not forsake
me ! " Entering the sacristy, she gave her offering for a
Mass, at which she assisted with her usual fervour.
A few moments after, she continued on her way, full
of anxiety as may be readily understood. Being abso-
lutely destitute of means, what was she to do if she failed
to obtain employment? She was still occupied with these
thoughts when a pale young man of a slight figure and dis-
tinguished appearance approached her and said, "Are you
in search of a situation?" "Yes, sir." "Well, go to a
certain street and number, to the house of Madame .
I think you will suit her, and that you will be satisfied
there." Having spoken these words, he disappeared in the
passing crowd, without waiting to receive the poor girl's
thanks.
She found the streejt, recognised the number, and
ascended to the apartments. A servant came out carry-
ing a package under her arm and uttering words of com-
plaint and anger. "Is Madame there?" asked the
newcomer. "She may or she may not be," replied the
other. "What does it matter to me? Madame will
open the door herself if it suits her ; I will trouble myself
no longer about it. Adieu!" And she descended the
steps.
Our poor girl rang the bell with trembling hand, and a
sweet voice bade her enter. She found herself in the
presence of an old lady of venerable appearance, who
encouraged her to make known her wishes.
" Madame," said the servant, " I learned this morning
that you are in need of a servant, and I came to offer my
services. I was assured that you would receive me kindly."
" Oh, but, my dear child, what you tell me is very extraor-
dinary. This morning I had no need of one ; it is only
within the last half-hour that I have discharged an insolent
domestic, and there is not a soul in the world except her
and myself who know it. Who sent you, then ? " " It was
a gentleman, Madame ; a young gentleman whom I met on
the street, who stopped me for this purpose, and I praised
God for it, for it is absolutely necessary for me to find a
place to-day ; I have not a penny in my pocket."
The old lady could not understand who the person was,
and was lost in conjecture, when the servant raising her
eyes to the furniture of the little parlour, perceived a
portrait. "Wait, Madame," she said immediately, "do
not puzzle yourself any more ; this is the exact picture of
the young man who spoke to me. It is on his account
that I am come."
At these words the lady uttered a loud cry and seemed
to lose consciousness. She made the girl repeat the story
of her devotion to the souls in Purgatory, of the morning
Mass, and her meeting with the stranger ; then throwing
herself on the neck of the girl, she embraced her amid a
flood of tears and said, "You shall not be my servant
from this moment ; you are my daughter. It is my son,
my only son, whom you saw — my son, dead for the past
two years, who owes to you his deliverance, whom God
directed to send you here. I cannot doubt it. May
you, then, be blessed, and let us pray continually for all
those who suffer before entering into a blessed eternity."
Exract from Purgatory Explained by Father Schouppe SJ.
Tan Books
Let us continue to pray and sacrifice ourselves for our paralytics, sinners, and all the souls in purgatory.
Keep up the Great Work,
In Christ,
Big Brother #2
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