When and how did
you become a
Spiritist?
Born in
a Catholic
family, religion
issues were
always very
important to me.
When I was 12,
my family paid a
visit to a
Spiritist
neighbour and,
even though all
the children
were only
interested in
playing, I was
like mesmerized
by her
bookshelves. I
found there the
book Lindos
Casos de Chico
Xavier, Lindos
Casos de Chico
Xavier, by
Ramiro Gama,
with stories of
the great
Brazilian
medium. The more
I read, the more
it made sense to
me. I asked the
host about
Spiritism and
began to dig
deeper and
deeper into the
Teachings, which
I love
profoundly. I
can say,
therefore, that
I feel I have
been a Spiritist
since I was 12
years old.
What strikes you
the most about
Spiritism?
The fact that it
is so logical.
It makes sense
of live on Earth
with the concept
of
reincarnation,
bringing comfort
to the soul
eager for
explanations for
so much
differences and
suffering on the
planet.
Moreover, the
Teachings
encourage us to
realize more
clearly the
impact love and
charity has on
the life of
people, inviting
us into a change
of attitude and
to seek a life
with higher
moral standards
without the
threat of
“hell.”
Where does your
passion for
speaking in
public come
from?
As a descendent
of Italians,
speaking has
always been a
joy for me!
However I had
never considered
the idea of
being a public
speaker until I
was 14 and
enrolled in a
public speaking
course organized
by a Spiritist
organization. At
the end of the
course, I
received the
“title” of
Disciple of
Jesus, realizing
that “being a
disciple” meant
working for the
cause of Jesus.
What is your
assessment of
the public that
attend the
meetings and
activities
organised by
Spiritist
institutions in
Brazil?
The number of
people attending
activities in
Spiritist
Centres has been
growing. Many
non-Spiritists
come for the
talks and
lectures, even
people from
other religions.
That show how
universal
Spiritism is.
However, I still
feel that some
people who come
regularly for
talks still fail
to engage in the
study of the
Teachings or in
other activities
offered at
Spiritist
Centres.
What are your
preferred themes
in your talks
and why?
I like to talk
about the
principles of
Spiritism,
linking them to
our daily lives,
telling stories,
showing videos
and reminding
people of facts.
My talks are fit
for any kind of
public. I
understand that
human beings
have more
motivation to
act when they
realize that
what they have
learned can be
put into
practice in
their real life
interactions. I
have noticed
that people get
enthusiastic
about becoming a
Spiritist when
they realize
that they can be
Spiritists at
home, at work,
in their acts as
citizens and in
their leisure
time. We must
get rid of the
concept that
slowly took over
all religions
that a person of
faith must put
into practice
his or her
principles only
inside their
church.
What is in your
view the most
extraordinary
point in the
Spiritist
Teachings?
Reincarnation.
How much could
we change in
human behaviour,
in their belief
in God, in their
values if the
whole humankind
believed in
reincarnation
and linked that
principle to the
law of cause and
effect!
And in the
Gospel?
I am
particularly
fond in The
Gospel According
to Spiritism
of the passage
about the “Good
Man.” To
challenge and
question our
conscience at
the end of each
day makes us
better prepared
to accept the
limitations of
the soul, making
it easier for us
not to stumble
on the same
mistake the day
after.
Who are your
favourite
discarnate
authors?
As well as André
Luiz and
Emmanuel, who
have written
through Chico
Xavier and
provide us with
very rich
material, I feel
a strong
affinity with
the works of
Manoel Philomeno
de Miranda, who
has written
through the
medium, Divaldo
Franco. This
author gives us
important
warnings about
the issue of
spiritual
affinities and
the problems
caused by
spiritual
attachment or
obsession, which
I think are one
of the most
serious problems
affecting
humankind on
Earth in our
times.
Is there
anything else
you would like
to add?
Spiritism does
not perform
“miracles.” It
helps us achieve
what we want.
When I say
“miracles” I
mean something
that seems
unattainable,
unreal and that
only a major
power would be
able to deliver.
Through
Spiritism we
realise that God
is inside us as
well as outside.
We understand
that we have the
power to win, we
understand our
spiritual
potential and
that, if we have
good will, we
will find and
tune in with God
in ourselves.
Your final
words, please.
May human beings
cease to be too
impressed by
their
imperfections,
as looking into
themselves they
will realise
that they have
also developed
qualities and
virtues. A
mistake should
not be a reason
for stagnation,
but for a new
beginning
instead. We will
become better
people by
practicing good
deeds regularly.
After all, no
one changes
without the help
of time. “Nature
does not take
big leaps.” The
world presents
us with
challenges and
problems, but
the Spiritism
has predicted
that before the
renovation of
the planet
everything would
need to be
modified – a new
human moral for
a regenerated
world. The evil
we see now in a
more intense
manner is the
same evil that
has always been
around, only it
is showing
itself now. It
is always
easier, however,
to deal with
what we can see.
May the good
people stop
being so shy, as
The Spirits’
Book warns
us on question
932.
