Geraldo Saviani
da Silva:
“There is no way
other way of
achieving
happiness other
than through
love”
The president of
the Nosso Lar
(Our Home)
Spiritist Centre
in the southern
Brazilian city
of Londrina,
talks about his
plans ahead
of
the well known
organisation
|
Geraldo Saviani
da Silva
(photo)
became a
Spiritist 38
years ago and is
the current
president of the
oldest Spiritist
Group in the
city of Londrina,
Nosso Lar
Spiritist
Centre, founded
on January 1st
1934. In this
interview he
talks about his
early days in
Spiritism and
his plans ahead
of the Groups,
where he became
the president at
the beginning of
the
|
year. |
When was your
first contact
with Spiritism?
My mother
brought up her
two children as
Roman Catholics.
She was a
staunch
Catholic, but my
father took us
regularly for
healing at a
Spiritist
Centre. But I
only woke to the
need to study
Spiritism in
1977, when I
left Catholicism
behind.
Was there any
particular event
or circumstance
that led you
into Spiritism?
Yes. Around that
time my mother
came up with
some bruises,
inflammations,
which no doctor
could heal. A
doctor suggested
amputating her
fingers. She
refused. My
father then
decided to look
for a healer, Mr
Pedro, who
practically
cured my mother
with medicinal
plants
prescribed by
the Spiritual
Benefactors. But
when she was
almost healed he
told me he was
not able to
finish off the
treatment. I
would need to do
it. I did not
believe at the
time because
both my mother
and I were
devout
Catholics. My
mother was still
in severe pain,
but the medium
said there was
nothing else he
could do. My
father looked
for another
medium, who said
the same thing.
I was induced
into a trance of
which I remember
very little.
Those who were
there said I put
my hands over my
mother’s hands
and healed here.
That had such an
impact on me
that I began to
study Spiritism
and joined a
Spiritist Centre
in the city of
Jacarezinho,
which I attended
regularly until
1989, when I
moved to
Londrina.
How did your
family react to
you joining
Spiritism?
Very well. In
fact the first
thing my father
said when I told
him was: How
much are you
willing to
donate in order
to keep the
Spiritist Centre
running? I was
taken by
surprise, as no
one had mention
money in the
Spiritist
Centre. My
father was very
practical and
told me that the
organisation’s
president could
not afford to
pay for all
expenses. I soon
joined the post
of treasurer and
have always been
aware to the
importance of
raising funds.
Of the three
aspects of
Spiritism, which
one means the
most to you: the
scientific, the
philosophical or
the religious
perspective?
The religious
one. Religiosity
is imprinted on
my personality,
perhaps because
of the Catholic
education I
received from my
mother. But in
reality my main
motivation, the
main reason why
I try to be a
better person is
to believe in
God, in the
goodness of the
Spiritual
Benefactors and
in love for one
another and
personal
sacrifices. The
philosophical
and scientific
aspects also
mean a great
deal to me too.
I can say, with
a bit of vanity,
that very few
days have passed
over the past 38
years in which I
haven’t read at
least a page of
a Spiritist
book.
Who are your
favourite
Spiritist
authors?
Obviously Allan
Kardec is
wonderful, with
his capacity to
summarise and
his clarirty. I
can’t think of
another author
as good as him.
He is definitely
my favourite. I
also admire the
work of Chico
Xavier, even
though he
attributes it
entirely to the
Spiritual
Benefactors. But
Spiritism is
privileged with
a huge choice of
good authors
that I began
reading when I
was young: Leon
Denis, Camille
Flammarion,
Ernesto Bozzano,
Yvonne Pereira,
Divaldo Pereira
Franco, Raul
Teixeira, Celia
Xavier de
Camargo,
Salvador
Gentile,
Herminio
Miranda, Jorge
Rizzini and many
others.
You became
president of the
Spiritist Centre
Nosso Lar
earlier this
year. Tell us a
bit of what you
found there and
your plans.
I decided to run
for president
because I though
administrative
concerns had
taken over what
should be the
main priority,
which is love
towards those
who attend the
“Nosso Lar”. I
was shocked when
I found out that
some people did
not like the
change of
priorities we
suggested. They
were few but
very resilient.
I also found out
that we were in
debt and that
our facilities
needed urgent
upgrading. I was
at my lowest
point in the
first ten days
of January when
Mr Castelo came
into my room and
asked for
authorisation to
open to
bookstore on
Sunday morning
and afternoon. I
was very glad
and thankful as
in the middle of
a financial
crisis our
brother was
coming up with
ways to help. I
was taken over
by an immediate
bout of
happiness and
told him God had
sent him to help
me. He was very
touched. From
that morning on,
things were
falling into
place. Our
income began to
rise and we have
been able to
change things
round. My main
goal from a
Spiritual
perspective is
to harmonise the
energy of all
the people who
attend and work
as volunteers at
the Spiritist
Centre.
Is there
anything else
you would like
to add?
I would like to
say that there
is no way other
way of achieving
happiness other
than through
love. We must
think, speak of
and live that
love. That is
why Jesus told
us that we would
only be true
Christians if we
feel love for
our brothers and
sisters.
And what message
would you like
to leave for the
Spiritists from
the Nosso Lar
Spiritist
Centre?
First of all I
would like to
thank you for
the confidence
you showed on me
and for the help
you have offered
so far. Each one
of you is
essential to our
efforts. I will
ask each one of
you to give a
bit more, as
this
organisation has
been helping the
population of
Londrina fro 82
years and we
need to go
through a
serious work
programme to
bring our
facilities up to
date. We are in
thousands! And
thousands of
people can
achieve a lot!
They can achieve
whatever they
aim for! Let us
dream together
and realise our
dreams! Together
we can achieve a
lot. I ask for
Our Master Jesus
to bless us all!