There was a good priest, named Father Beauregard, who was well known for his inspiring sermons. Whenever word got out that he was going to preach, large crowds flocked to hear him.

One day, he returned home from giving a sermon on Divine Providence. No sooner did he get back than he received a visitor. A man that he had never met came and asked for a few moments to speak with the priest.

"Most willingly, my friend," replied Father Beauregard. The kind priest then pulled up a chair, and asked the man to sit down.

The stranger sat and began,

"Sir, you preached a magnificent sermon. No one could have done better. And you spoke in strong terms of the trust we should place in the Providence of God. Now, I do not agree with what you said on this matter, because I do not believe that there is a Providence."

The priest asked in surprise,

"What? Not believe in the Providence of God? How can you for a moment doubt the watchful care He has over us?"

"No, sir," said the other, "for me there is no Providence. Hear me, and judge for yourself. I am a carpenter by trade. I have a wife and three little children. We are honest, simple-living people, and have never done wrong to anyone."

"I believe this without any difficulty," said the good Father, "but what does all this have to do with your disbelief in Providence?"

With some impatience, the carpenter replied,

"If you listen to me, I will tell you. I have a sum of money to pay on the thirtieth day of this month, and I cannot pay it, for I do not have the means. I asked many of those who used to call me their friend. But they would not come to my assistance. And my relatives are as poor as I am, so they could not help me. I finally decided to end my miserable life by drowning myself in the river."

" But how," Father Beauregard interrupted, "With these awful thoughts in your mind, how did you end up, of all places, at my sermon?"

"Oh, sir," replied the carpenter, "I had no intention of going to hear you preach. It was all by chance. As I happened to pass near the church, I saw a large multitude of people going in. I asked one of them what was going on. He told me that they were assembling to hear a great preacher. I went in along with the people from simple curiosity to hear what this preacher had to say. I heard you preach. I felt interested, and remained till you had finished. All that you said was indeed very beautiful and interesting. But, sir, in reflecting on my bygone life, I saw nothing to reproach myself with. So I could not bring myself to act as you suggested, nor even to believe in the existence of a Providence."

The priest replied kindly,

"My dear friend, listen to me. You tell me you went into the church, by chance, without any serious reason for doing so, and that you heard me speak on the Providence of God. You have come to visit me, and have told me of your difficulties and of the narrow escape from the terrible death you had foolishly intended to inflict upon yourself. Is that in itself not a proof of God’s Providence over you?"

The man seemed quite struck by the point made. After a moment’s silence he said,

"Yes, sir. What you say is, indeed, true. But that will not enable me to pay my debt on the thirtieth of this month."

Father Beauregard was very moved by this poor man’s story. He also thought for a few moments in silence. Suddenly he exclaimed,

"Listen! I believe that you are, indeed, as unfortunate as you say, and that these misfortunes have fallen upon you without any fault on your part. I do not believe that you are trying to deceive me. How much money would you need to meet the bills which will then be due? I am not rich, but perhaps I might be able to assist you a little."

"Oh, sir, how kind of you! One hundred crowns would enable me to pay all I am due."

Father Beauregard arose, and, opening his desk, pulled out a sum of money.

"Here is exactly the amount you need," he said.

A wave of astonishment and relief swept over the poor carpenter. The good priest went on to explain,

"I could not possibly have given you so much by myself. But a few days ago, after attending my sermon on Almsgiving, the good Princess sent me this money. She requested that I spend it on some work of charity as I thought best. Take it, and I am sure that in the future you will have confidence in the Providence of our Heavenly Father."

Gratitude filled the man’s heart as he accepted the money. From then on, he became very devout. And never again was he heard to complain against the Providence of God.