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Francisco Cândido Xavier (April 2, 1910 - June 30,
2002), was the most popular and prolific medium in
20th century Brazil's Spiritism movement. He was
born in the city of Pedro Leopoldo, State of Minas
Gerais and is popularly known as "Chico Xavier"
(Chico is the Brazilian nickname for Francisco).
Throughout his life he wrote more than 400 books,
using a process known as psychography, where his
hand was guided by spirits that wanted to leave a
written message, or sometimes entire books.
Xavier's spiritual guide - his link with the spirit world -
was called Emmanuel. According to the medium's
writings, in Roman times Emmanuel had been Senator
Publius Sentulus; he had been reincarnated in Spain as
Father Damian, and later as a professor at the
Sorbonne.
Some of his books are considered by Brazilian Spiritist
followers to be fundamental for the comprehension of
the practical aspects of the doctrine.
Chico Xavier was a respected figure, whose honesty
and good character were not denied, even by his
opponents from other religions. He kept a simple life,
donating all the income from the books he wrote and
the donations he received to charity. He was also a
great patriot and believed that his mission was to
establish Brazil as the Coração do Mundo e Pátria do
Evangelho (Heart of the World and Home of the
Gospel).
His appearances on TV talk shows in the late 1960s
and early 1970s helped to establish Spiritism as one
of the main religions professed in Brazil. At the peak of
his activities, it was common for celebrities to visit his
home in the city of Uberaba, Minas Gerais, for moral
and spiritual advice, or just for talking. For more than
30 years he was seen as a kind of national "guru"
whose advice people sought out.
He often stressed the point that none of the abilities
attributed to him were really his, but that he was only a
channel for the work of the spirits; that he was not able
to produce any miracle, such as healing people, and he
could not contact someone that was dead, unless that
person was willing to be contacted. Nevertheless,
among the author's books there were novels: spiritual,
philosophical, and scientific essays, as well as self-help
works, which have sold a total of 25 million copies.
His books have been translated into several languages
including English, French, Japanese and Greek. André
Luiz, another spirit, was also a constant partner in
several books by the Spiritist leader. André Luiz acts
as sort of a tour guide to the spirit world, which is a
very large place and Andre Luiz can only tell us about
the places he actually visited. The book Nosso Lar is
immensely popular and has been translated into many
languages.
Chico Xavier's popularity remained unchanged in
Brazil throughout his life. Despite his health problems
(general weakness as a consequence of old age), he
kept working up to his death, in June 30, 2002.
His death was marked by a strange coincidence, as he
died on the same day the Brazilian football (soccer)
team won the 2002 World Cup. He had declared in a
TV interview, years before, that he wished to die on a
happy day for the country, so that his death would not
be remembered with sorrow. His supporters claim that
the coincidence proves that he was indeed a saintly
man because God conceded him his wish.
His works are inspirational and a blessing to our
world. The spirit Emmanuel's profound knowledge
regarding the message of Jesus engraved in the
Gospel, his devotion to the task to disseminate,
among his incarnate brothers and sisters on earth,
the necessity of the study and the living of the teachings
of the Christ.
2002), was the most popular and prolific medium in
20th century Brazil's Spiritism movement. He was
born in the city of Pedro Leopoldo, State of Minas
Gerais and is popularly known as "Chico Xavier"
(Chico is the Brazilian nickname for Francisco).
Throughout his life he wrote more than 400 books,
using a process known as psychography, where his
hand was guided by spirits that wanted to leave a
written message, or sometimes entire books.
Xavier's spiritual guide - his link with the spirit world -
was called Emmanuel. According to the medium's
writings, in Roman times Emmanuel had been Senator
Publius Sentulus; he had been reincarnated in Spain as
Father Damian, and later as a professor at the
Sorbonne.
Some of his books are considered by Brazilian Spiritist
followers to be fundamental for the comprehension of
the practical aspects of the doctrine.
Chico Xavier was a respected figure, whose honesty
and good character were not denied, even by his
opponents from other religions. He kept a simple life,
donating all the income from the books he wrote and
the donations he received to charity. He was also a
great patriot and believed that his mission was to
establish Brazil as the Coração do Mundo e Pátria do
Evangelho (Heart of the World and Home of the
Gospel).
His appearances on TV talk shows in the late 1960s
and early 1970s helped to establish Spiritism as one
of the main religions professed in Brazil. At the peak of
his activities, it was common for celebrities to visit his
home in the city of Uberaba, Minas Gerais, for moral
and spiritual advice, or just for talking. For more than
30 years he was seen as a kind of national "guru"
whose advice people sought out.
He often stressed the point that none of the abilities
attributed to him were really his, but that he was only a
channel for the work of the spirits; that he was not able
to produce any miracle, such as healing people, and he
could not contact someone that was dead, unless that
person was willing to be contacted. Nevertheless,
among the author's books there were novels: spiritual,
philosophical, and scientific essays, as well as self-help
works, which have sold a total of 25 million copies.
His books have been translated into several languages
including English, French, Japanese and Greek. André
Luiz, another spirit, was also a constant partner in
several books by the Spiritist leader. André Luiz acts
as sort of a tour guide to the spirit world, which is a
very large place and Andre Luiz can only tell us about
the places he actually visited. The book Nosso Lar is
immensely popular and has been translated into many
languages.
Chico Xavier's popularity remained unchanged in
Brazil throughout his life. Despite his health problems
(general weakness as a consequence of old age), he
kept working up to his death, in June 30, 2002.
His death was marked by a strange coincidence, as he
died on the same day the Brazilian football (soccer)
team won the 2002 World Cup. He had declared in a
TV interview, years before, that he wished to die on a
happy day for the country, so that his death would not
be remembered with sorrow. His supporters claim that
the coincidence proves that he was indeed a saintly
man because God conceded him his wish.
His works are inspirational and a blessing to our
world. The spirit Emmanuel's profound knowledge
regarding the message of Jesus engraved in the
Gospel, his devotion to the task to disseminate,
among his incarnate brothers and sisters on earth,
the necessity of the study and the living of the teachings
of the Christ.
The Spirit Emmanuel
| "Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men." - Martin Luther King Jr. |
Chico Xavier