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José Virgílio Góes (photo) was born in the Brazilian city of Florianópolis, in the state of Santa Catarina, on July 13th, 1931. That’s where he began, in 1940, his journey in the Spiritist Movement. As an officer of the Brazilian army, he lived in different regions of the country. He was president of the Spiritist Federation of Amazonas state, in the north, and eventually become a member of the board of trustees of the Spiritist Federation of Paraná, in the south of Brazil, as he explains in the following interview.
Was there a particular circumstance that prompted your parents to approach Spiritism?
Yes. My father, Virgílio João Góes was diagnosed with madness (which in my opinion was simply spiritual obsession, or attachment). He was taken to a Spiritist Centre where he was told he would be cured if he built a Spiritist Centre. He didn’t waste any time and in the same year, 1940, he founded a Spiritist Centre with three friends and neighbours. At the time, Spiritism was practically banned where he lived. Do I need to tell you that once the Spiritist Centre opened his madness went away? That’s how my long journey in Spiritism began. The Dr Bezerra de Menezes Spiritist Centre is still open and active at Morro do Chapecó, Bairro Agronômica, in the city of Florianópolis.
How do you feel about working in the Spiritist Movement at your age? And what are your thought on the process of unification of the movement? Is it easier today than when you first began in Spiritism?
My advanced age has only made things more difficult for me, especially these days, when many people in positions of command in the Spiritist Movement still fail to appreciate the importance of fraternity, solidarity, tolerance and even humility. Not to mention other qualities that are required for someone who occupies an important post in a Spiritist federation. Unfortunately, a man’s age and even his experience mean very little for certain people.
What should be the guidelines for those seeking the unification of the Spiritist Movement?
“When Jesus called us, he didn’t want us to be in charge of striking people with the paddle at the universal school of the Gospel. He was very clear when he said, instead: my disciples will be known for loving one another.” That’s what Chico Xavier [the Brazilian medium] said once. I think here is the answer to your question.
From all the lessons the Gospel of Jesus teaches us, which one means the most to you?
The summary of the Law of Love: “Love one another like I have loved you.” (John, chapter 13). Regarding the process of unification of the Spiritist Movement, I would like to quote from the Gospel again: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (John, 10: 11 and 16)
Tells us: how does it feel being almost a hundred years old?
Some of my great grandchildren call me “age-olescent” (I don’t know why)… I try to keep my mind where it should be, making a concerted effort to prevent it from getting old (even when the rest of the body refuses to collaborate). We must understand the limits imposed by Nature on our physical capacities. As long as I don’t expire my “sell by date,” I will carry on with the volunteer work I do, relying, of course, on the generosity and affection of those around me. But I must thank, first and foremost, the Lord of the Life, for the blessing I have received of still being able to work at my age.
“Solidarity will bring about union. Separated from one another, we will be no more than different points of view. Together, we will be able to reach our goals. If we stay far apart, we will have to carry on looking for the tasks that have already been assigned to us by Divine Providence.” (Spiritist message, November/December 1980)
“Ten men sincerely connected by a common thought are stronger than a hundred men who don’t understand each other.” (Allan Kardec) |
