Developments of the Auto-da-fé of Barcelona
Roni Ricardo Osorio Maia
One of the many remarkable episodes in Allan Kardec’s earthly journey took place on October 9, 1861, according to the narrative in the book Allan Kardec – Volume II (FEB), by authors Francisco Thiesen and Zeus Wantuil. The event became known as the Auto-da-fé of Barcelona.
Since 1841, the Inquisition had been active in Spain, a country supported by the reigning absolutism. The famous French writer Maurice Lachâtre had moved to the aforementioned city. A profound admirer of Spiritist writings, he ordered a number of Spiritist works to sell them and spread Spiritism. However, his idea would be in vain. Under the yoke of the Inquisition, his initiative would be impossible.
At the Barcelona customs office, the shipment was inspected. The recipient was charged the usual fee. The shipment would have been released, but by order from above, it was suspended, with the declaration that the express consent of the Bishop of Barcelona, Antonio Palau y Termens, would be necessary. At the time, he was absent, and when he returned, he was presented with a copy of each work. It did not take long, and the books were immediately banned. The volumes were confiscated. Like heretics, they would be thrown into the fire, as they.
However, the destruction could be challenged, since circulation was prohibited by international guidelines. The sender—Allan Kardec—had legal permission for the relevant return. The arbitrariness of that “judge” went further. The works remained detained and without permission to be returned to French territory. Thus, the volumes were confiscated by the Holy Office of Spain. Similar to heretical acts, they would be banned under the bonfire in a ceremony prepared at the Esplanade of the Citadel, in the neighborhood of La Ribera.
The population flocked to the site, eager with curiosity about the Spiritist publications banned by the Church that were to be burned. Kardec was warned by the good Spirits to let the act proceed, since the effect would be the opposite, that is, the spread of Spiritism. Three hundred volumes of The Spirits’ Book, The Mediums’ Book, What is Spiritism, and collections of the Spiritist Review were condemned as heretical and incinerated before the astonished people at that ceremony, covered by the fanaticism of a bygone era. There was a popular demonstration with appeals against the Inquisition. Some people even searched through the ashes for clippings from the books to find out what such a ban was all about.
The consequences were varied. The Spirit Saint Dominic manifested himself at the time, explaining to the Codifier that something unusual was needed to shake men, especially Spiritist followers. Let us remember when Jesus said to us: “Woe to the world because of scandals, but woe to the man who causes them.” (Matthew 18:7)
Some time later, the suffering Spirit of that inquisitor bishop manifested himself at a mediumistic meeting of the Parisian Society for Spiritist Studies. Overcome with remorse, the entity asked for prayers, due to the atrocious position he had taken.
Regarding this story, Spiritist writers Augusto Marques de Freitas (Yvonne do Amaral Pereira – o voo de uma alma [Yvonne do Amaral Pereira – the flight of a soul]) and Gerson Sestini (Yvonne, a médium iluminada [Yvonne, the enlightened medium]) report in their respective works that the former bishop who had burned people at the stake reincarnated in Brazil and was considered a “Spiritist priest,” known as Sebastião Bernardes Carmelita. He lived in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, and was a friend of Yvonne Pereira and other prominent mediums with whom he corresponded. The “spiritist priest” applied passes, attended spiritist meetings, and delivered spiritist sermons. Even when reprimanded, he continued his work in favor of light and truth, unblemished and unassailable.
The developments of the Auto-da-fé of Barcelona worked in favor of Spiritism, as had been foretold to the Codifier at that time. Popular curiosity aroused interest in those books. We are enlightened from a Spiritist perspective, based on the record contained in Conclusion IX of The Spirits’ Book, through St. Augustine, that: “No cloud obscures the purest light; the diamond without blemish is the most valuable; judge, therefore, the Spirits by the purity of their teachings.”
1. KARDEC, Allan. The Spirits’ Book. CELD Publishing House. 2011, p. 483.
