Danilo
Carvalho Villela:
“Faith and courage, that
is
the legacy Maurício
and
his group have left
us”
The
president of the Crusade
of Spiritist Military
Personnel talks about
the beginnings and the
objectives of the
institution, which will
celebrate its 70th
anniversary in November
2014
 |
A retired army colonel,
Danilo Carvalho Villela
(photo) is the
Social Promotion
Director at the Lar
Fabiano de Cristo (a
nationwide institution
that helps poor
children) and the
current President of the
Cruzada dos Militares
Espíritas (Crusade of
Spiritist Military
Personnel), which will
celebrate its 70th
anniversary in November
2014.
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|
Tell us a bit about your
links with Spiritism and
the work you carry out
in the Movement? |
I was born into a
Spiritist family and
from a very early age I
began to attend
regularly the Spiritist
Centres in our
neighbourhood. As a
student at the Military
School and later at the
Agulhas Negras Military
Academy, I always
attended the activities
of the Crusade. I have
also been a volunteer at
the Teresa de Jesus home
in Rio de Janeiro and at
Lar Fabiano de Cristo.
Tell us about the
Military Crusade. How
did it begin?
It was founded on
November 10th
1944 with the aim of
promoting the
dissemination of the
Spiritist message among
the military. It acts
through its regional
centres and delegates.
From its early days it
has benefitted from the
collaboration of
civilians, who have even
taken posts as
directors.
What in particular are
the demands of the
organisation?
The Crusade is one of
several Spiritist
organisations in Brazil
linked to particular
professions. We have
Spiritist associations
gathering doctors,
judges and lawyers,
psychologists etc.
Nearly 70 years ago,
when the Crusade began
its work, military
personnel transferred to
other parts of the
country were often far
away from Spiritist
groups. The Crusade kept
them in the loop. It
posted Spiritist books
to every destination in
the country. And many
Spiritist Centres in the
Amazon and other remote
parts of Brazil began
thanks to the influence
and help of the
delegates of the
Crusade. Now we have the
Internet, of course.
Are police officers and
firemen also members of
the Crusade of Spiritist
Military Personnel?
Yes. The military police
have been in the Crusade
from the beginning.
Members of the fire
brigade are in fewer
numbers, and they have
joined later. The
interaction is very
positive. We have a very
fraternal relationship,
always pulling together
to help others.
The regional centres are
fully integrated with
the communities around
the military barracks or
do they keep their work
to the military
personnel based there?
They are fully
integrated with the
communities where they
work. Members of the
community attend the
Spiritist meetings and
are also allowed to take
executive posts. They
join the Crusade, in
general, through the
regional Spiritist
Federation, affiliated
to the Brazilian
Spiritist Federation.
What has been the
message brought to you
by Maurício, the
benefactor of the
Military Crusade now in
the Spiritual World?
Maurício and his group
are members of the
remarkable group of
early followers of
Jesus. They sacrificed
their lives for their
loyalty to the Master
and their own
conscience. The example
of loyalty and courage
they left us is an
incentive and the
blueprint for the
Crusaders of today.
The hierarchy so typical
of the military is an
obstacle for the
meetings of the Military
Crusade in the
barracks?
No. The Crusade is a
civil organisation, like
other Spiritist
organisations, in which
every one tries to treat
each other with care and
respect. In the
barracks, when we hold
our Spiritist meetings,
we follow the same
procedure of civilian
societies.
How was the experience
of the Military Crusade
during the military
government in Brazil,
from 1964 to 1985?
The military movement of
1964 had anti-communism
as one of its
guidelines. Communism is
a materialistic
doctrine. All religions,
therefore, faced no
problems or restrictions
during the military
government. I remember
that in the first days
after the military coup,
when we were still on
duty, our superior
allowed us to attend a
Spiritit meeting. But we
had to go in uniform,
just in case we had to
get into action.
What advice would you
give to fellow military
personnel and Spiritists
who have not made
contact with the
Crusade?
I know many dedicated
Spiritist workers among
military officers who
have no links with the
Crusade. We see that as
something natural, given
the size and reach of
the Spiritist Movement
in Brazil now. For those
who want to get in touch
and found out more about
our work, please access
our website,
www.cme.org.br. For
those who are willing to
collaborate, to join and
help us, please do.
There is plenty to be
done.
