Vanderlei Antonio Padoves (photo) is a doctor in the city of Itápolis, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. He is a member of the Nova Era (New Age) Spiritist Centre, where he works as a volunteer healer and in a mediumship group.

How and when did you become a Spiritist?

I was born in a Catholic family. When I was 11 or 12 years old I began to question things. Why so much pomp if they said they spoke in the name of Jesus, who had been poor and humble. Why was so much money being taken away from the poor when the bishop lived in a palace? Would a simple confession be able to redeem us from all sins? Why God, being our Father, put in this world rich people and poor people, healthy and sick people, with some being born disabled? If we were all their children, why did that happen? I kept asking my mother, who, poor thing, was not able to answer. She got nervous and told me to stop asking otherwise she would lose her faith. Then I bought a Spiritist novel, I cannot remember where. I had a look and found it interesting, and then bought others. That made sense to me. Then, and again I don’t remember how, I became a member of a Spiritist book club. I read Nosso Lar – Our Home and Ação e Reação (Action and Reaction) by André Luiz and that is when I began to get the answers I was looking for. Thank God I did not become a Spiritist through pain.

How did Spiritism influence you in your life and your profession?

I believe I became more understanding, perhaps more human. I also realised that we don’t need much money to live. Perhaps it has also helped me keep up to date with information and changes in general.

What stroke you the most in Spiritism: its rationality, its common sense or the information it contains?

Everything. The Gospel According to Spiritism is really extraordinary. Everything is so logical. I wish I could put into practice a little bit of what it is taught in that book.

Do you have any memories of any particular event when your knowledge of Spiritism played an important part in your role as a doctor?

I was once alone in the surgery centre of a clinic when an anxious nurse came looking for me, as there was a pregnant woman in labour. It was a very difficult delivery. The patient’s hips were too narrow and the baby was suffering. It was too later for a Caesarean section! I tried to get the child out manually but I was too anxious and failed. Then I suddenly heard a voice: “Stop and calm down, as the child will turn around”. I moved away, the child turned around and was born. I attribute what happened solely to the Spiritual World.

What is your assessment of the public’s reaction and interests regarding the activities offered by the Spiritist Centre where you work as a volunteer?

I am happy when many people attend our activities, but what really excites me is when I see that people are connected, paying attention. When that happens, I know beforehand that a great number of people will ask interesting questions, will come back other times, buy books and perhaps even ask for the regular activities of our Group and eventually become a volunteer worker

Not all health sector professional accept the fact that the Spiritual Benefactors help in the healing process. How can you combine Medicine and Spirituality and prayers, teaching all the importance of prayer and faith in God?

I often say that Medicine is great, but God is above everything. I often ask relatives to pray. But I am more careful when it comes to recommending that patients pray too. Coming from a doctor, some see it as some sort of last rites.

If you could tell something to the wider public, especially patients seeking help, and also to Spiritists, what would your heart say to them?

I don’t know if many people will agree with me, but the closer I get to Spirituality more good things happen around me, even with patients who are terminal. Sometimes patients are suffering so much and I realise Medicine can no longer do anything and I pray for got to take them away. Other times there are true “miracles” that Medicine cannot explain. You can never take hope away from patients. Human touch and words of encouragement have magical power. Patients need to feel that people care about them.

Is there anything you would like to add?

As painful as life may be, we cannot forget two things that are often said but also very often ignored: if I suffer, that happens for a reason I need to understand. And life is too short for moaning. Let us make the most of the time we have. Let’s clean up our mental home. Let us live with happiness.