Lethargy, catalepsy and apparent deaths

We present in this issue the topic #120 from the Systematized Study of the Spiritist Doctrine, that is being presented weekly, according to the programme elaborated by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation (FEB), structured in 6 modules and 147 topics.

If the reader uses this program for a study group, we suggest that questions proposed be discussed freely before the reading of the text that follows. If you would like to study alone, we ask you to try to answer the questions at first and only then read the text that follows. The answer key can be found at the end of the lesson. 

Questions

1. What is catalepsy?

2. Can catalepsy be considered a pathologic state?

3. What happens in the different states of lethargy?

4. Can people who experience catalepsy and lethargy hear and see what happens around them?

5. How can you explain the cases of resuscitation of Jairo’s daughter and Lazaro as mentioned in The Gospel?

Text

Catalepsy and lethargy can be spontaneous or provoked

1. The terms catalepsy and lethargy have been used to determine various different states, spontaneous or provoked ones, and their characteristics are diminished mobility and restricted sensitivity of the nervous system. This can lead to an apparent shut down in all the vital functions of the body. At the time when Kardec was alive, lethargy was considered the most preeminent of those states. The person who experiences lethargy doesn’t hear or feel anything, he/she doesn’t see anything and his/hers conscience is lost, showing himself/herself in a state similar to death.    

2. Catalepsy is partial or total suspension of the sensitivity and voluntary movements of the individual depending on the bigger or smaller intensity of this state. Some authors consider this state pathological, however, Dr. Bezerra de Menezes (spirit) has a different point of view. He believes that catalepsy and lethargy are not pathological at all, they are faculties like other ones possessed by mediums and if they are miscomprehended or ignored, they can be malefic to people who experience them. The study that Dr. Bezerra de Menezes did about this matter can be found in the first chapter of the book “Recordações da Mediunidade” by Yvonne A. Pereira.

3. Catalepsy can manifest itself together with different pathological states such as hysteria, epilepsy and mental diseases, with breaks in between. Its characteristics, as said before, is partial or total loss of the sensitivity and voluntary movements with extreme rigid muscles.

4. Catalepsy can be spontaneous, without an apparent reason, or provoked. If provoked, the patient cannot do anything voluntarily, acting similarly to a hypnotised person and following only what the hypnotherapist’s suggests, without freedom of action or movements. In this state, he/she doesn’t speak, hear or think for himself/ herself, only to do what he/she is told to.

In the lethargic state, the patient is completely still as if he/she was dead

5. It’s different what happens in the lethargic state. The patient is completely still, but arms and legs would be flaccid showing no signs of being rigid, and if lifted, the person would fall down heavily when he/she is let go of. In this state, the patient’s breathing and pulse are almost imperceptible and their dilated pupils wouldn’t respond to light. The inertia of their mind appears to be absolute with the diminished sensitivity of the nervous system.

6. There is, however, a type of lethargy where the patient’s psychic develops normally as described by Jose Lapponi in the book “Hypnosis and Spiritism”. In these cases, the patient is able to understand what is happening around him/her but he/she is not capable of showing what he/she is feeling. Specialists name this type of lethargy as lucid lethargy.

7. It’s in any type of lethargy that are included the cases of apparent death registered in History and also in the bible. The case of Cardeal Donnet is a classic example of lucid lethargy and he was almost buried alive when in this state.

8. Spiritism teaches us that people experiencing catalepsy and lethargy, in general, see and hear what is around them but they cannot show that they do. These perceptions are from the spirit, who knows about himself/herself and everything around him/her, but cannot communicate because of the state of his/hers body is in.

Resuscitation is only possible if death hasn’t completely happened

9. The New testament refers to cases that become famous at the time of Jesus, like the episodes with the son of the widow from Naim, the daughters of Jairo and Lazaro, brother of Martha and Mary. It’s evident, according to the studies of Spiritism, that these cases were examples of apparent death from the state of lethargy or catalepsy, in which those three people were considered dead.

10. In these states, the body is still alive as there are vital functions still happening. It’s vitality is asleep but not completely shut down. If the body is alive, the spirit is still connected to it. If a person who is apparently dead, comes back to life, it means death wasn’t complete.

11. If death isn’t complete, it is possible to reconnect, through care given on time, the connections that are fragile. This would save the life of the person who would probably die if help wasn’t given on time. This fact happened as described in the bible and it’s obvious that magnetism was important in those cases. Giving back the vital fluid to the person’s body as it needs, magnetism can contribute heavily to resuscitation, which isn’t a miracle at all.

12. From all the cases told in the bible, it seems that the episode with Lazaro was the best to exemplify catalepsy or lethargy, because, after being buried for days, the brother of Martha came back to life thanks to Jesus’ magnetic powers.

Answer Key