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Messages of Hope: for times of sorrow |
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"Then will I
teach
transgressors
thy ways,
and sinners
shall be
converted
unto thee" (Ps
51:13).
About the
times in
which we
live, let us
see what
Allan Kardec
has to say:
"It is not
rational to
suppose that
God destroys
the world
precisely
when it
enters the
path of
moral
progress
through the
practice of
evangelical
teachings.
Nothing,
moreover, in
the words of
Christ,
indicates a
universal
destruction
which, under
such
conditions,
would not be
justified.
Since the
general
practice of
the Gospel
defines a
great
improvement
in man’s
moral state,
it will
therefore
bring the
reign of
good and the
fall of
evil. Thus,
it is the
end of the old
world,
of the world
governed by
prejudice,
pride,
selfishness,
fanaticism,
unbelief,
cupidity,
and all the
sinful
passions
which Christ
referred to
when He
said: “When
the Gospel
is preached
in the whole
Earth, then
the end will
come"1 (Original
Griffin).
False
"prophecies"
that are
improbable
or foolish
are accepted
with much
credulity
and fear by
various
religious
currents,
not using
common sense
to identify
the
undeniable
mental
imbalance of
those who
"received"
them, and
attribute
them to
Spiritual
Entities,
worthy of
our total
respect.
Others, who
are naïve,
ignorant, or
have hidden
purposes,
use all
means to
spread them.
Members of
the
Spiritist
Movement are
not
excluded.
They show
that they do
not know the
Spiritist
Doctrine, do
not use
reason, and
do not study
it. In good
faith or not
using common
sense they
mistake
reliable
prophecies
for foolish
things; they
disclose
their hasty
or distorted
conclusions
and do not
consider
their
harmful
consequences
regarding
the immature
minds that
will receive
and piously
believe in
them, and
therefore
are led to
discouragement,
and to
hopelessness.
Francisco
Candido
Xavier
speaks to
us:
"Question:
The
celebrated
Nostradamus
marks the
months of
July and
October 1999
as those of
the final
period of
time we are
going
through. And
he predicts
to this time
great
cataclysms
and social
calamities.
Should
Nostradamus
be taken
seriously?
Answer: With
regard to
the
prophecies
of
Nostradamus,
which we
should study
with the
greatest
respect for
the human
messenger of
the known
prophesies,
Emmanuel
asks us to
read and
meditate
about the
Book of
Jonah in the
Old
Testament”. 2
Here is a
summary of
this Book:
the Lord
commanded
him to go
"to the
great city
of Nineveh,
and cry out
against it,
for their
wickedness
has come up
to me."
In order to
escape His
designs, he
goes by ship
to Tarshish,
"far from
the presence
of the
Lord".
Thrown into
the sea,
after
episodes
lived in the
ship, he is
swallowed by
an enormous
fish that,
on the third
day (a
period of
time of
anguishes
and prayers
for him)
vomits him
on land.
Jonah
finally
obeys the
Lord and
preaches to
the
inhabitants
of Nineveh,
telling them
that their
city will be
overthrown.
The
inhabitants
and even the
King are
converted,
fasting and
doing
penances.
The Lord,
out of
compassion
and for the
despair of
Jonah's
pride,
suspends the
punishment.
The Lord
requires our
conversion
to His Laws,
for "it is
not the will
of your
Heavenly
Father that
one of these
little ones
should
perish".
Jesus (Mt
18:14).
Also "the
Spirits of
the Lord"
have
manifested
themselves
over time,
notably in
the
twentieth
century,
warning us:
"(...) the
spiritual
scum, formed
by the blind
and deaf
volunteers,
will be
exiled as a
race of
fallen
beings,
because no
longer will
the cursed
thirst for
gold
predominate
among men
and a
Christian
fraternity
will be
implanted,
under a
single flag
of peace.
The Spirits
who are
prepared for
this great
moral work
of the
planet are
already in
the midst of
the shadows
of the flesh
to help the
weak and
free the
oppressed in
the
fulfillment
of
evangelical
promises and
to sustain
the stricken
souls in
their cries
of the
Apocalypse
(...)
Jesus
presided and
will preside over
all the
transformations
of the
planet and
what is
necessary is
that you
identify
yourself
with Him. For
this
superior and
dignifying
work, you
have the
Gospel (...)
Pray and
watch; but
above all,
love a lot;
wait without
discouragement
and without
impatience
the time
that is
approaching. Be
the true
workers of
the Divine
Seara. (...)
You shall
acknowledge
its members
not by their
words, but
by their
deeds".3
"From the
painful and
coarse
transitions
that feature
the present
evolutionary
period of
Humanity,
the world
will be
reborn
better for
Jesus, (…)
The time is
of pain, but
it is also
of
enlightenment
for the
world that
is lost,
because of
the lack of
humbleness".4
"In the
whirlwind of
the hours
that go by,
in the
waiting room
of Dante’s
visions that
approach, in
the land of
the lava
made of
blood and
tears that
pour and
will pour
over the
whole Earth,
is Brazil
and,
especially,
the Ishmael
Office, that
are
responsible
to prepare
themselves
from now
onwards to
receive the
millions
that will
come to
their doors
abruptly".5
"(...) the
second
sounding has
already been
given; the
Angels of
Heaven
depart in
all
directions,
descending
from the
Infinite, to
raise the
hearts
fallen in
weakness due
to their
behavior.
(...)
Irradiate,
brethren,
your love,
radiate
tirelessly
the
teachings of
the Master,
so that the
heart of the
planet can
sustain the
whole world
that
resembles an
ill body in
need of new
blood". 6
"Due to the
impossibility
of presently
avoiding the
outburst of
formidable
magnetic
storms,
purifying
the
psychophysical
atmosphere
of our
world, the
distressing
pictures we
see in the
near future
predict
strong rains
of tears,
requiring
Christian
mercy, a
strong
Spirit and
pure
brotherly
love, so
that the
bases of
civilization
are not
reached by
the roar of
despair or
by torrents
of iniquity
(...)
At the time
when the
great
workers of
the
preparation
are saying
goodbye to
the visible
world, and
the
missionaries
for
assistance
and
resistance
begin their
task, the
forerunners
of the new
times wear
their robes
of flesh for
the work of
the great
reconstruction,
already
scheduled
for the dawn
of the next
millennium".7
"You know...
that the
divine plan
of evolution
will have to
be
fulfilled,
with men;
and in spite
of men, and
that
nothing, nor
anyone, will
be able to
prevent our
small but
not
insignificant
orb of
changing ,
in due time,
from a world
of trials
and
atonements,
into a
regenerated
world. The
foreseen
times have
already
arrived and
the signs
announced
are evident,
to the sight
of whoever
sees even if
just a
little, with
the sight of
the Spirit
(…)”.8
Ishmael, in
prayer, begs
the Divine
Lord to
bless the
ones who
help him in
his
commitment
to spread
the Gospel
and that
their
connection
with their
hearts is
important, in
order to not
being
dominated by
the
difficult
times that
will affect
the planet
thus shaking
the
rebellious,
when the
elected ones
will be
preserved so
that light
may continue
to
illuminate
the path of
redemption".9
"Future
blessings
can be seen
before us,
despite the
difficulties
and problems
of the
present
(...)
It is
necessary to
carry out to
the end the
higher goals
of the
Spiritist
message, in
this moment
of upheaval
and struggle
that is
falling over
the Earth".10
"The
suffering
and
visionary
peoples, who
will soon
experience
the terrible
fire of the
supreme
trials,
deserve and
must
urgently
receive the
help of the
New Message
from the
Immortal
Master".11
"Suddenly,
the
floodgates
of the usual
restraints
are opened,
and the
terrible
valleys -
torn by the
power of the
consent of
the Highest
- give
access to
the daylight
on the
surface of
the
Planetary
Crust to all
who have
hidden in
the abysses.
Then, an
apparent
chaos seems,
to the more
timid, to
threaten the
stability of
Civilization
and shatter
the world of
shadows”.12 (*)
"Messengers,
of great
importance,
coming from
the higher
spheres, are
about to
reincarnate
in this
manly land,
to hasten
the
propagation
and
foundation
of the reign
of
Regeneration.
From Egypt
to India,
from Rome to
China, from
Caldea to
Babylon,
their eldest
children
return to
the planet
to offer
their lives
and
millennial
experiences
in the
homeland of
the Gospel”. 13 (*)
"Let us calm
down ... and
continue in
our tasks,
in the
certainty
that
difficulties
arise as
factors
foreseen and
necessary
for our
personal
enrichment
and for the
greater
magnitude of
the Work of
the Lord,
since we
deal in a
world in a
painful
process of
redemptive
transformation,in
this stormy
night of
wickedness
and pain,
which
precedes the
splendorous
day that is
to dawn".14 (*)
"Rejoice
because you
live in
these days;
feel happy
that you are
called to
the highest
witnesses of
life,
because
Christians
without
witness and
Spiritist
without
Charity are
adornments
of the
church of
faith
without
luminosity
and without
reason".15
"Your
testimonies
will be more
severe than
those of the
old
pioneers.
They gave
their lives
in a moment.
You must
donate it,
for
successive
moments, in
which you
will slowly
wear away in
the same
manner as
the fuel, in
the lamp
that pours
light, is
also
consumed.
Subdue
yourselves,
illuminating
the
consciences
with the
Spiritist
message".16 (*)
"Excessive
pains, great
concerns are
unavoidable,
difficulties-challenges
(...)
May the
thought of
Christ sound
in us and,
considering
our
behavior,
act in us
the beauty
of the
Spiritist
message that
will soon
change the
thinking on
Earth and
expel,
definitively,
war, fear,
dissatisfaction,
generated by
selfishness,
which will
give way to
the altruism
that Jesus
offered us
in the
sacred
lesson of
Charity
(...)
"Tests that
will redeem
open
collective
karmic debts
are
necessary;
they will
also open
new horizons
of spiritual
maturity for
our people,
with a view
to the
future.
Without any
catastrophic
foresight,
otherwise
unjustifiable, we
must prepare
our moral
resistance
to defend
our own
balance
(...)".17(*)
"A new dawn
arrives!
The dark
shadows that
have
remained
over
Humanity
give place
now to the
light of the
new day.
(...)
Spiritism
will bring
the renewal
of Society,
implanting
the Primacy
of Love, and
it is you,
my children,
who must
accomplish
this,
sometimes
through
tears,
solitude and
silence, not
consenting
to crime,
and not
living in
error,
whatever may
be the
comfortable
justification"!18
"A wave of
suffering
sweeps the
Earth and
man cries.
Death
threatens
him. In vain
he wonders:
what is
life? (...)
You have
requested
divine
permission
to be
reborn,
sowing hope
and light.
You have
prayed for
the
reincarnation
permission
to offer to
Humanity the
requirements
for a Better
World ...
And the
spiritual
world has
attended
you. This is
your time to
serve".19 (*)
"Avoid
quarrels;
overcome the
difficulties
of
interpretation;
forget
aversions,
the
differences
of an
affective
nature.
If you
cannot love
in the same
ideal, how
can you plan
love to
those who do
not agree
with you?
(...) ”19 (*)
The Good
Spirits do
not hide
their
hardships
and
suffering,
especially
since the
two Great
World Wars.
Texts were
gathered
showing
encouragement,
and
consolation,
in Messages
of Hope, for
a time of
severe pain.
They invite
us to
understand
the Spirit
of the
Gospel; its
experience
and
preaching;
to work so
that so many
of the two
Plans of
Life may
morally
renew
themselves
and remain
in this
world.
*
Even after
the storm
has passed,
Christ’s
great heart
will bleed
with pain,
because -
with deep
and divine
sadness – He
will see the
ungrateful
and
rebellious
godchildren
depart for a
severe
reeducation
because they
did not want
to accept
His sweet
protection…"21 (*)
"Humanity’s
regeneration,
therefore,
does not
require at
all the
complete
renewal of
the Spirits:
a change in
their
character
suffices. This
change
operates in
all who are
inclined to
it, as long
as they are
free from
the evil
influence of
the world".22(*)
Our ultimate
duty is to
consciously
follow
Jesus’
Gospel, and
to spread
His message
of Love
untiringly
so that the
greatest
number of
souls can
understand
it and
sincerely
convert,
for "the
Kingdom of
God will be
installed,
after all,
sooner than
it seems, in
this world".23 (*)
There is
nothing to
fear but
indifference
and
idleness! We
are sure of
the changes
announced
two thousand
years ago!
Love and
Mercy will
also follow
those who go
to primitive
worlds.
There is no
need to
worry about
one or
another
alternative.
The Earth is
the great
boat that,
apparently,
threatens to
crush in the
midst of
storms, but
Jesus is the
helmsman,
who watches
over all and
well, and we
know that
even the
winds obey
Him! Work,
serve, love,
trust and
attend the
command of
the
Celestial
Friend!
Here is the
plea of the
Brazilian
Spiritist
Federation:
"The great
crisis,
therefore,
is
unavoidable.
It is, in
fact, the
great remedy
against the
evils that
infest
mankind. And
Spiritists,
for all they
already
understand,
and for what
they have
already
received,
must prepare
themselves,
without
panic and
without
being
impressed by
the raptures
of
catastrophic
omens, to be
the center
of support
for the
emotional
balance of
Humanity,
before the
deep
approaching
transition". 24
And,
finally,
like Jonah,
let us learn
to trust in
the
immeasurable
Love and
Mercy of God
our Father!
(*) – Our
griffin.
References:
1. KARDEC,
Allan. The
Genesis.
34th ed.
Rio de
Janeiro:
FEB, 1991.
Pages
395-396:
Chap. 17,
item 58;
2. WORM,
Fernando. The
Bridge -
Dialogues
with Chico
Xavier. 2nd
ed. Porto
Alegre:
Author's
Edition,
1982. Page
65;
3. SAMPAIO,
Bittencourt
/ Francisco
C. Xavier.
In the "Cries"
of the
Apocalypse.
In the
Reformer of
March/34 and
republished
in the
Reformer of
Dec/76,
Pages
365-366;
4. EMMANUEL
/ Francisco
C. Xavier,
22.09.39. The
Homeland of
the Gospel
and the
House of
Ishmael.
The Reformer
of June /
77, Pages
163-164;
5.
ALCANTARA,
Pedro /
A.I.M.,
23.09.71. Program
of Faith.
The Reformer
July/ 72,
Page 162;
6. BEZERRA /
Maria
Cecilia
Paiva. The
wakeup call.
FEB / Rio,
10/08/74,
the
Reformer,
Jan/75, Page
16;
7. CALIMERIO
/ Hernani T.
Sant'Anna. Before
the Future.
20.01.77,
FEB / Rio,
the
Reformer,
June/78;
8. AUREO /
Hernani T.
de
Sant'Anna. New
Year Message.
05.01.78,
FEB; the
Reformer,
Jan/79, Page
5;
9. SAYAO /
Giffoni. Go
and Preach.
23.08.79,
FEB / Rio;
the
Reformer,
June / 81,
Page 183;
10. MENEZES,
Bezerra de /
Divaldo P.
Franco. From
the Major
Plan.
11.28.79,
Salvador /
BA; the
Reformer,
Feb / 80,
Page 63;
11. VIEIRA,
Antonio /
Hernani T.
de
Sant'Anna. Holding
hands.
29.11.79,
FEB / Rio;
the
Reformer,
Feb. 1980,
Pages 43/4;
12. HELIL /
Hernani T.
Sant'Anna. Helil
and Ishmael.
06.12.79,
FEB / Rio;
the
Reformer,
Feb. 1980,
Page 44;
13.
OLIVEIRA,
Juscelino K.
de / Itamar
Costa. In
the
Spiritual
Space of
Brazil.
25.12.79,
FEB / DF;
the
Reformer,
May / 81,
Page 156;
14. AUREO /
Hernani T.
Sant'Anna. Christian
Confidence. 05.08.82,
FEB / Rio;
the
Reformer,
Mar / 83,
Page 93;
15. BEZERRA
/ Divaldo P.
Franco. Message
of Bezerra
de Menezes. 02.11.85,
FEB / DF;
the
Reformer,
Jan / 86,
Page 28;
16. BEZERRA
/ Divaldo P.
Franco,
07.11.87,
FEB / DF;
the
Reformer,
Feb / 88,
Pages 55/56;
17. Bezerra
/ Divaldo P.
Franco.
Bezerra de
Menezes
speaks to
the members
of the
National
Federative
Council.
17.11.90,
FEB / DF;
the
Reformer,
Jan / 91,
Pages 12/3;
18. BEZERRA
/ Divaldo P.
Franco. Primate
of Love.
07.11.92,
FEB / DF;
the
Reformer,
Dec. 92,
Page 361;
19. BEZERRA
/ Divaldo P.
Franco. Message
of
Encouragement
and Faith. 18.08.94,
CEI / Miami
(USA); the
Reformer,
Feb. 1995,
Page 37;
20. BEZERRA
/ Divaldo P.
Franco. New
challenges.
05.10.95,
FEB / DF;
the
Reformer,
Dec / 95,
Page 357;
21. AUREO /
Hernani T.
Sant'Anna. Universe
and Life. Rio
de Janeiro:
FEB, 1980.
Chapter 12,
Page 168;
22. KARDEC,
Allan. The
Genesis.
34th ed. Rio
de Janeiro:
FEB, 1991. Pages
421-422:
Chap. 18,
item 33;
23. AUREO /
Hernani T.
Sant'Anna. Paradox.
20.08.81,
FEB / Rio;
the
Reformer,
Oct / 81,
Page 302;
24.
Editorial of
the
Reformer,
Jan / 74,
page 2.
Translation:
Eleni
Frangatos - eleni.moreira@uol.com.br
