Among the various anniversaries of the year, we have, among others with the same emphasis, the fiftieth anniversary of two extraordinary works organized by the writer, translator, editor, theater and film director Wallace Leal V. Rodrigues (1924-1988), who worked at Casa Editora Clarim (Publisher Clarim), in the city of Matao-SP, with great competence and prominence. His books, translations, organization of works and magnificent prefaces constitute a great literary and doctrinal treasure of the historical heritage of Spiritism, inside and outside Brazil.

Several books, not only from the publisher O Clarim – obviously, reach commemorative dates in 2023. Chico Xavier's peculiar mediumship offered in the past the opportunity to publish many works that complete decades of publication. This creates an opportunity to remember such contents, now encouraging contact with these literary treasures for younger generations.

Among them are the fabulous books Escrínio de Luz (In the Realm of Light) and Segui-me! (Follow me!) Known by older generations, they are books unknown to novice spiritists, both in terms of age and proximity to spiritist literature. However, it will never be too much to remember them, given the treasure contained in their valuable pages. Both were published in 1973, thus reaching 50 years of publication in 2023.

Chico Xavier delivered the first of them to the publisher, with a release in the capital of São Paulo, generating a large movement of autographs that lasted throughout the night. Wallace organized the second one with a selection of psychographic messages – with a characteristic that the reader knows in the preface of the work – and which were still unpublished. Both books contain a preface by Wallace.

Due to his peculiar characteristic of great textual ease, conquering the reader due to the lightness and depth that go hand in hand in his writings, the editor and the preface deliver wonderful texts to the reader to present the works, and in the first of them the text that presents the work has no less than 26 pages. An unusual fact for a preface.

And after mentioning these prefaces, the reader has the wisdom of a Master in his hands. The well-known Emmanuel, with his luminous legacy in transmitting spiritist knowledge and in the great knowledge of the evangelical texts, presents true scripts of action or posture in the face of the challenges of human existence.

However, since we are talking about commemorating the fiftieth anniversary, I allow myself to bring the reader excerpts from the works, even as a way of motivating the reader to participate in this moment, getting to know the works.

In the Realm of Light:

The chapters add up to more than 50 titles. The sensitivity and wisdom of the spiritual author offer the reader a true recipe for happiness in the practical use of the guidelines of the Gospel. As well, the healthy behavior resulting from it, capable of these guidelines - if used or at least sought in the effort that one can undertake personally – to eliminate outbreaks of disturbances so common in our days.

Despite the fact that the work has been published for 50 years, the up-to-date of its content is a perennial invitation that enthuses the reader, offering abundant reflections for personal balance that is capable of resulting in family balance and, consequently, social balance.

Well known, however, is our difficulty in applying those principles brought by Jesus. Emmanuel, however, facilitates understanding in this necessary exercise that we still need to persevere. The stimulus, guidance and clarity of those texts deserve family study groups or in Spiritist institutions, in groups that wish to deepen the search for improvement in their members.

I highlight two of the chapters for the reader, as a motivation for further research:

In the chapter Before the Goodness of God, we find a precious page, which we use for the next paragraph.

After an introduction in a few paragraphs, the author refers in the following three paragraphs – one paragraph for each case – to: a) tyrants of the past; b) cunning malefactors and c) intelligent criminals.

Note that the classification well applies to the present moment for those who allow themselves to be seduced by aggressiveness, by crime, by dishonesty, in short, by tyranny and perversity of all kinds. The spiritual author places them in the future in the recovery of themselves, in compliance with the Law that governs our destinies, in behavior, decisions and reactions.

Therefore, one must meditate on God's resources and continue in the performance of duty. Emmanuel even states “(...) the goodness of God, without fanfare, intervenes in the causes that produce them, restoring the security of peace and the march of progress. (...)”. After all, as the author ponders, “(...) that, above all our strength, you can invariably count on God's resources. I suggest the reader research for full reading, typing Ante a Bondade de Deus – Emmanuel (Before God’s Goodness – Emmanuel), to realize the greatness of the text.

After almost concluding, he states and advises:

Whenever afflictions visit you in the form of illness or sadness, humiliation or penury, persecution or temptation, loss or disaster, do not surrender to suggestions of rebellion or discouragement. Work and wait, between the pleasure of serving and the happiness of trusting, remembering that if you are looking for God's help, God's help is also looking for you.

However, he concludes wisely:

The law of good always operates and the protection of God is hidden or is coming.

This is after considering the multitude of difficulties, obstacles and afflictions that often come together.

The most striking thing is that the reflection fits individually, also in a family or professional group, but especially in the context of the nation, with its subsequent ongoing challenges. Check it out... You will be surprised.

From the chapter Ante a lei do bem (Before the law of good) I selected some partial transcripts:

a) What looks like illness to you is the process and recovery of health.

b) Small annoyances that you categorize as offenses will be invitations to re-examine the obstacles that cripple your road.

c) Setbacks that you interpret as being ingratitude of loved ones, usually just mean modifications of the Higher Designs,

d) Discord is a problem that asks you for pacifying action.

e) Domestic disharmonies are nothing more than a demand for more service to family members so that you can reconcile definitively with adversaries from the past.

After almost concluding, he states and advises:

Whenever afflictions visit you in the form of illness or sadness, humiliation or penury, persecution or temptation, loss or disaster, do not surrender to suggestions of rebellion or discouragement. Work and wait, between the pleasure of serving and the happiness of trusting, remembering that if you are looking for God's help, God's help is also looking for you.

Nevertheless, he concludes wisely:

The law of good always works and the protection of God is hidden or is coming.

This is after considering the multitude of difficulties, obstacles and afflictions that often come together.

In the Follow Me!

The book exceeds 60 chapters, always compact, also with the characteristic of objectivity and orientation to the reader, with the insurmountable lessons of the Gospel. Hence the title of the work.

The book has always been in great demand at the publisher. Be it for the suggestive call, as for the cover image. In addition, of course, by the author and medium who signed it.

As mentioned above, such chapters contain a very special feature. The spiritual author wrote in such a way as to facilitate the reader's understanding, using the essential thought and main words at the beginning of his sentences, for better use of the text. As one can read in Wallace's Preface – which makes important considerations about the dynamic reading method, drawing on the experience of Professor François Richaudeau, who the reader is acquainted with in expressive detail in the work's Preface – there is much to be learned from the style of the messages that form the work. Particularly, when reading the Preface, I already felt immensely motivated to pick up the book.

Wallace wrote in his presentation of the book:

For years, we have been collecting messages from the Spirit Emmanuel, psychographic by Francisco Cândido Xavier and which are included in this volume because they have not yet been published in book form. He collected the steering wheel each time, with mastery and singular intelligence, completely devoid of any sophistication, the admirable spirit approached an interpretative angle of the kaleidoscope of life.

- "I've done everything", "now I can't do it anymore". However, Jesus does not act towards us in similar limitations. Every day, we are safely supported and generously tolerated. Let us therefore be willing to offer hands full of work in the temple of fraternal love. Every moment is an opportunity to help our fighting brothers, out of love for the Master who sustains us. (...) Let us remain, thus, of souls turned to the positive and incessant good. In getting up each day, let us repair the pain and concerns that surround us and offer hands full of service to the Lord, in the person of others, keeping the certainty that, in so doing, we will gather from others the spontaneous help of our needs.

It is not possible to show indifference in the face of such a significant event. Two fifty-year-olds, in fact, respectable. Two works, two treasures. Gathered wisdom, living guidance for balance.

We really hope to motivate the reader to know both works.

In addition, as promised, here's a summary of the chapters:

In the chapter “Hands down on good”, the author Spirit points out:

We know that Christ awaits us, above all, beside our brothers on Earth. Where difficulties and trials arise, there it is waiting for us to intervene so that the fraternal concurrence is immediately felt. Many times, however, in front of the stubborn and rude companion, we exclaim, discouraged:

It is not possible to show indifference in the face of such a significant event. Two fifty-year-olds, in fact, respectable. Two works, two treasures. Gathered wisdom, living guidance for balance.