The Revue Spirite of 1863

Part 10

We continue in this issue the study of the Revue Spirite corresponding to the year of 1863. The condensed text of the mentioned volume will hereby be presented in sixteen parts, based on the translation of Julio Abreu Filho and published by EDICEL.

Issues for discussion 

A. What does it take to become a good medium?

B. According to Spiritism, what is true conversion?

C. What advice did Saint Augustine give regarding the communications we received?

Text for reading

92. The Revue informs that a new Spiritist newspaper was founded, this time in Palermo, Sicily, published in Italian, under the title "Spiritism, or Journal of Experimental Psychology".  The Società Spiritista di Palermo also appeared with the newspaper. (Pages 211 to 213)

93. Speaking of mediumship, Kardec teaches: "No one can become a good medium if he cannot get rid of the vices that degrade mankind. All these vices originate in selfishness; and as the denial of selfishness is love, all virtue is summed up in this word: Charity". Having said this, he reminds us that every man can become a medium, but the question is not to be a medium; it is to be a good medium, which depends on moral qualities. Many mediums are abandoned by their Spirits because they do not want to understand that charity is the only way to progress. (Pages 213 and 214)

94. Reporting the case of a twenty-three-year-old, newly converted to Spiritism, Kardec informs that the boy, thanks to the knowledge obtained in the Spiritist Doctrine, has managed to tame his inclination towards fury, an issue that the Encoder examines in all its nuances, showing how the power of the will, seconded by the Spiritist knowledge, can help people to master their passions and lower inclinations. (Pages 214 to 216)

95. The Revue publishes the first of a series of open letters addressed by Kardec to Father Marouzeau, who wrote two years before a booklet containing attacks against Spiritism. Here are some points highlighted by the Encoder in his letter: I) Spiritism is today more active than two years ago, because everywhere where they preached against it, the number of followers increased. II) The fact indicates that the arguments of its opponents had opposite effect to the intended one. III) For a Spiritist, true conversion is to make someone good. A man torn from his evil inclinations and brought back to God and charity by Spiritism is the best victory. IV) Spiritism does no miracles, save the miraculous conversions that bring the unbelievers to God and convert people into good by giving these people, who previously only worried about the evil, the necessary strength to overcome their bad passions. (Pages 217 to 219)

96. The Max case, the beggar, reproduced in 1865 in the book "Heaven and Hell" (Part II, Chapter VIII), is focused in all its details in the Revue. (Pages 219 to 221)

97. The Revue also bears the page signed by the Spirit of Vianney, priest of Ars, "Blessed are those who have their eyes closed", in Chapter VIII, item 20, of "The Gospel according to Spiritism". (Pages 222 and 223)

98. John, the disciple, writes about repentance and says that this feeling, similar to storms that sweep the air, purifying it, is a fruitful suffering, a reactive and active force, and therefore rises to God. "The time has come", says John, "in which Spiritism must rejuvenate and live the very essence of Christianity. Therefore, delete, everywhere and forever, the cruel sentence that takes away all hope from the guilty soul". (Pages 223 and 224)

99. Erasto, commenting on the news read in the Spiritist Society of Paris, about the new Spiritist societies that are formed in France and abroad, states that the one, who does not see the triumphant march of the Spiritist ideas, is a blind man. Remembering a phrase from Lamennais, who said timely that the future was in Spiritism, Erastus says that this fact has already been fulfilled and that the time has come! (Pages 224 and 225)

100. Lamennais, analyzing the periods of transition in the History of Humanity, clarifies, referring to the Roman Church, that this time the fall will be great. The religious apathy of the priests, together with the fanatical founders of a heresy, makes the Church of Christ become human, but not more humanitarian. Asking the Spiritists to pray, Lamennais warns: "Your tormented and blasphemous age is a crude age, which the Spirits come to instruct and encourage". (Pages 225 and 226)

101. In regard to mediumship, Saint Augustine says that happy is the one who is guided by brotherly love, and that evil exists only through the ignorance of man and his misuse of his passions, tendencies and instincts acquired in contact with matter. "Watch", says St. Augustine, "and carefully study the communications you receive; accept what reason does not refuse; repel what shocks it; ask for clarification regarding what left doubts in you”. And he added: "Here is the path to be followed to transmit to future generations, without fear of seeing them misrepresented, the truths that can be separated without effort from their inevitable list of errors" (Pages 226 and 227) (Continues on next issue)

Answers to the proposed issues

A. What does it take to become a good medium?

Kardec was quite clear: "No one can become a good medium if he cannot get rid of the vices that degrade mankind. All these vices originate in selfishness; and as the denial of selfishness is love, all virtue is summed up in this word: Charity. "Having said this, he reminds us that every man can become a medium, but the question is not to be a medium; it is to be a good medium, which depends on moral qualities. Many mediums are abandoned by their Spirits because they do not want to understand that Charity is the only way to progress. (Revue Spirite of 1863, pages 213 and 214).

B. According to Spiritism, what is true conversion?

According to Kardec, to bring back to the good is, for the Spiritist, the true conversion. A man torn from his evil inclinations and brought back to God and charity by Spiritism is the greatest victory. Spiritism does no miracles, save the miraculous conversions that bring unbelievers to God and convert to the good people who previously only worried about evil, giving them the strength to overcome the bad passions. (Ibid, pages 217 to 219.)

C. What advice did Saint Augustine give regarding the communications we received?

"Watch", he said, "and study with care the communications you receive; accept what reason does not refuse; repel what shocks it; and ask for a clarification if any doubt is left”. And he added: "Here is the path to be followed to transmit to future generations, without fear of seeing them misrepresented, the truths that can be separated without effort from their inevitable list of errors" (Ibid, pages 226 and 227)

Translation:

Eleni Frangatos - eleni.moreira@uol.com.br