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Social
assistance in
the light of
spiritist
teachings |
Emmanuel
tells us:
"Spiritism,
without
the Gospel,
can achieve
the best
expressions
of nobility,
but it will be
nothing more
than an
activity
destined to
change
or disappear,
as all transient
elements
of the
world. And the
spiritist,
who has not
cogitated upon
his
enlightenment
with Jesus
Christ, can be
a
scientist and
a
philosopher,
with the highest
intellectual
acquisitions,
but he will be
rudderless and
without a route
at the moment of
the
inevitable
storm
of trial
and experience,
because only the
divine feeling
of faith can
take away
man
from
inferior
concerns
of Earth
to the supreme
paths of the
spiritual
moors
"(The
Consoler,
item
236).
Allan Kardec on
referringto
the
moral teaching
contained in the
Gospel,
ponders:
"In light
of this
divine code,
one’s own
incredulity bows
itself.
It is
the ground on
which
all
kind of cults
can meet,
the
banner under
which all
can
take shelter,
however
different are
their beliefs.
Because
it has never
been the subject
of
religious
disputes
that were always
and everywhere
caused
by dogma.
If it is
discussed,
the sects
would
have
indeed
found in
it their
own condemnation,
because most of
them have
clung
more to the
mystical part
than to
moral and ethics,
which requires
the
reform of each
one.
For men,
in particular,
it is
a
rule of conduct,
which covers
all the
circumstances of
private and
public life,
the principle
of all
social relations
based
on the most
rigorous
justice.
It is, finally,
and above all,
the
infallible way
to
achieve
happiness,
a
corner of the
veil
lifted
on the
future life
"(the
Gospel
According to
Spiritism,
Introduction,
item
1).
With such
teachings,
it is
inconceivable
to speak
in spiritist
social
assistance
without
evangelization,
for
teaching
Spiritism,
directing
the individual
to practice
the teachings
of Christ,
is to encourage
him
towards
the way to
happiness.
Is
there is
a
more noble
goal
than that?
The goal of
spiritist social
assistance
is not,
therefore,
as many think,
to
merely
satisfy
perishable
bodies,
but to
illuminate
consciousness,
to form
healthy
individuals
in terms of
physical,
psychological
and spiritual,
to make
good men,
because "
man who
enlightens
himself
conquers the
order and
harmony
for
himself "(The
Consoler,
item
234).
Social work
in the spirit
world
The
spiritist
social
assistance
constitutes
one of the
most prolific
chapters in the
history of
the Brazilian
Spiritist
movement.
It is not
confined
to the plane
of the incarnate
(living in the
body of flesh),
because
this concern is
also
frequent
in the spirit
provinces
adjacent to the
spiritual
Earth
Crust. Lucia
Loureiro
says
(in "Spiritual
Colonies",
page
43):
"In the
Spiritual
Colonies,
Social Services
have
a
wide field of
action
in the
development of
activities; from
the initial
interviews
until referral
on field trips
to
study and
observation.
Spirit
instructors
employ
different
formulas
with the newly
disembodied
(discarnate);
depending on
their
characteristics
and reactions.
Love and
tolerance
are fundamental,
and
the
Spirit
who welcomes
those who
arrive, makes
use of
all the
psychological
ability
for the newly
arrived to
feel safe and
accepted despite
his
imperfections.
The
Spirit
receptionist has
a lot of
caution when in
contact
with the newly-disembodied,
paying attention
to
their
sensitivity to
comment on
past mistakes,
stimulating
it without
pressure."
Lucia
Loureiro
adds:
"These
social workers
of Space
are part of the
Rescuer
Caravans and are
elements
prepared
to get close to
those who are
already found in
reasonable
conditions
to receive
aid.
There are others
who make
periodic visits
to the
“sick
man”'
in order to
encourage him to
raise the
vibratory rate
and to
enlighten him
... They
accompany those
who are being
assisted
throughout
their stay
in the Colonies,
subject to the
spiritual
progress of each
one.
"
The
auxiliary tasks
of social
services
are spiritual
help
and
rehabilitation:
Spiritual
relief:
"On the occasion
of visits to the
lower spirit
areas by the
Rescuer
Caravans, the
first aid
provided to
needy spirits is
their withdrawal
from the site
and
transportation
to hospital
institutions of
the Colonies.
After the
initial
disturbance,
these spirits,
still exhausted,
have neither the
strength to move
nor sense of
direction, hence
the need to
transport them
on stretchers in
the same way it
is done with
sick people on
Earth. "This
measure would be
similar, in our
environment, to
give the fish to
the hungry.
Rehabilitation:
"In the
Colonies,
the valuable
instrument of
rehabilitation
of the Spirit is
work,
used
also as
occupational
therapy.
As the
ailing
Spirit
becomes
interested in
community
service,
devoting itself
to any task,
even
the simplest,
it
will,
likewise,
go on to
carrying out its
healing.
The
communicating
Spirits
are unanimous
about these
statements."
In "Life
Beyond the
Veil”,
Reverend G.
Vale Owen speaks
of these
activities, and
Andre Luiz
described in "Nosso
Lar” (aka The
Astral City) his
own experience:
"Narcissa did
her best to
promptly respond
to the task of
cleaning, but in
vain. Large
numbers of them
let out the same
black and fetid
substance.
It was then that
I instinctively
clung to
cleaning
equipment and
threw myself to
work with
arduously.
The server
seemed pleased
with the humble
help of the new
brother, while
Tobias spared
pleased and
grateful looks
at me. The
service
continued
throughout the
day, costing him
blessed sweat,
and no friend of
the world would
appreciate the
sublime joy of
the doctor who
had started
educating
himself, about
the rudimentary
principles of
nursing "( Nosso
Lar ", chapter
27, page 151).
Otilia
Gonçalves (Spirit),
in "Beyond
Death"
reports:
"On Earth
I was used to
the
humble
labours
of cleaning and
cleanliness.
I offered my
help to sister
Zelia
in days
of
high-traffic,
in order to
contribute
in some way
towards the
duties of
maintenance
of the
ward
where I was
experiencing,
with her
acquiescence,
unspeakable
joy.
As
she was
drawn to this
simple
service,
a strange
reinvigoration
took the
body
inside myself,
warming
me
and making
me forget about
the
worries and
anxieties
that
were
crippling
within the
spirit,
with the
distance
placed by
death. "Adrian
told her
that "work
is a powerful
elixir of long
life
that strengthens
all the hopes
and a
sponge which
wipes
all worries.
The
soul that
does not work is
not
reaped
by the
meshes
of the
temptations of
doubt and fear,
getting
away from the
weak boat
of
fears.
"
Rescuer
Organizations
from spirit
world
It is observed,
therefore, that
in
the Beyond
idleness
and inertia
have no place
for those who
feel
a need to
progress.
Only selfless
dedication
to one’s well-being
enables one to
ascend
to higher planes.
The rest
will come
there
too, but
only through
suffering.
The series "Nosso
Lar,"
written by the
spirit
Andre
Luiz (through
the greatest
medium of all
time, of Chico
Xavier)
allowed us to
get to know
many
of these
existent
rescuing
organizations
in the
spiritual planes
immediately
closest to the
Earth's
crust,
Lucia
Loureiro
says:
The
"Samaritans"
is
one
of them,
with remarkable
activity
with the
Umbral (lower
spirit world
which is
immediately at
the “doorway” of
the Earth’s
crust)
("Nosso
Lar", chapter
28,
page
152).
The
aid station
linked
to the colony
"Field of Peace",
run by
Alfredo,
with about
500
co-workers,
is another one
("The
Messengers,"
chapter
15 and 16).
In "Workers
of Eternal Life"
(Chapter
4),
Andrérefers
to the Fabiano’s
Transitional
House
and its
counterparts
Anatilde
Oratory
and
Christ
Foundation.
In the book
"In the
Higher World",
chapter 20
tells us
of the Cipriana
Home
and of
the
numerous
Aid Stations
and Schools
(Chapter
17)
that serve the
suffering
entities
located
in a
floodplain
of immense
extension
located
on the edge
of
vast
caverns,
where
"vast
shoals of
losers
lay
bolted
to the ground,
as
unhappy
birds
with broken
wings."
In "Between
Earth and Heaven",
Chapter
11
describes the
Home of
Blessing,
where over
2,000 children;
mostly
waiting for
a
new opportunity
on the earthly
plane; are
assisted by
disembodied
(discarnate)
surrogate
mothers.
And in "Action
and Reaction"
(Chapter
1)
André
introduces us to
"Peace
House", a
rescuing
institution
linked to the
Nosso Lar
colony,
founded over
three
centuries ago to
care for
sick
and
unhappy
entities
who are getting
prepared for a
new incursion in
the earthly
experience.
Five
key points
of the spiritist
Social Service
From the
constant
experiences and
stories
in the series
Nosso Lar,
by
Andre
Luiz, we
can draw
the following
points,
which seem to be
fundamental
to a spiritist
social
work:
The practice of
goodness
is mere
duty:
"The
Gospel of
Jesus (she
who had been his
earthly mother
said to Andre)
reminds us that
there is more
in giving
than in
receiving.(...)
Always give,
my son.
Above all,
never
forget
to give
of yourself
in
constructive
tolerance,
in brotherly
love
and divine
understanding.
The practice of
good towards
others is a
teaching
and an appeal
so that we get
to do inner
good. Jesus gave
more of
himself
toward the
aggrandizement
of men
than
all of the
Earth’s
millionaires
gathered
in service,
though
sublime,
of material
charity.
Do not
be ashamed to
support
and elucidate
the diseased and
mad souls
who enter
the Chambers of
Rectification
(...).Work,
my son,
doing good.
Whenever
you can,
forgets
entertainment
and search
for
useful service.
"(Nosso
Lar, chapter
36,
page
198.)
The good we do
is never
forgotten:
"In the
lower levels, my
son
(his
mother
told him),
the bowl of soup
to the hungry,
the balm
to the leper,
the gesture of
love for the
disillusioned,
are
divine services
that
will never be
forgotten by the
House
of Our
Lord
"(idem,
page
197.)
Do not
conceive
the work of
helping others
without the
spirit
of brotherhood:
"Not long
ago
(Lysias’ mother
said to Laura)
I
heard
a
great teacher
from the
Ministry of
Elevation
ensure that,
if he could,
he
would
materialize
himself
in the realm of
the flesh (the
material world)
in order to
tell the
religious
in general,
that
all charity
in order to be
divine,
must
be based
on fraternity.
"(Nosso
Lar), chapter
39,
page
218.)
The standard of
the
rescueing work
in
the world will
always be
Jesus:
"Jesus
(he said to
Vincent,
who also
had been a
physician
on Earth)
was not
merely the
Master,
was
also
Physician.
He left
to
the world the
standard
of
cure for
the kingdom of
God.
He
provided
relief to the
body and
ministered faith
to the soul.
We, however,
my dear
Andrew,
in many
earthly
cases, do
not always
relieve
the body
and almost
always kill
faith.
"(The
Messengers,
chapter
13,
age
74.)
We must give
the bread
that feeds
the body,
without
forgetting
the light
that
enlightens their
spirit:
"In the
early days
of Christianity
(he said to
Irene),
the majority
in need
would come into
contact with
Jesus through
the
humble
soup
or
warm
roof.
Washing
the
lepers,
dealing with
the
mad,
watching
helpless
orphans and
old people,
the followers
of Christ
gave
the
work to
themselves,
devoting
themselves
to the
unfortunate,
clarifying
their minds,
and offered
lessons
of substantial
interest
to the laity of
the live faith.
As you
cannot ignore,
we are carrying
out within the
evangelical
Spiritism
the
recapitulation
of
Christianity." (Workers
of Eternal Life,
chapter
12,
page
190.)
The
recommendation
of St. Francis
Xavier
Manoel
Philomeno de
Miranda
tells us
(in "Plots
of Destiny",
chapter
21, pages
196 to 199, a
work
psychographed by
the medium
Divaldo
P.
Franco)
that when the
spiritist center
"Francisco
Xavier",
from
Salvador
(Bahia state in
Brazil)
had
its construction
planned,
the
spiritual leader
Natércio;
a deep
admirer and
disciple of St.
Francis
Xavier,
who had been a
tireless
propagandist
of the Christian
faith on Earth,
and who
brought
Christian Faith
to Japan,
China
and India,
back in the 16th
century;
appealed
to the faithful
apostle of Jesus,
begging
for
his spiritual
sponsorship
for the
house
to
be
built.
Natércio
presented to the
messenger of
Jesus the
program that he
intended to
accomplish.His
major goal
was to increase
the ardor
of faith
and the purity
of
moral principles
among men,
according to
the simple rules
of
"followers
of the Path"
without
the trappings
of dogmatism,
appearance
and
formalisms.
When he
finished his
report,
the instructor
received
the endorsement
of the
outstanding
Missionary,
with
one condition:
that
the Gospel was
preserved
in
its pure and
simple lines,
in a climate of
moral austerity
and
illuminative
disciplined
services,
with the
resulting
devices
for charity in
its multiple
expressions,
and having in
view,
however,
that the
material relief
would be
natural
consequence of
the
priority,
immediate,
spiritual
service,
and not the
preferential
kinds
..."One should
not
forget
that the
greatest need
is still the one
of the
bread of
the
light of
the
moral
consolation,
which the Book
of Life
provides
richly
..."
Commenting on
the episode,
Manuel
Philomeno
de
Miranda
says
(the above
mentioned work,
pages
198
and 199):
"Much is thought
about satiating
stomachs,
clothing bodies,
curing
diseases...
Without
underestimating
their
urgency,
the Consoler has
the spirit as
the primary
goal, the
being
in its immortal
reality,
from which
all
conjunctures and
situations
proceed, which
are exteriorized
through the body
and by means of
human, social
or land
contingents, and
so forth...
"Social
assistance
in Spiritism
is valuable,
however,
the
'last
minute'
workers
beware
of
the excesses,
so
that the
exhaustion
with external
labours
do not
sap the strength
of
enthusiasm nor
overthrow
the strongholds
of faith,
through
the weight
of the
exhaustion
and
disillusionment
with the
exterior
services.
"To
evangelize, to
educate, to
guide, by
putting
oil
in the lamp
of the heart,
so that
the clarity
of the spirit
sparkles
in the night of
suffering, are
urgent and basic
tasks,
in the
reconstruction
of
basic
Christianity."
Do not just give
the bread that
feeds only
the body
That's why
Joanna
de Angelis
proposes
(in "Dimensions
of Truth",
page
123):
"Charity
is
a matter of
urgency,
but to clarify
along with it
has
priority task,
working as
support
fuel.
"Bread
to the
hungry
as an
immediate
duty, and
light
from the
spiritist
teaching,
so that
the pangs of
hunger
are resolved
by
dignified
service.
"Clothing to
shrunk bodies
as an
unavoidable
task,
however, the
spiritist
guidance
to wrap the
soul in
hope,
ridding it,
ultimately, from
the cold.
"Medicine
to the
sick body
as an urgent
resource,
yet
spiritist
guidance
to the spirit so
that it
understands
the underlying
causes
of pain and
is enabled to
become
revitalized.
"Help
to
the afflicted
in the arms
of despair
as an
irresistible
obligation; but
spiritist
guidance
so
that knowledge
releases
the person from
all
darkness
and turmoil
"Support
for the orphan,
one’s own home,
as a
living lesson
of love,
but
spiritist
conduct
before him, as
a
platform of
security
for the orphan’s
aggrandizement.
"Assistance
to
the
widow
and aid
to the
misery as
authoritative of
Christian action,
however,
offering from
the Spiritist
Doctrine
in order
that the
revolution
of truth
gives
light and life,
so that new
mistakes
are avoided,
freeing
the minds from
powerful
connections
with evil
".
And
the noble
martyr of
nascent
Christianity,
today spiritual
advisor in
spiritual
Divaldo
P.
Franco’s work
concludes
(above mentioned
work,
page
50):
"Neither
Spiritism
without
social
assistance, nor
social
assistance
without
Spiritism, for
us discarnate
and incarnate
Spiritists.
"And
keep the
certainty that
along the
material
assistance
we can
donate,
moral and
spiritual
assistance
should
take precedence."
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