How a Servant Girl Found Her Mother — A True Story from Purgatory
In a quiet town in France many years ago, there lived a humble servant named Jeanne Marie. She owned very little, but her heart overflowed with love — especially for the souls suffering in Purgatory.
One Sunday, Jeanne Marie listened to a sermon that changed her life forever. The priest spoke about the forgotten souls in Purgatory — those who longed for Heaven but remained detained, waiting for the prayers and Masses of those still on earth.
He explained with deep sorrow that many souls are only one Mass away from Heaven, yet they remain in suffering because no one remembers to pray for them.
These words pierced Jeanne Marie’s heart. She resolved that no matter how poor she was, she would have a Holy Mass offered every month for the souls in Purgatory — especially for the soul nearest to Heaven.
It wasn’t easy. Her wages were small, and there were days when her stomach went empty. But her devotion never wavered. Month after month, she kept her promise to the Holy Souls.
The Test of Faith
One winter, Jeanne Marie traveled to Paris with her employer and suddenly fell ill. She was brought to a hospital, where she stayed for several weeks until she recovered.
When she was finally well enough to leave, she discovered she had only one franc left — the last of her earnings.
She stood outside the hospital, weak and alone. That single coin was all she had for food, lodging, and travel. But at that very moment, she remembered — it was the end of the month. She had not yet offered her Mass for the Holy Souls.
For a moment, her human need wrestled with her faith. Should she keep the franc to eat… or give it for the Mass?
After a prayerful pause, she made her choice. “The Holy Souls have never failed me,” she whispered. With unshaken trust, she entered the nearest church and offered her last franc to the priest for Mass.
A Mysterious Stranger
After Mass, Jeanne Marie left the church with a heavy heart, unsure where to go next. Outside, a kind-looking young man approached her. Seeing her distress, he asked gently, “Are you in trouble, mademoiselle?”
Jeanne Marie, moved by his kindness, told him her story — her sickness, her poverty, and her search for work.
The young man listened with sympathy and said warmly, “I know a lady who is in need of a servant. Follow me, and I will bring you to her.”
He led her through several streets until they reached a fine house. “Ring the bell,” he told her with a smile. “You will be welcome here.” Then, without another word, he turned and disappeared.
The Miracle Unfolds
The door opened, and a well-dressed lady appeared. “Madam,” Jeanne Marie said shyly, “I was told you are looking for a servant. I am in need of work.”
The lady looked astonished. “Who told you that? It’s impossible! I dismissed my maid only a few minutes ago. No one could have known.”
Jeanne Marie, equally surprised, replied, “It was a young man who brought me here.”
The lady’s eyes widened. “A young man?”
“Yes, madam,” Jeanne Marie said, glancing at a portrait hanging on the wall. Suddenly, her breath caught. “That’s him! That’s the man who guided me here!”
The woman turned pale. “My child,” she whispered, trembling, “that is my son… He died over a year ago.”
A holy silence filled the room. Jeanne Marie told the astonished mother about the Mass she had offered that very morning — her last franc given for the soul closest to Heaven.
The lady burst into tears. “Now I understand,” she said. “Your Mass freed my son’s soul. He has come to thank you — and to lead you to me.”
From Servant to Daughter
From that day on, Jeanne Marie was no longer a servant but a beloved daughter in that home. The lady cared for her with love and gratitude, convinced that God had united them through her son’s deliverance.
And Jeanne Marie never ceased to offer Masses for the souls in Purgatory — with even greater faith and devotion than before.
A Lesson for Us All
This story reminds us of a truth often forgotten:
Every Mass, every prayer, every sacrifice for the souls in Purgatory is never wasted.
Somewhere beyond this world, a soul may be waiting for your one act of kindness — your prayer, your rosary, your offering — to finally reach Heaven.
And when they do, they do not forget.
Their gratitude becomes your blessing.
“It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.”
— 2 Maccabees 12:46
Reflection Question:
When was the last time you offered a Mass for the souls in Purgatory?
Perhaps today, one soul is waiting — just one prayer away from Heaven.
