The Revue
Spirite of
1860
Parte
9
We continue in this issue the study of the Revue Spirite
of 1860, a monthly newspaper focused on the
divulgation of Spiritism, founded and directed by Allan
Kardec. This study is based on the translation into the
Portuguese language made by Julio Abreu Filho and
published by EDICEL. The answers to the questions are at
the end of the text for reading.
Questions for discussion
A. Will Spiritism, one day be able to influence the
social structure?
B. What makes evil Spirits correct themselves and chose
to do well?
C. Do friends of the Spiritual world help us in our
return to erraticity?
D. Can a person be both a good Catholic and a fervent
Spiritist?
Text for reading
187. Spirits act ceaselessly upon us, without us being
aware of it, whether we are psychics or not. It is not
mediumship that attracts them; on the contrary, it
provides the means of knowing the enemy, who always
betrays itself.
(P. 319)
188. One day, the Encoder said, Spiritism will have an
immense influence on the social structure, but that day
is still far off, because it takes generations for us to
divest ourselves of the old man in us.
(P. 320)
189. With the knowledge that it transmits us, Spiritism
makes us happy and this is what gives it an irresistible
power and ensures its future triumph. (P. 320)
190. Jobard says in an interesting article that the
Higher Spirits do not regret the material goods left
here, unlike the humanimal, who feels that, by losing
its earthly goods, it loses everything. (Pages 324 and
325)
191. Jobard states that there is no well-meaning medium,
who is not a magnetizer and healer by nature, but many
ignore this treasure and do not know how to use it. (P.
326)
192. Kardec rectifies some ideas of Jobard, who did not
take into account the progress made by the Spirit in the
wandering (erraticity) state.
(P. 327)
193. Kardec states that even if we could learn nothing
from the manifestations of the Spirits, it is enough
that they give us proof of the existence of the beyond.
And they give us so much more. (P. 328)
194. Georges (Spirit) describes the punishment inflicted
upon evil Spirits. While giving vent to their anger,
they are almost happy; however, the centuries pass, and
they suddenly feel invaded by darkness, from which comes
guilt and repentance, followed by groans and atonement.
(Pages 331 and 332)
195. Mars is described as a world far inferior to Earth,
where beings, though having the human form, are
rudimentary and without any beauty. (Editor’s Note: two
works received by Chico Xavier say the opposite). (Pages
332 to 334)
196. The same Spirit says that Jupiter, divided in
countries of varied aspects, is a superior and charming
world. (Pages 334 to 336)
197. Georges says that the form of pure Spirits is
ethereal and has nothing palpable. In their ranks are
chosen the guardian angels. They are the ministers of
God, who rule the innumerable worlds.
(P. 336)
198. The Spirit of Zenon speaks about reincarnation and
says that with it the mysteries are explained, the
problems are solved, all difficulties become smoother.
(P. 339)
199. Georges (Spirit) says that the wandering Spirits do
not communicate with each other, and this was contested
by Kardec. The Encoder holds that our Spiritist friends
welcome us and help us return to the spiritual life and
teach that in erraticity, Spirits come together and act
in common agreement, both for evil and for good. Kardec
understands that Georges' mistake was to restrict the
term wandering to a certain category of Spirits instead
of applying it to all disincarnate spirits. (Pages 340
and 360)
200. The Revue copies a message signed by the
Spirit of Sister Rosalia on material charity and moral
charity. (Editor’s Note: This message was later included
in the Gospel according to Spiritism, chapter
XIII, item 9). (Pages 342 and 343)
201. Delphine de Girardin (Spirit) lectures on the
electricity of thought and states that, when men are
gathered, they emit a fluid, which transmits them, with
the speed of lightning, the smallest impressions. Under
the action of this magnetic chain, people most
interested in concealing their thinking are led to
discover it, even to be accused, as is often seen in the
jury's courts. (P. 344)
202. The Spirit of Lamennais, speaking of hypocrisy,
asserts that hypocrisy is the evil of our time: "In the
name of liberty you magnify yourself, in the name of
morality you brutalize, in the name of truth you lie”.
(P. 345)
203. The Revue records the trip made by Kardec in
September 1860 to the cities of Sens, Mâcon, Lyon and
Saint-Etienne. "Spiritism is in the air", is the
impression Kardec felt everywhere he spoke.
(P. 347)
204. In Lyon, where the followers of Spiritism were
numbered in the hundreds, a psychic could see the Spirit
of Saint Louis, who later confirmed his presence in
Paris on the trip made by the Encoder.
(P. 348)
205. In the vicinity of Saint-Etienne, Kardec witnessed
a transfiguration phenomenon with a young girl who at
times took on the full appearance of her brother, who
had been dead for some years.
(P. 348)
206. The Revue reports the incident on an
Imperial navy ship stationed in the seas of China, where
a lieutenant, who had died two years before, gave a
typological communication requesting that a sum be paid
to the captain. (Editor’s Note: The fact is also told in
The Book of Mediums). (P. 348)
207. The Revue also informs the launching of the work
"Letter from a Catholic on Spiritism", by Dr. De Grand-Boulogne,
Doctor of Medicine, former Vice-Consul of France, in
which the author proves that one can at the same time be
a good Catholic and fervent Spiritist. The day will
come, said De Grand-Boulogne, in which, by force of
things, "Spiritism will be in religion, or religion in
Spiritism".
(P. 352)
(Continued
on next issue.)
Answers to the questions
A. Will Spiritism, one day be able to influence the
social structure?
Yes. One day, Kardec said, Spiritism will have an
immense influence on the social structure, but that day
is still far off, because it takes generations for us to
divest ourselves of the old man in us. (Revue Spirite,
320).
B. What makes evil Spirits correct themselves and chose
to do well?
The Spirit of Georges says that evil spirits, while
giving vent to their anger, are, in their way, almost
happy; however, the centuries pass, and they suddenly
feel invaded by darkness, from which comes remorse and
repentance, followed by groans and atonement. The change
for the better would be caused by this. (Ibid, pages 331
and 332.)
C. Do friends of the Spiritual world help us in our
return to erraticity?
They certainly do. Kardec maintains that our friends of
the Spiritist world welcome us and help us return to the
spiritual life and says that in erraticity, Spirits come
together and act in common agreement, both for evil and
for good. (Ibid, pages 340 and 360.)
D. Can a person be both a good Catholic and a fervent
Spiritist?
It seems to us that no, but there have already been
those who thought like this, such as Dr. De Grand-Boulogne,
author of the work "Letter of a Catholic on Spiritism",
in which he tries to show that one can at the same time
be a good Catholic and a fervent Spiritist. (Ibid, page
352).
Translation:
Eleni Frangatos -
eleni.moreira@uol.com.br
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