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Neio Lucio – Francisco C. Xavier Main entry under title: Life Tells Us I
1. Religious Philosophy 2. Spiritist Doctrine 3. Christianity I.
Xavier, Francisco C.– A Vida Fala III
Translated by Jussara Korngold
English Editing – Marie Levinson ISBN
2003
3 4
The Spiritist Group of New York (SGNY) is a not-for-profit
organization, which has the sole aim to promote and dissemi-
nate the Spiritist Doctrine in English, as codified by Allan
Kardec.
5 6
Life defines itself A great soul possesses
in a very basic way: in everlasting alliance
the more useful, the more valuable, a mature intellect
and the simplest, the more beautiful. in a child’s heart.
Chiquito Morais2
Marcelo Gama1
1 2
Excerpt from the book “Trovas do Outro Mundo” (Rimes from the beyond), Excerpt from the book “Trovas do Outro Mundo” (Rimes from the beyond),
by various spirits, 1st ed. FEB 1968, p. 59, automatic writing by Francisco C. by various spirits, 1st ed. FEB 1968, p. 53, automatic writing by Francisco C.
Xavier. Xavier.
7 8
Table of Contents
The Donkey 31
An Unforgettable Lesson 46
9 10
But the professor was deter-
mined to become a voice for
The mayor listened to his plans all those voiceless children.
and then exclaimed: He insisted:
11 12
The professor obliged and put the
Very early on Sunday he went for a walk in the direction bag over his shoulders.
Standing in front of a large bag of
of the center of the town. He was so lost deep in prayer
vegetables, the lady asked him:
asking God for help, that he wandered into the busy mar-
ketplace. Now, the town’s market was a busy place, filled
with eager shoppers rushing about buying groceries. Fill this order for
me.
At that mo-
ment, the
lady, recog- I will have some guests
nizing in him tonight. Can you stay and
a willing help me?
helper, asked:
So she had him cut up logs for the brick oven, which he
did with great sacrifice, since he was a man accustomed
Before the professor knew it, in to intellectual work and not physical labor.
the midst of the commotion, an
elegant lady grabbed him by the
arm mistaking him for a carrier.
She asked him to pick up all her
shopping and follow her. The
professor, true to his kind and
humble nature was happy to
oblige.
13 14
After, he was made to fix the chimney,
Early evening seven guests
arrived at the mansion.
Among them was the mayor,
who became very surprised at
the sight of his earlier visitor.
15 16
When all the guests were gone
and everything was cleaned up,
the lady, visibly uncomforted, The professor was speechless..
asked the “helper” what his fee Tears of joy came rolling down his
cheeks…
was for his services. The good
man simply responded:
“Oh, nothing. It was a great
pleasure helping you out,” and
then left.
17 18
The new mother showered her new-
born baby with love and attention.
Come back!
Come back!
I have hatched
an egg that was
not of my kind.
…but he neither replied nor came back.
He was a runaway duck.
19 20
True to her goodness, she took it in, hatched it and tenderly
looked after it This time the giving hen was at
She said: the end of her rope and fell into
“From now on, despair. She ran out of the hen
I will live alone.” He chases house screaming and wanting to
But that lasted rats in the jump into the river to rebel against
only until she dark…! her destiny. At that moment, an
found yet another older more experienced hen no-
egg. ticed how heartbroken she was,
As the baby grew though, she noticed something mighty asked her what was wrong.
strange. “Oh, it’s just my life!” cried out
…but at night, his eyes The disappointed the hen, telling her story.
During the day, her “chick” shone… hen cried and cried.
was very clumsy… Oh, dear! Do not
despair. You must
Watch learn that the world
your is the work of God.
step!
21 22
The giving hen returned to the hen house with a mended heart
and greater understanding.
23 24
But you see my friend,
this is not at all the way it And when someone
is. I feel no pleasure hurt- interferes with my job,
ing people. I live only to I feel distraught to the
fulfill God’s will. He has point of risking my
entrusted me with a mis- own life.
sion that benefits every-
one.
25 26
At that moment two ladies with a small child
Making honey, however, is
came into the room. As soon as one spotted
essential to the survival of the
But I can’t devote so much the bee she screamed.
beehive and is also very
time to my looks! The nature necessary to many people. It
of my work does not allow me is a full time job that does not
to look beautiful all the time! leave me with time to waste
on my exterior appearance.
…contaminating everything.
Some hours
later, the en-
tire family The same often happens in real life…
felt very dif- There are good dedicated and trustworthy people that
ferently seem undesirable at first sight. Simple, honest committed
about the fly to responsible work and higher principles, they become
because they victims of scorn and disdain over their appearance, while
were all ill. they perform their duties for the benefit of all. On the
The charm- other hand, there are those, like the fly, with spotless
ing jewel had looks and flashy smiles who after dashing us with their
spread dis- looks leave us contaminated with the disease of slander,
ease all over. selfishness and deception.
29 30
A fine pony of English origin
also came along. “Yours is such a sad fate!
Don’t you envy my position in
the races? I am caressed by
the hands of princesses and
am praised by kings!”
31 32
The insults were
barely over when the The King remained quiet for a few
King entered the sta- moments and then asked:
ble together with his
“Where is my
stable-hand. donkey?”
“I need a particularly
good animal for a
special task of great
responsibility,” said
the monarch. “I want
him to be sweet and
gentle, well trained “There,
Your Majesty.”
and totally trustwor-
thy.”
Next thing, the King himself
tenderly pulled the donkey out of
The stable-hand suggested: “What about the the stable, and ordered that he be
English pony?” dressed up with the kingdom's
“Do you want the Ara-
bian horse, Majesty?” shining Coat of Arms. As it
“Absolutely not! turns out, the donkey was to take
He is restless and the King’s son, still an infant, on
suited only for
a very long trip.
hunting season.”
33 34
Father, I am not
happy with my
wool. The shearing
is a torment! What do you like me to do?
35 36
However, as soon as the proud sheep was seen covered in such Unhappy and feeling sorry for himself, he again implored the
precious wool, he was attacked without pity by greedy people Almighty:
who brutally pulled out his golden coat leaving him wounded.
Father, please change me again! I
cannot display a coat of golden
wool. I would always encounter
thieves with no compassion.
I want my wool to be
turned into exquisite
china.
37 38
In despair, he complained to the All-Merciful:
The sheep, without thinking, said: The Almighty fulfilled the request.
39 40
The unfortunate sheep, turning again to the Almighty, implored
once more:
I would be happier
if my wool could be
similar to lettuce
leaves.
41 42
The All-Compassionate Father, seeing that the sheep felt really
sorry, once more talked to him.
I don’t want to be
superior to my
brothers.
I want to be simple and useful, the way you created me, Lord!
Yet, as soon as some horses laid eyes on him, he had no better luck They never hurt
than before. The horses sank their teeth into him, and after eating me, and always
have given me
his wool, they also bit his body. The sheep once again sought the
food and drink.
intercession of the Supreme Being and, bleeding from deep
wounds, humbly groaned in tears.
43 44
An Unforgettable Lesson
45 46
The nice lady decided to teach
Hilda better ways: But life changes, sometimes in
Hilda, don't play very unexpected ways. Four
around with destiny. years have passed and Hilda’s
Never reject the needy life is very different now. Her
who come to our door father died after a terrible dis-
looking for our help. ease, in spite of all the efforts
on the part of the doctors to
Who knows what to- save him, leaving wife and
morrow may bring…? daughter to fend for themselves.
47 48
Hilda wanted to help her mother desperately, but
was clueless as to what to do. One evening she
cried like she had never cried before. In between So both mother and daughter
headed for the kitchen to prepare
sobs she remembered her father.
their best recipes. Once the tray
was full, Hilda set out to sell.
She knocked on many doors and
Daddy... encountered a lot of compassion-
Daddy... ate and generous people, who
like her mother were eager to
help and to buy her candy. Un-
fortunately, she also ran into a
bunch of mean and rude young
boys, from whom she heard
things like: "What do you want! Go away and
don’t come back."
Upon falling asleep, she dreamed that her dad had Upon knocking at the
come from the spiritual world to comfort her. door, a gracious girl came
It hurt so badly, to the door.
the rejection and
My daughter! the humiliation of Oh, Hilda, it’s
it all. At the end you!
Daddy! Daddy!
of the day Hilda
decided to make
one last stop. It
was a very mod-
est home.
49 50
The Disappointed
Apprentice
Messenger of Jesus, I
want to go to paradise! The first path is
What should I do to get obedience. The
there? second is work.
The girl bought all the candy Hilda had left so that she
could call it a day, and then hugged her in sincere friendship.
From that day on, Hilda was a changed girl. Life had
taught her an unforgettable lesson.
51 52
The spirit started out
The boy became thoughtful. So the by saying:
Spirit asked: Let's pull the
I came to this field plow.
in order to assist Let's clear a
Nature. trail.
Do you want to help
me to clear the Please! I don't
grounds by carrying want to do any-
these rocks away? thing.
I can't.
I won't.
I'll help.
55 56
The boy noticed that the messenger was about to leave and screamed with
anxiety:
57 58
The King was now getting wor-
ried, so he invited every scien-
Let every- tist on the land and offered a The old man showed the young
one be ad- prince to a small patch of land and I can’t, I’m sick!
huge reward to the one who
vised of my asked him to pull out the weeds
would cure his son.
disposition. that choked the tomato plants.
We will inform
everyone, your
majesty.
Come on son,
pull out the
weeds.
Many renowned doctors tried their best to help the Patiently, the visitor convinced Julian that his personal effort was crucial to
young prince, but all failed. his cure. Julian agreed and a couple of hours later the tomato patch was
As the King plunged into despair, a humble old man All right. weeds-free.
appeared before him and proposed a different kind of Do whatever you
medicine. wish, as long as
What would you cure my son. The wise man took him to have
you require for At lunch time, Julian said to the wise lunch.
your services? man:
Help yourself,
Oh, nothing sir. I I’m hun- Julian.
just need permission gry, sir.
to be allowed to I will indeed
have total authority accomplish
that, sir. Good!
over your son.
That’s very
good, my
son!
59 60
The young prince ate soup, bread and Two months later, Prince Julian returned to the King and
fruit, with great enjoyment. Queen feeling healthy and happy. He was a changed boy. Now he
wished to be useful and lend his help to any worthwhile task. He had
learned that the service toward goodness is the surest source of good
health.
The King, beside himself with joy, wholeheartedly insisted
on rewarding the old man; however, the old man refused. He said:
61 62
Light in the Home
Casimiro Cunha5
3
Excerpt from the book “Trovadores do Alem” (Rimes from the beyond), by
various spirits, 2nd ed. FEB, 1968, p. 126, automatic writing by Francisco C.
Xavier.
4
Excerpt from the book “Trovadores do Alem” (Rimes from the beyond), by
various spirits, 2nd ed. FEB, 1968, p. 98, automatic writing by Francisco C.
Xavier.
5
Excerpt from the book “Gotas de Luz” [Drops of Light], by the spirit
Casimiro Cunha, 3rd ed. FEB, 1971, p. 18, automatic writing by Francisco C.
Xavier.
63 64
Series LIFE TELLS US
65 66