There was in Naples a very poor family whose livelihood depended on the scant daily earnings which the father brought home every evening. Things got so bad that one day, the poor father was sent to prison for a debt that he was unable to pay. The responsibility of supporting the family now rested upon the unhappy mother. She fervently asked God to come to the aid of their family, and especially to deliver her husband, who suffered in prison for no other crime than his poverty.

Shortly thereafter, the poor woman went to a wealthy gentleman, and explained the sad state of her family to him. With tears, she implored him to assist her family. But God permitted that such a plea from her would receive but a meager response from the gentleman. He gave her a trifling alms, a carlin, a piece of money worth about ten cents of our coin.

Deeply afflicted, she entered a church and begged God to help her in her distress. She was absorbed in her prayers and tears, when she was inspired to appeal to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. For she had heard much of their sufferings, and of their gratitude towards those who help them.

Rising from the pew, she went into the sacristy, and offered her carlin to the priest who was there. She asked if a Mass could be celebrated for the dead, and the good priest generously and immediately offered a Mass for her intention. The poor woman fervently assisted at the Holy Sacrifice, offering her prayers for the departed. Once the Mass had been offered, she felt quite consoled, as though she had just been assured that God would hear her prayer.

As she made her way home through the populous streets of Naples, she was met by a kind old man. He asked her where she came from and where she was going. The unfortunate woman explained her distress, and what she did with the small alms she had received.

The old man seemed deeply touched by her grief, and spoke some words of encouragement. Then he gave her a note enclosed in an envelope, and told her to take it to a certain gentleman whom he described. Having done this, the man turned and walked away.

The woman hurried to deliver the note to the gentleman. When this man opened the envelope, he became so shocked that he almost fainted!

"Where did you get this letter?" he cried, quite beside himself.

"Sir," replied the good woman, "it was from an old man who stopped me in the street. I told him of my distress, and he sent me to give you this note in his name. As regards his features, he very much resembles that portrait which you have there over the door."

That portrait was of the gentleman’s father, who had died some time previous. But as he turned over the strange circumstances in his mind, they made a deeper and deeper impression upon him. He then held up the note, and read aloud:

"My son, your father has just been delivered from Purgatory, thanks to a Mass which the bearer has had celebrated this morning. She is in great distress, and I entrust her to you."

He read and re-read those lines, traced by that hand so dear to him, by a father who was now among the happy souls in Heaven. Tears of joy coursed down his cheeks as he turned towards the woman and said.

"Poor woman, by your trifling alms you have secured the eternal happiness of him who gave me life. In my turn I will secure your temporal happiness. I take upon myself to supply all the needs of yourself and your whole family."

What joy for that gentleman! What joy for that poor woman! It is hard to know who was happier. What is easier and more important to see, from this wonderful incident, is that the smallest act of charity towards the Church Suffering is precious in the sight of God. And it earns for us powerful friends in Heaven who will always be ready to come to our aid - until we have the happiness of joining them in the next life.