Sonia Maria Franco Bossolani (photo), a Spiritist since 1990, lives in her hometown of Araraquara, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, where she is a social worker. She is a voluntter at the Paulo de Tarso Spiritist Centre. In this interview she speaks about the transformation the planet is going through and the importance of persevering in your efforts and also helping the development of children.

What contribution do you think Spiritism can give to the moral transformation of the planet?

Spiritism is the best pathway we have ahead of us towards the regeneration of the planet. It has in its essence the teachings of Jesus Christ, who promise in the Gosple of John, XIV, from 15 to 17 and 26, that the Promised Consoler would come to teach us everything and remind us of all that Jesus said. To put Spiritism into practice means therefore living with Jesus.

We know that a general change in society begins by individual transformations. How can we understand that in practical terms?

Through the change in behaviour that comes from our inner reform. I look around me and observe that people are showing more love and affection. I have worked for 20 years in an NGO with vulnerable children from a poor background. I have notice significant changes in a period that is not even that long. In the beginning families didn’t have access to information on many important issues, such as serious illnesses, drugs and domestic violence. We notice now that the children show more love and affection, even though they still show some signs in their behaviour of the violence that surrounds them.

Are we becoming better people?

Despite the great volume of bad news reported daily on the media, I believe we are indeed becoming better people. I hear often people saying that we are all opportunistic and corrupt and that everything that is happening in Brazil and other countries is a reflection of the society we live in, not of part of that society. I don’t generalise. Good deeds don’t make a loud noise, they don’t want to be in evidence, but they are everywhere and in everyone. Jesus acted with courage, but with a great deal of humility and that is the example to follow when we do good deeds. I believe that the number of better people is bigger than the number of bad ones, but they are not in evidence. The planet’s transformation will eventually prompt good deeds to appear in a more intense manner, in all nations, intimidating evil in its arrogance and draining its power. Jesus is our governor. So, who can doubt this will happen?

Can you give us some examples of that in today’s world?

In a wider picture, we see justice in Brazil being delivered in a more equalitarian manner and reaching all citizens, in a more honest way. We also have thousands of university researchers who are not well paid and valued but continue to work guided by noble ideals towards the development of science of technology. How many people return wallets or bags they find? Some of them are poor and in debt and would have a number of reasons to keep the money. How many NGOs look after animals? How many anonymous people visit patients in hospitals every week to take them a bit of joy and comfort?

What is the main driving force for those willing to begin their inner reform, their real transformation?

Paraphrasing The Spirits’ Book, question number 909: the will.

And what is the main obstacle?

Still in the answer to question 909 of The Spirits’ Book we are alerted to the effort we must make, and that we often don’t, to carry out our real transformation and overcome our evil tendencies.

What is the main lesson you have learned from your own process of transformation?

The importance of will and determination. We are living in a world of joys, if you think about it. My father, who is in his 80s, says he doesn’t miss his childhood or youth. They didn’t have much to eat or dress. He began working in the fields as a child with angry people and the financial reward was minimal. He says the world today is a lot better and he lives happily because his life has improved. He was always driven by determination and hard work in his achievements and the biggest of them all was his moral development, which is my inspiration for my own efforts.   

What would you like to highlight to our readers from your life experience?

That we must seize all the opportunities for our individual growth. We mustn’t waste the current incarnation. There is a long queue to return to this blessed school. The books, courses, talks and charity work at Spiritist Centres are valuable tools, but they are not enough. We must do more than that. Our spiritual development will benefit from any work we do to help other people.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I have had the blessed opportunity of working with children in this incarnation. I make an appeal, therefore, to all Spiritist Centres to turn their attentions to the children and to invest in children’s evangelisation, which is teaching Christian morals to those who’ve just reincarnated. The directors of Spiritist Centres who pour their love on the children will receive that love in double. Our Spiritist Centres need to be filled with children. They represent the flowers, with their colours and perfumes bringing joy and happiness to the whole physical space, as simple as it may be. They will help change your vibration frequency. Children who are evangelised will become happy and sensible adults.