• The Spiritist Practice

• The Spiritist Conscience
• The Spiritist Worker
• The Good Spiritists
• The Mission of Spiritists
• Spirit of Truth
• Messages from the Spirits
• Propagation of Spiritism

●  The Spiritist Practice

·   All Spiritist practices are gratuitous, following the orientation of the moral principle found in the Gospel: "Give for free what you receive for free."

·   Spiritism is practiced with simplicity, without any external forms of worship, within the Christian principle that God should be worshipped in spirit and in truth.

·   Spiritism has no clergy, nor does it adopt or use at any of its meetings or during its practices the following: altars, images, candles, processions, sacraments, concession of indulgences, paraments, alcoholic or hallucinogenic beverages, incense, tobacco, talismans, amulets, horoscopes, cartomancy, pyramids, crystals, or any other objects, rituals or external forms of worship.

·   Spiritism does not impose its principles.  It invites those interested in knowing it to submit its teachings to the test of reason before accepting them.

·   Mediumship, which allows the Spirits to communicate with Human Beings, is a faculty which many individuals bring with them at birth, independent of whatever religion or beliefs they may come to adopt.

·   Spiritist mediumship practice is solely that which is exercised based on the principles of the Spiritist Doctrine and within the Christian morality.

·   Spiritism respects all religions and doctrines; values all efforts towards the practice of goodness; works towards peace and fellowship between all nations and all peoples, regardless of race, color, nationality, creed, cultural or social standing. It also recognizes that the truly good person is one who complies with the laws of justice, love, and charity in their highest degree of purity.

(INTERNATIONAL SPIRITIST COUNCIL, Preparation of Workers for Spiritist Activities  Oct. 99)

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 ● The Spiritist Conscience

You declare that you do not understand the purpose for so much self-reproach in the messages given by discarnate spiritists. So-and-so, who had an excellent service report on earth, states in a communication that he did not act as well as he should have while living there.  Another, known by great virtues, communicates through several mediums that he deplores the precious time wasted…. And you, on your turn, after taking in these interesting statements, declare: “The impression is that our fellow spiritists speaking from the Great Beyond are tormented by terrible feelings of guilt.  How to explain this phenomenon?”

          My dear fellow, believe me when I say that I personally have a heartfelt admiration for spiritists as being tireless builders of progress, and true workers for the Revival of Christianity.  They received so much freedom to interpret the teachings of Jesus, that, in all sincerity, I am not aware in this world of any individuals with a faith more favored with reasoning for dealing with the problems of life and the Universe. Repositories of extensive knowledge, it is right that spiritists keep worrying on accomplishing much and increasingly more in support of so many brothers and sisters on Earth who are still held back by illusions and disbelief as far as their faith is concerned.

          It is said that Allan Kardec, while gathering the texts from which The Spirits’ Book would originate, on a certain night went to bed greatly impressed by an account of a dream Martin Luther once had.  The great Reformer, in his days, had the conviction of having been in paradise garnering information regarding celestial bliss.

          Greatly moved, Kardec, the codifier of the Spiritist Doctrine, went to sleep and also saw himself out of his body, in a singular out-of-body experience.  There, next to him, he identified an envoy of the Sublime Planes who transported him, unexpectedly, to a place submerged in fog, where thousands of beings groaned in horrible suffering. Sobs of affliction were heard mixed with shoutings of wrath, and blasphemies followed shrieks of crazy laughter. 

            Amazed, and recalling the tyrants of History, Kardec inquired:

          “Are these the ones who crucified Jesus? “

          “No, not one of them,” replied the solicitous guide. “Although carrying the burden of their responsibility, they were in essence ignorant of the evil they were committing.  The Master himself helped them get rid of their remorse, extending to them blessed reincarnations wherein they paid their transgressions to the Law. “ 

         “Are they then the Roman emperors?  For they certainly must suffer in this place the very same pain they inflicted upon Humanity.”

         “No, nothing of the sort. Men like Tiberius or Caligula did not possess the minimum notion of spirituality. Some of them, after several regenerative periods on Earth, have already risen to more advanced planes, while others are still interned in the physical realm, at the brink of redemption.“ 

         “By any chance, are the imprisoned in these gloomy gorges the torturers of the Christians of the first centuries of the Gospel?” asked the visitor.

        “Indeed not,” answered the lucid companion. “The torturers of the followers of Jesus in the apostolic days were men and women who were almost savages in spite of the outer coats of civilization they displayed. They have been all guided towards reincarnation to acquire instruction and understanding.”

           The codifier of Spiritism thought of the conquerors of Antiquity such as Attila, Alaric, Hannibal, and Genghis Khan.  However, before being able to utter a new question, the envoy, following Kardec’s thought, replied:

          “The warriors you remember are not wandering around here.  They knew nothing about the realities of the spirit and, for that reason, received pious assistance.  They were directed to other reincarnations to atone for their transgressions according to the faults they had committed.”

           “Then tell me,” pleaded Kardec, extremely moved,  “who are these sufferers whose howling and curses are crushing my soul?” 

           Unperturbed, the guide clarified:

           “We have here with us the ones who were on Earth fully educated and aware of the significance of Goodness and Truth, but who deliberately turned away from Truth and Goodness, especially the unfaithful Christians from every epoch, perfectly knowledgeable of the lessons and examples of Christ, but who nonetheless gave in to evil on their own free will.  For them, a new beginning on Earth is always more difficult.”

           Shocked with the unexpected response, Kardec returned to his body, and immediately thereafter stood up and wrote down the question he would present the following night to the mentors of the work in progress, and which would become Question number 642 of The Spirits’ Book: “In order to be acceptable in the sight of God, and to insure our future happiness, is it sufficient not to have done evil?” To which the instructors replied:  “No; it is necessary for each to have done good also, to the utmost limit of his ability; each of you will have to answer, not only for all the evil he has done, but also for all the good which he has failed to do.”

           As is easy to perceive, my dear friend, it seems natural that the spiritist conscience, based on such clear and logical principles, turns out to be quite different when compared to the ideas dominating the religions of the majority.

IRMÃO X – Medium: F. C. Xavier

From Letters and Chronicles - no. 7, Ed. FEB

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 ● The Spiritist Worker 

Having the basic principles of the Spiritist Doctrine as the guideline outlining its practice, and the direction set by its moral teachings, the spiritist worker:

a) Understands the importance of the Spiritist Doctrine, and the benefits it brings to Humanity in general and to human beings in particular.

b) Determines to serve in the task of promoting the study, dissemination, and practice of Spiritism, in a spontaneous, voluntary, conscientious, and free of charge manner.

c) Seeks to know and to study in depth the fundamental teachings of the Spiritist Doctrine, as contained in Kardec’s Codification, and which will serve as guideline and basis for his/her work.

d) Comprehends and respects the differences in understanding that can exist among fellow spiritists and institutions; highlights and values the similar points which appear in the work done jointly; and strengthens the overall union by the practice of true fraternity in order for the work of dissemination of the Doctrine to be carried out without delay.

e) Recognizes that the workers' fraternal union is crucial for the preservation of the Spiritist institution where they work; and that the union of the Spiritist institutions is fundamental for the work that seeks to place the Spiritist Doctrine at the reach and service of all Humanity.

f) Recognizes that, in the execution of the spiritist activities, the spiritist follower will always be at the service of Christ, and under the guide of the Superior Spirits.

g) Understands that the basic task of the spiritist worker is to promote the Spiritist Doctrine with humility, disinterestedness, and without any other purpose but the practice of Charity.

h) Recognizes that his/her participation in the study, dissemination, and practice of the Spiritist Doctrine for the benefit of all Humanity adds to the efforts of his/her own betterment.

i) Participates in the Spiritist activities with the sole purpose of serving, accepting with good will and responsibility the tasks that are entrusted to him/her without any demands, and without awaiting or conditioning his/her participation to any specific titles, positions, or functions of personal prominence.

j) Evaluates constantly his/her own work, noting specifically:

If he/she is being faithful to the principles of the Spiritist Doctrine as contained in Allan Kardec's basic works; and

If he/she is up to the to the investments, spiritual as well as material, that the Divine Providence is making in his/her favor.

k) Tries to put into practice the motto by which Allan Kardec lived:

“WORK, SOLIDARITY, and TOLERANCE.”

(INTERNATIONAL SPIRITIST COUNCIL, Preparation of Workers for Spiritist Activities  Oct. 99)

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 ● The Good Spiritists

Spiritism, when thoroughly understood and above all when deeply and sincerely felt, leads to the results already expounded, which characterize the true Spiritist just as much as the true Christian, for they are one and the same. Spiritism does not institute any new morals; it only makes it easier for mankind to understand and practise Christ’s morals by given unshakable and enlightened faith to those who are in doubt or who waver.

Meanwhile, many of those who believe in the fact of mediumistic manifestations do not comprehend the consequences nor the far reaching moral effects, or if they do, then they do not apply them to themselves. To what is this attributed? Is it due to some failing in the clarity of the doctrine? No, because it does not contain any allegories or forms which could lead to false interpretations. Clarity is the very essence from which it gets its strength, because it touches Man’s intelligence directly. There is no mystery, and those who are initiated are not in possession of any secrets hidden from the people.

It is indispensable then to possess an outstanding intelligence in order to understand? No, in as much as there are people of notable capacities who do not understand, whereas there are many of the ordinary intelligence, even young people, who grasp the meaning of even the most delicate points with remarkable precision. This proves that the so called physical part of science only requires eyes to be able to observe, while the essential part demands a certain degree of sensitivity, which can be called maturity in the moral sense and which is quite independent of age or level of education, because it is peculiar to the spiritual advancement of the incarnate soul.

 In some people, material ties are still too strong for them to be able to release themselves from earthly things. A kind of mist with which they are surrounded, does not allow them to see into the infinite future. This results in the fact of them not being able to break away from old tendencies or habits because they cannot see that there exists something better than what they already have. They believe in Spirits as a simple fact. But this modifies none or very few of their instinctive tendencies. In a word, they perceive nothing more than a small ray of light insufficient to guide them or offer profound aspirations which would make it possible for them to overcome their inclinations. The phenomenon touches them more than the morality, which seems to them to be hackneyed and monotonous.

 They ask only that the Spirits unceasingly initiate new mysteries, without asking themselves if they have become worthy of penetrating the hidden secrets of the Creator as yet. These then are the imperfect Spiritists, some of whom have remained stationary in time or have turned away from their brother’s and sister’s faith, due to their having drawn back before the necessity of self-reform, or perhaps they have kept sympathy with those who share the same weaknesses or prejudices. Nevertheless, the acceptance of the fundamental principles of the Doctrine is the first step, from which it will be easier for them to take a second step in a future life.

 The person who can be justifiably classified as a true and sincere Spiritist is to be found on a superior level of moral progress. The spirit of this person almost completely dominates their physical body, so giving them a clearer perception of the future. The principles of the doctrine, which leave many untouched, cause them to feel deep inner vibrations. In short, their heart is moved and this is what makes their faith unshakable. It is like a musician who is touched by only a few chords, whereas another person hears only sounds. The true Spiritist can be recognized by their moral transformation and by the efforts they employ in order to dominate their bad instincts. While one is content with a limited horizon, the other, who understands that better things exist, makes every effort to liberate himself and always manages to do this when their desire is strong and true.

 The Gospel According to Spiritism – Ch. 17, item 4

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 ● The Mission of Spiritists

Do you not already hear the noise of the tempest which will sweep away the old world and destroy all the iniquities of this planet? Ah, praise the Lord all those who have put their faith in His sovereign justice and who, as new apostles of the belief revealed by the superior prophetical voices, go forth to preach the new doctrine of reincarnation and the elevation of Spirits according to whether they have fulfilled their missions and supported their terrestrial trials well or badly.

Do not be afraid! The tongues of fire are above your heads. Oh, true adepts of Spiritism!… you are God’s chosen ones! Go forth and preach the Divine World. The time has come when you should sacrifice your habits, your work, and your futile occupations to its dissemination. Go forth and preach! The Elevated spirits are with you. You will most certainly speak to those who do not wish to hear the Voice of God, because this Voice calls them unceasingly to abnegation. You will preach disinterestedness to those who are avaricious, abstinence to the dissolute, gentleness to domestic tyrants and despots! Lost words, I know, but it does not matter. It is necessary that you irrigate the land to be sown with the sweat of your labour, seeing that it will not come to fruit nor produce except under the repeated blows of the evangelical hoe and plough. Go forth and preach!

To all of you, men and women of good faith who are conscious of your inferiority before the many worlds scattered in infinite space!… Launch yourselves into the crusade against injustice and iniquity. Go forth and ostracize the worship of the golden calf, which spreads more and more each day. Go forth; God guides you! Simple and ignorant humanity, your tongues will be freed and you will speak as no orator speaks. Go forth then and preach, for those of the population who are heedful will happily take in your words of consolation, fraternity, hope and peace.

What matter the ambushes rigged against you along the pathway! Only wolves fall into wolf traps, since the Shepherd will know how to defend His sheep from the sacrificial butchers.

Go forth those who, great before God and more blessed than Saint Thomas, believe without demanding to see and accept the fact of mediumship even when they have not managed to obtain it for themselves. Go then, for the Spirit of God is guiding you.

March forward, magnificent phalanx of faith! Before you the great battalions of unbelievers will dissipate, as does the morning dew at the first rays of sun.

Jesus said that faith is the virtue which moves mountains. However, heavier than the greatest mountains are the impurities and all the vices which are derived from them, which lie deposited in the hearts of men. So then, depart full of courage to remove this mountain of iniquities which future generations should only known as legend, in the same way that you know only very imperfectly of the times which preceded pagan civilization.

Moral and philosophical upheavals will be produced at all points of the globe; the hour approaches when the Divine Light will spread itself over both worlds.

Erastus, guardian angel of the medium - Paris, 1863)

(The Gospel According to Spiritism – Ch. 20 – Item 4) 

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 ● THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH

The Spirit of Truth first revealed Itself to Allan Kardec on March 25, 1856, at the house of Mr. Baudin though the mediumship of Miss Baudin, as described by Kardec in his Posthumous Works (26^th Ed. FEB, Pgs. 273-275). 

Messages of the Spirit of Truth 

“The Spirits of the Lord, who are the Virtue of Heaven, move as does an immense army upon receiving orders from their commander, spreading our over the face of the Earth and, similar to the stars which fall one after the another from the skies, are come to illuminate pathways and open the eyes of those who cannot see.

In truth I say unto you the times are come when all things will be established in their true light, when the darkness shall be dissipated, the prideful confounded and the just glorified.

The great voices of heaven reverberate the sound of trumpets and the choirs of angels assemble.  Mankind, we are inviting you to this divine concert.  Take the harp and lift up your voices in unison so that, in a sacred chorus, the sound may extend and re-echo from one extreme of the universe to the other.

Fellow beings, beloved brothers and sisters, we are beside you.  Love one another and say from the bottom of your hearts: Lord! Lord! In so doing you fulfill the wishes of the Father who is in Heaven; then you too may enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.”

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“I have come, as I came on another occasion to those misguided sons and daughters of Israel, to bring the truth and to dissipate the darkness. Harken unto me! As my words in the past have done, so, must Spiritism remind the incredulous that above them reigns the immutable truth which is the existence of the good God, the great God, who causes the plants to germinate and the waves to rise up. As a reaper I have gathered in sheaves the scattered goodness in the breasts of humanity and said: ‘Come unto me, all you who suffer.’

But Man with ungratefulness has moved away from the straight and wide path which leads to the Kingdom of my Father and has followed the bleak pathways of impiety.  My Father does not wish to annihilate the human race; He wants the living and the dead, that is to say those who are dead according to the flesh because death does not exist, to assist each other mutually and listen no more to the voice of the prophets and apostles, but listen to those who no longer live upon Earth and proclaim: ‘ Pray and believe! Death is the resurrection and life is an ordeal you seek, during which the virtues you have cultivated will grow and develop, even as the cedar tree.”

Those of you who are weak and know the obscurity of your own minds, do no deviate from the beacon which divine clemency has put into your hands so as to enlighten your pathway and reconduct you, who are lost children, once again to the bosom of the Father.

I am too much overcome with compassion for your miseries and by your immense weakness no to extend a helping hand to all those unhappily misguided who, while looking up to Heaven, fall into the pit of error.  Do not mix the chaff with the good seed, nor the Utopias with the truth.

Spiritists! Love one another, that is the first precept; educate yourselves is the second.

Within Christianity you will find all the truths. The errors in which Man has become enrooted are all of human origin. Here from beyond the grave, where you thought there was nothing voices clamor: ‘Brothers and sisters! Nothing perishes! Jesus-Christ is the victor over evil, you can be the victors over impiety.’” (Paris, 1860)

(“Christ the Consoler” - The Gospel According to Spiritism - Ch. 6 - Item 5)  

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 “I have come to instruct and console the poor disinherited. I have come to tell them to raise uo their resignation to the level of their trials, and to weep, since pain was consecrated in the Garden of Olives. But wait, with patience, for the consoling angels will also come to them and dry their tears.

Workers, plan your path! Recommence the following day the wearisome labour of the previous day.  The work done by your hands furnishes the body with earthly bread; however, your souls are not forgotten.  I, the divine Gardener, cultivate them in the silence of your thoughts.  When the time comes for repose and the thread of life slips through your fingers and your eyes are closed to the light, you will feel the surging within and the germination of My precious seed.  Nothing is lost in the Kingdom of your Father.  Your sweat and miseries form the treasure that will make you rich in the superior spheres, where light substitutes the darkness and where the most naked of you will perhaps become the most resplendent.

In truth I say unto you that those who bear their burdens and help their brothers and sisters are beloved by Me. Instruct yourselves in the precious doctrine which dissipates the error of revolt and shows the sublime object of human trials.

As the wind sweeps the dust, so the breeze of the Spirits dissipates your resentment against the riches of the world, which are frequently very pitiable, since they are subject to more dangerous trials than yours.  I am with you and My apostle will instruct you.  So, you who are kept captive by life, drink from the living spring of love and be prepared to one day launch yourselves, free and happy, upon the bosom of He Who created you weak so that you might become perfect; Who desires that you model your own pliable clay in order to be the author of your own immortality. (Paris, 1861) 

(“Christ the Consoler” - The Gospel According to Spiritism – Ch. 6 - Item 6) 

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“I am the great Physician of souls and I have come to bring you the remedy that will cure. The weak, the suffering and the sick are My favorite children and I am come to save them. Come them unto me, you who suffer and find yourselves oppressed, and you will be alleviated and consoled. Do not search for strength and consolation elsewhere, as the world is impotent to offer them. God directs a supreme appeal to your hearts, by means of Spiritism. Listen to Him.

Eradicate impiety, lies, error and incredulity from your aching souls.  They are like monsters who such the purest of your blood and open wounds which are almost always mortal.

Thus, in the future, when you have become humble and submissive to the Creator, you will keep His divine law. Love, pray, be gentle to the Spirits of the Lord, and call unto them from the bottom of your hearts. Then He will send you His beloved son to instruct you and to say these goodly words: I am come because you called me.” (Bordeaux, 1861)

 (“Christ the Consoler” - The Gospel According to Spiritism - Ch. 6 - Item 7)

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“The time approaches when those things which have been announced for the transformation of humanity will be accomplished. All those who have worked in the field of the Lord with disinterestedness and no other motive than charity will be blessed! Their working days will be paid a hundred times more than was expected.

Blessed are those who have said to their fellow men: ‘Let us work together and unite our efforts, so that when the Lord arrives He will find His work finished', seeing that, the Lord will say to them: ‘Come unto me, you who have been good servants, you who knew how to silence your rivalries and discords, so that no harm should come to the work!'

But, woe to those who as a result of their dissentions have held back the time of the harvest, because the tempest will come and they will be taken away in the turbulence! They will cry out: ‘Mercy! Mercy!’ However, the Lord will say to them: ‘How can you implore mercy when you had none for your fellow men and refused to offer them a helping hand, trampling on the weak instead of upholding them? How can you beseech mercy when you sought your recompense in earthly pleasures and the satisfaction of your pride? You have already received your recompense, just as you wished.  There is nothing more to ask for; the celestial rewards are for those who have not looked for earthly compensations.’

At this very moment God is preparing a census of His faithful servants, and has already taken note of those whose devotion is only appearance so that they may not usurp the wages of the courageous servants, because those who do not draw back from the task are the ones to whom He entrusted the most difficult positions in the great work of regeneration by means of Spiritism.  These words can be fulfilled: ‘The first shall be the last and the last shall be the first in the Kingdom of Heaven.’”  (Paris, 1862)

(“The Workers of the Last Hour” - The Gospel According to Spiritism – Ch. 20, Item 5)  

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 “God consoles the humble and gives strength to the afflicted when they ask. His might covers the Earth and in every place, with each tear shed, He places a consoling remedy. Abnegation and resignation are a continuous prayer and contain profound teaching. Human wisdom resides in these two words.

Would that all suffering Spirits could understand this truth, instead of clamouring against their pain and moral sufferings which it behoves them to partake.  So, take these two words for your motto: devotion and abnegation – and you will be strong as they resume all the obligations which charity and humility impose.

The sentiment of fulfilled duty will give repose and resignation to you Spirit.  Then your heart will beat more steadily, your soul become more tranquil and your body be protected against despondency.  This is why the body feels that much weaker according to how profound the Spirit is stricken.”  (Havre, 1863)

(“Christ the Consoler” - The Gospel According to Spiritism - Ch. 6 - Item 8)

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●  MESSAGES FROM THE SPIRITS

GUIDE FOR THE NEW POSTURE OF A GOOD PERSON AT THE BEGINNING OF THE THIRD MILLENIUM

In the morning hours, open your channels of communication with the Superior Spirits for the necessary loving encouragement that will inspire the tasks to be accomplished that day.  At that time, pray for all humanity, for family and acquaintances, and with the needed serenity, bless the ones immersed in crisis and despair.

Then, go through your daily living distributing blessings in the form of caring, attention and service, support and good counseling to others, while you perform the duties of your day.

In the matter of atonement that another human being is experiencing, give him/her all possible help, but continue to move on, as other opportunities of service will appear along the way and it is absolutely necessary that we maintain our serenity.

We have to avoid imprisoning ourselves mentally to the pains and difficulties of others.  Do your part, and in your moments of respite and regrouping, take a rest, and just pray for them.  Be open to the moment ahead of you and don’t chain yourselves to past issues, where the efforts to help have been accomplished for that circumstance.  There certainly will be a time, if called for, for another round of fraternal assistance in the continuation of the help we have already given.

At night, after a day of plenty of good deeds, we will certainly have spiritual reunions of great happiness.  If we apply ourselves in our endeavors, we will earn the merit to participate in the banquet of blessings, served generously by Jesus to all His loyal servants.

Bezerra de Menezes

(Excerpts from a message transcribed in SEI Bulletin, 2003)

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 ● Propagation of Spiritism   

THE PROPAGATION OF SPIRITISM WILL GO THROUGH 4 DISTINCT PHASES:

1.  Curiosity.  Phase wherein rappings played the most important role in order to call attention to the phenomena, and open the way.

2.  Observation.  This phase will cover the philosophical period wherein Spiritism is deepened and purified, a time when the doctrine will tend towards unity and constitute itself into a science.

3.  Admission. During this phase, Spiritism will become an official category among the beliefs universally known. 

4.  Influence over the social order.   Phase wherein humanity, under the influence of these ideas, will enter into a new moral path.  This influence today [written in Sept. 1858] is individual; later it will act over the masses for the general welfare. 

ALLAN KARDEC     Revue Spirite, #9, “Of Psychological Studies” – June 1858