Advanced Study Group of Spiritism

EDITORIAL

TEXTS

I want to live amongst them. I want to take part in their happiness, I want to be amazed with their bewilderment and forget everything, except my family of little ones.

I have always loved children, always preferring their merry company to that of wise men and the rest of humanity, because with children, I've always discovered the Truth.

A wise philosopher once said, “There is nothing more short of memory or ungrateful than children.” But, I say with absolute certainty that his opinion is wrong. A child is not a hypocrite; they say and do what they feel, without reservation nor deceit of any kind. But, man will feign a smile and pretend to flatter another, meanwhile hate is fermenting within his heart, towards those with whom he is welcoming and entertaining.

I would give up a few centuries of happiness to live one existence surrounded by children, because then I would not know of humanity’s crimes, nor would I ever be deceived. Oh, yes! Let the children come to me, with their spontaneous sentiments, their enchanting and inimitable frankness, and innate loyalty.

Adults frighten me. But, I am attracted to children. The confessions of adults terrify me, but I enjoy the confidences of children, because in them I find simplicity and the Truth. And how beautiful is the Truth...! How many times, surrounded by my little friends, I have felt so small beside them, next to these great souls!

What is lacking in the majority of children is a conscientious, solid education and having a mentor to help guide them along the uneven paths upon this earth. Children who have been well educated and well taught, can become heroes when the opportunity presents itself. I know this is true because I've seen it, and I am convinced that there is nothing easier than to awaken the generous enthusiasm of children by awakening their sentiments... until they reach the sublime.

One afternoon, I left the cemetery much sadder than usual; having thought too much about her. While I was there, next to her tomb, I saw the girl with the black curls. Upon her seeing that I smiled but sadly, my heart cried out bitterly regarding her frustrated happiness.

It is so sad to have in our hands that beautiful Cup of Life full of the nectar of contentment..., and have to keep it from our lips, thirsting for love and happiness, only to deliver it over to a slow suicide, a sterile sacrifice, and a mute desperation! Oh, the catholic priesthood is a priesthood of Death !

My adopted children, upon seeing me, knew that I was preoccupied, and since they all loved me, they surrounded me very concerned. One of the very smallest, grabbed unto my habit and said with a voice trembling, “Father, is it true that Jews eat children?”

“The bad ones, they do, but not the good ones,” replied another child. “Right, Father?”

I answered smiling,“Neither the one nor the other, because Jews are not cannibals.”

“Well, my mother says they do,”objected the first child, “And I am very scared, because she said that someone has told her there is a man who comes into the parish during the night, and takes away the children.”

“Yes,” added another,“My father also was told that the man entered a house, and took some bread, but a dog heard him and started barking and the thief went away in a hurry. They also say that fire came from his eyes, and my grandmother claims he was a Jew.”

The conversation of the children distracted me from my sad thoughts. I started to worry about the luck of this poor unfortunate one they were talking about. This had not been the first time that I had heard about this man who they called the Jew. There were countless stories, all of them ridiculous and absurd lies. I believes that the one they were talking about, was possibly a person in unfortunate circumstances, who more than likely had a sad existence whose history was full of tears. In trying to obtain the facts, taking now more of an interest, I asked one of the children, “When did they say they last saw the man who took the bread?”

“Last night, my father said,” answered a child, carefully looking about fearfully in all directions.

We all kept walking and arrived at the ‘Spring of Health’, when all of a sudden the children yelled with fright, they surrounded me, and anxiously shouted, “Father! Father! Tell him that we are good. There he is!” And some of those innocent children took shelter under my cape, others protected themselves by getting behind me, but all trembled with fright.

All that yelling left me no time to look for the cause of their distress, until finally, I looked about and noticed that sitting next to the spring, there was a man who had probably seen about seventy winters. He was tall, thin, and covered all with rags. A long pale beard rested on his bare chest. He looked sad, very sad; he seemed to grieve with his eyes. He appeared a symbol of tribulation and misery. His head was bandaged and covered with blood. Upon seeing him in the deplorable state he was, I ran towards him breaking through the circle of children surrounding me. The elderly man upon seeing me looked indecisive. He looked like he wanted to run but at the same time, he seemed to want to make my acquaintance. Whereupon, I hastened to him and told him, “Do not be afraid.”

The poor man stayed where he was and seemed to contemplate with profound sadness the group of children who, at a short distance from him, kept saying, “It's him. That’s him.”

Understanding what he must be thinking, I told him, “Do not worry, they will cause you no harm,” and putting my arm around his waist, I turned to the children and told them sternly and with great authority, “Silence, and listen to me carefully. Whoever has told you that this elderly gentleman wanted to harm you, lied miserably, and instead of everyone screaming, what all of you should be doing is giving him half of what you brought for lunch, because the law of God tells us to share what we have with those who are hungry.”

The children became silent, at the same time moving closer to one another, and then that compact group drew near me. Some of them, with great timidity, gave me a piece of bread. I then told them, “No, you should not give it to me, but to this poor man. Give it to him, in his hand, and ask for his blessing, because the elderly are the first priests of this world.”

One of the very youngest, with a beautiful expression, looked at me as if asking for my encouragement, then gave the man a piece of bread. He took it with his trembling hand and extending his hand over the head of the little one, he exclaimed with much emotion, “May you be blessed, for you give me the bread of hospitality!” And kneeling down, he kissed the child’s forehead. As he did this, tears fell upon the head of that small child, baptizing him with the blessed waters of gratitude. The rest of the children followed the example of the first, and I will never forget that scene, for it was truly very moving.

The sky displayed all its splendor with grace and elegance, covered with a veil of purple clouds. The mountains were covered by an emerald mantle and their peaks were surrounded with floating mists of light, and at the bottom of a valley full of flowers, a tattered old man was  surrounded by about thirty children. He blessed each one of them with his eyes and his tears, because he was so full of emotion he could not speak. I looked at this scene and said to myself, ‘How beautiful is the beginning of life and how sad its ending! Poor old man, upon your brow is written a complete human history. I wonder what story is written there? Have you been a victim, or a tormentor? Let’s see what you have been.’

I got closer and said to him gently,“Sit down, do not have any fear.”

“From you I have no fear, nor from these young children, but close by are my numerous enemies. I have been wandering many days around these parts because I wanted to see you but, I had not found a propitious moment to do so. Today, I was devoured by thirst and I have a fever. I'm wounded because some children, incited by their mothers, threw rocks at me. I came to quench my thirst at this spring and when I was about to leave, you came. I have to talk to you but I dare not enter into your village because I do not know how far away my pursuers are.”

“Then wait for me behind the cemetery. I will go with the children and when dusk comes, I will look for you. Good﷓bye for now,” I said.

My young friends departed with me away from the old man, with many of them saying,“Tomorrow, we will bring you more bread.” During our trip back, each one planned to bring double their lunch. What one can accomplish with the right advice and a good example! Those poor other children, encouraged by their cruel mothers, persecuted this poor man, pursuing him like he was a wild animal. Meanwhile, the children who were with me, gave him half their lunch, and yearned for the next day so they could bring him even more! Children are the hope of the world, the incarnation of progress, if they find someone to guide them on this rocky road of life!

When we entered the village, I said good﷓bye to the children. I went to my oratory and waited until nightfall. I then went to the cemetery. The old man was waiting for me and came out to meet me, and the two of us sat next to the ruins of an old chapel. He looked at me with a fixed gaze, and finally he said in a low voice, “Thank God, that all days are not the same! How different this day was from yesterday. Yesterday, they threw rocks at me and I was a miserable bandit, and today they listen to me, they attend to me, they offer me blessed bread so that I can nourish myself and my weakened body. Thank you, Father. They told me you were a saint, and it's true.”

“No, no. Do not confuse duty with sainthood. Here on earth there are no saints, only people who on occasion, fulfill their obligations. Upon giving you my humble assistance, I fulfilled two obligations which are very sacred. The first, consoling the afflicted, and the second one, teaching children to put into practice the Commandments of the Law of God!”

“Oh Father, those commandments, how often they are forgotten by men! I know that from  experience; all of my life's difficulties are due to the forgetfulness of the Law of God.”

“Explain yourself, in what way did you forget the Law that was promulgated on the Mount of Sinai?” I asked.

“It was not I who forgot the Law, Father. I have faithfully followed the religion of my elders, and sitting in the synagogue I have sworn my obedience to God while reading the tablets of the saintly faith. Others were the ones, who have forgotten the Divine precepts.”

“Have pity on those who have forgotten them, because woe unto those who are sinners!” I
exclaimed.
 
“Sir, the punishment of the ones who are guilty, will not gain back for me what I have forever lost. I had in my household a large family; my children and grandchildren, all who had  showered their love upon me. Then one night, an accursed voice rang out, and the executioners of  religious intolerance cried out, ‘Kill the Jews! Let's burn down their houses! Let's rape their daughters! Let’s take their money chests! Let’s destroy the Jewish race!’ Then our peaceful homes were turned into places of horrendous crimes. Some of us were able to escape the mass murder and we ran from our homes, without our daughters nor our savings for which we had worked for.... Everything lost! Everything! Why? We were following strictly the first Laws of God.  Without even air to breathe and with fear of being recognized, we all ran without knowing where to go and without having anything left of value. Some of my younger companions have been able to find a safe place. I fell ill, and was not able to follow them. Some poor humble farmers have been taking care of me in their home for seven months and they spoke of you, telling me that you were a safe﷓haven, for all who are downtrodden. One of the sons of these families wanted to accompany me but, then it became known that the persecution of Jews had started again, and I did not want to expose that young man to a certain death. Alone then, I started my journey, staying away from known roads. I passed days and days without any food, only the leaves of trees, who offered their green leaves to me, being less ungrateful than men. Now you know who I am. In the county of Ars, some of my brothers are waiting for me there, and my fervent desire is to reunite with them and pray together, in the memory of our dishonored daughters who were violated and killed, in the name of a false religion.” The elderly man then put his head into his hands and cried as if he were a child.

I let him cry for a long time, because great miseries require many tears. When I saw after a while, he was much calmer, I brought him towards me, and said with extreme gentleness, “Forgive your tormentors, their pardon is all I ask from you. Pity them, their present is their crime, their future will be their expiation. Keep calm, I will take you with me. I will cover your frail body and I will have two honorable men accompany you, to wherever you wish to go and, until you are reunited with your friends. There you will elevate a prayer to All Merciful God, for those who would profane your tranquil home. Come with me, trust me, do not worry because I'm a priest of the Universal Religion.”

The old man, believed in me, and we arrived at the Rectory. Then, we went up to my private room which has always been a refuge for those unfortunate ones, I find along my path in life. He, that wayfarer full of pain, rested untroubled in my dwelling for eight days.

Meanwhile, the children regretfully lamented, “Father; that poor man has not returned now that we have brought him plenty of bread....!” 

While I, through the influence I had, was able to get two of my parishioners to consent to accompany the old man on his long journey. He went decently dressed, and I gave him a sufficient sum of money. I required from him that at the end of his journey, he send back with his guides, a letter letting me know of his safe arrival.

On the same day that he left, I convened a meeting of all the children in my church, but practically all of my faithful parishioners also attended. But, the main reason was to reunite the children, and I told all of them to stand in front of the altar.

I, then directed my words towards them, and said, “My dear children! You're the only ties which unite me to this world. You all are the blessings of my life. Through you, I will spread all the wisdom of my profound experiences, so try to be good.... so that you will be worthy in the Eyes of God. A few days ago, I asked you to bring bread for a poor elderly man who had arrived at the door of your homes, wounded and hungry. Now, I want to ask you for something else.  Please grant it to me, my children, you who are so loved by my heart! That elderly man has left your mountains and has gone to faraway valleys to look for sanctuary and to ask God to have mercy on the oppressors of humanity! And I ask all of you, my dearest little ones, to pray for that lonely traveler who is without a home or a country, to pray for one who will never have flowers put on his grave by his crying children. Pray for him, ask the Heavens that he, this poor exile, arrive at his safe port, because children’s prayers attract the blessings of God!”

“Pray, my children, pray! Say it with me, ‘Merciful Father, guide the steps of that venerable  elderly man, he who has lived respecting Your Law. Keep him from all danger, so that he may live the rest of his days, loving You, in Spirit and in Truth."

And the children prayed, their pure voices without a doubt, resounded in the celestial canopies of heaven, and they attracted to my humble temple on this earth, the spirits of light and enlightenment, because I saw there were flashes of light, luminous and resplendent, crossing in front of the alter. The children repeated with vibrant voices, “Merciful Father, guide the steps of that venerable elderly man, he who has lived respecting Your Law, save him from all danger, so that he can live the rest of his days, loving You, in Spirit and Truth.”

During those moments, I do not know what happened, it then seemed as if an invisible incense burner perfumed the interior of the whole temple, and it appeared as if stars of a thousand colors launched their luminous emanations which were resplendently iridescent, over those sweet little ones of my parish.

The children prayed, yes; they prayed with that divine faith which inflames and elevates up towards those pure souls, and, their fervent prayers should have been echoed from world to world. It was the most moving prayer which I have ever heard on this prison called the Earth!

There are certain times in our life when we experience indescribable emotions and that was one of those times. I was correct when I said, that children’s prayers attract the blessings of God.

In my future, in the tomorrow of my immortal life, it will be beautiful! There were beams of pure light! The blessed memories of that day make me smile even upon my death bed. I have cried and suffered much....! But, on the other hand, I have been permitted to hear the songs of angels in the humble temple of my parish.

Blessed are the prayers of children! Blessed may they be at all ages! Blessed may they be!

The women of the parish cried upon hearing the supplications of their children, who then smiled, elevating their songs towards God.

Everything passes in this life! Those brief hours also passed, but leaving in my soul an inner peace of which I had never felt before.

Thereafter, every afternoon when the children would meet me at the entrance of the cemetery, they asked, “Father, do you want us to pray for that poor old man that went away?”

“Yes, my children,” I told them, “Let’s consecrate ourselves in memory of that martyr of the earth,” and during several moments we would all pray for the poor Jew.

Three months later, the two men who had accompanied him returned, and brought me a letter, which is as follows:

“Dear Father, my long trip has ended happily. Today, I find myself in the arms of my brothers, blessing your memory. In the last hours of each day, we all gather together at the foot of an old oak tree which is one hundred years old, and to fulfill your request, we pray for all those who had committed the murders, which sacrificed my wife and my children. And when I leave this world, my last thought will be for you!”

Thank you, my dear God! One less victim from religious persecution! Rest now, you poor Jew, and bless your Creator in the final years of your life.

Oh, religions! How much blood you have spilt! What a large accounting you will have to give God for all your iniquitous acts! There is only one consolation left to me among all that bitterness, only one hope which makes me smile, the advent of the Universal Religion. It will  destroy all the collective hates and personal pitfalls, it will be constituted of one sole flock and one sole pastor, it will unite all mortals within the sacred bond of Fraternity. To love one another is why mankind was created, and that grand thought of God must be fulfilled!