A story for every day...

I am writing to you, a poor girl who has earned my living since I was fifteen years old by serving others; I am now forty years old; I assure you that I have seen all kinds of things; but at this moment, I am being tested more than ever. I had been in the service of a young lady for twenty-eight months; I had warned her that I would go back to my parents, who very much wanted me to go with them, being very old and unwell; however, I gave my mistress all the time she needed to find a good girl. She took one, and told me that I would go when I wanted to, that she would not send me away. Today she sends me away at the beginning of winter, and in the meantime my parents have been taken in by the Little Sisters of the Poor and no longer ask for me. So here I am on the streets; I didn’t know which way to turn; I recommended myself to Saint Joseph; I made a novena of fasts and one of communions; I prayed to him with all my heart; I didn’t ask him for anything else than to find me a place where I could serve the good God and love Him until my last breath. I prayed and prayed and got nothing. Finally, one day, I realized that I was calmer; I was no longer so tormented: that was certainly a lot; I resigned myself to the will of the good Lord. But there was no place to go, and my mistress made me suffer as much as she could, repeating that I was free to leave whenever I wanted, that she would be happy when I went, and she told everyone that. My poor heart was so sick, it couldn’t take it anymore.

Finally, one Wednesday evening, I went before the altar of Saint Joseph; this is what I said to him: “Good Saint Joseph, I do not deserve that you listen to me, because I do not pray well enough; if, however, you want to hear me, I will bring an offering to your altar, and on Wednesday I will burn two candles there, and I will fast in your honor.” After all these beautiful promises, I go out quietly, saying to myself, “I will not worry about anything more; Saint Joseph has my business in his hands: to find a place for me, let him do what he will.”

On Thursday, while I was having dinner, I heard the doorbell ring, I looked, I saw a person dressed in black. It was one of my friends, I said to her: “Well, here you are! – Yes,” she said, “I’ve come to fetch you; Mr. Principal needs a cook and he’s out there on the road walking around waiting for us.” I made no other reply than this: “It was Saint Joseph who found me this place.” I assure you, my reverend Father, that I will be faithful to all my promises.

Mary L….

So often in life, problems seem to us without solution! But Saint Joseph, to whom God lends His power, can solve everything like child’s play. Let us turn to him with unshakeable faith in each of our needs.