In this issue we continue the study of the book Posthumous Works, published after Allan Kardec disembodied and containing texts written by him. The present work is based on the translation made by Dr. Guillon Ribeiro, published by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation.
Questions for discussion
182. Did the Spanish press know about the Act of Faith of Barcelona?
183. Did this event also affect the Spiritual World?
184. Did the Spirits appoint someone to be Kardec’s successor?
185. What did the Spirits’ say about the “The Gospel According to Spiritism”?
Answers to the proposed questions
182. Did the Spanish press know about the Act of Faith of Barcelona?
Yes. The main newspapers of Spain gave detailed account of this fact that the organs of the liberal press of that country precisely stigmatized. Please note that in France, the liberal newspapers were limited to mentioning it without comment. The Siecle itself, so eager in criticizing the abuses of power and the smallest acts of intolerance of the clergy did not mention a word of reproach for this act worthy of the Middle-Ages. Some newspapers even found the witticism to laugh. Independent of belief, there was a question of principle, of international law that interested the whole world, over which they would not have passed so lightly if it were other works. Why this indifference? It was a doctrine that those who did not believe in it saw its progress with horror; to claim justice in its favor would be to confirm its right to the protection of the authority and, therefore, increase its credit. Anyway, the Act of Faith of Barcelona produced the expected effect, the importance it had in Spain, which contributed mightily to spread the Spiritist ideas. (Posthumous Works - Second Part - Act of Faith of Barcelona).
183. Did this event also affect the Spiritual World?
Yes, and there were numerous communications from the Spirits. The following message was obtained spontaneously in the Society of Paris, on October 19 of the same year: "Something was missing to punish with a violent blow some embodied spirits and to make them decide to embrace this great doctrine that came to regenerate the world. Nothing is uselessly done on your Earth. When we inspired the Act of Faith of Barcelona, we knew that, in so doing, we would take a huge step forward. This brutal act, with no precedents in modern times, occurred to call the attention of journalists, who were indifferent to the deep movement in cities and Spiritist Centers; they let say and do, but insisted in keeping deaf to the wish of the followers of Spiritism to divulge the Doctrine. Whether they like it or not, they have to talk about it now, some confirming the historical fact of Barcelona, others denying it, thus causing controversy all over the world, and Spiritism will profit with this. That is why, today, the remnant of Inquisition made its last act of faith, the way we wanted”. (Posthumous Works - Second Part - Barcelona's Act of Faith).
184. Did the Spirits appoint someone to be Kardec’s successor?
Object of a query made by Kardec in his home on December 22, 1861, the Spirits said nothing about it, and remembered that he had been chosen for the mission because it was necessary that the organization of Spiritism works be concentrated in the hands of only one, so that there would be oneness. They added: "You have been chosen, and that is why you are alone; but you are not, as you very well know, the only one able to fulfill this mission; if it was interrupted by any cause, God would not lack people to replace you. So, whatever happens, Spiritism cannot be jeopardized. Until the elaboration of the work is completed, it is therefore necessary that you be the only one in evidence, because it would be a symbol around which there could be unit; this is necessary so that the work accomplished by you, has more authority in the present and in the future; it would even be necessary that fear existed regarding the consequences of your departure”. (Posthumous Works - Second Part -Kardec's successor).
185. What did the Spirits’ say about the “The Gospel According to Spiritism”?
Kardec was in Segur on August 9, 1863, and no one talked about the book in which he was working on; its original title was Imitation of the Gospel changed later by suggestions of Mr. Didier and others, to The Gospel According to Spiritism. Regarding the work, a Spirit said: "This Doctrine’s book will have a significant influence; it approaches capital issues, and not only the religious people will find in it the maximum that they need, but the practical life of the nations will benefit from its excellent instructions. You did well in addressing issues of high moral practice from the standpoint of general interests, as well as social and religious interests. Doubt must be destroyed; Earth and its civilized populations are prepared; it has been a long time now that your friends from beyond the grave explored it; therefore, scatter the seed we trusted you, because it time that the Earth gravitates in the irradiating order of the spheres, and it finally leaves the penumbra and the intellectual fog".
Kardec asked the Spirit: What will the clergy say about this? The Spiritual Protector replied: "The clergy will cry heresy, because it will see that you firmly attack the eternal punishment and other points on which it bases its influence and credit; it will cry the more it feels hounded by the publication of The Book of Spirits, which, strictly speaking, it could accept the given principles; but in the present, you will enter a new path where the clergy cannot follow you. The secret anathema will become official, and the Spiritists will be rejected along with the Jews and Pagans by the Roman Church. In contrast, Spiritists will see their numbers increase, because this kind of persecution, especially seeing the priests accusing of absolutely demonic a Doctrine whose morality will shine like a sunbeam by publishing it in your new book, and of those who will follow it.
The time is approaching when it will be necessary to openly declare Spiritism for what it is, and show everyone where the true Doctrine taught by Christ can be found; the time is approaching when, before Heaven and Earth you ought to proclaim Spiritism as the only really Christian tradition, the only truly divine and human institution. By choosing you, the Spirits knew the strength of your convictions, and that your faith, like a brass wall, would resist all attacks". (Posthumous Works - Second Part - The Gospel According to Spiritism).
