A peasant had lost all that he possessed through a fire. Hay, tools, and barns were burned down, and the man was reduced to begging. One day, through the advice of his wife, he went to ask help from a nobleman who had a mansion nearby and who was known to be very generous toward the poor. The poor man intended to tell of the misfortune that had befallen him and ask the nobleman for an alms.

But when he got near the mansion, a strange fright took hold of him. He was afraid to enter the rich man’s presence without knowing by what title to address him. Was he to say, "Your Grace," or " Your Excellency," or "My Lord"? He went over all the titles he could think of, but could not decide which one was the correct one.

At last he was so afraid of offending the nobleman by addressing him by the wrong title, that he turned away from the door and started back for home. On his way he passed a church and went in. Kneeling down he devoutly said an Our Father, begging God to help him in his distress.

As he prayed, a thought came into his mind. How simple is the title we give to Almighty God, the title His Own Son bade us to use: "Our Father." When one speaks to God, one does not feel shy or embarrassed or fearful of using the wrong title, but one merely addresses Him with the confidence and love that He deserves and wants.

Contemplating all these points, the peasant left the church, and as he walked home, he repeated the Our Father. On reaching his house, he found to his delight and immense gratitude that God, his Father, had answered his prayer and already come to his aid! The good man’s wife handed him a considerable sum of money. The peasant then learned, to his delight and surprise, that the same nobleman he had feared to insult earlier that day was actually the one responsible for most of the alms.

How creative and loving of God to add that special touch and use the nobleman to come to the poor man’s aid. While grace was moving the peasant to confidence in God, He was inspiring the nobleman to charity towards his neighbor. God desired for both, each in their own way, to grow in virtue - and therefore happiness. Their difference in rank was no difference to God, Who truly loves each of us and will always be Our Father.