Example 3 - JULIENNE-MARIE, the beggar woman.

— In the commune of Villate, near Nozai (Lower Loire), there lived a poor woman named Julienne-Marie, old, infirm, living on public charity. One day she fell into a well, from which she was pulled out by a fellow countryman, Mr. A…, who habitually helped her. Carried to his house, she disincarnated there a short time later, a victim of that accident.

It was the general opinion that Julienne had tried to commit suicide. On the very day of her burial, the person who had come to her aid, who was a Spiritist and a medium, felt as if a light contact of someone who was nearby, without his seeking to explain to himself the cause of that phenomenon. Upon learning of the passing of Julienne-Marie, the possible visit of her Spirit came to his mind.

On the advice of a friend of his from the Paris Society, whom he had informed of the occurrence, he made the evocation with the aim of being useful to the Spirit, not without first asking the advice of his protectors, who gave him the following communication:

“You may do so, and by it you will give her pleasure, although the benefit you have in mind to render her becomes unnecessary.

She is happy and entirely devoted to those who showed themselves compassionate toward her. You are one of her good friends; she almost does not leave you and communicates with you many times, without your knowing it.

Sooner or later services are rewarded, and, when they are not rewarded by the very one who was benefited, they will be by those who take an interest in him, before and after death. If perchance the Spirit of the one benefited has not yet recognized his new situation, other Spirits, sympathetic to him, come to give testimony of his gratitude.

Here is what can explain to you the sensation you had on the very day of Julienne-Marie's passing. Now, it will be she who assists you in the practice of good.

Remember what Jesus said: “He who humbles himself shall be exalted.” You will see the service that this Spirit can render you, provided you ask her assistance with the intention of being useful to your neighbor.”

— Evocation: — Good Julienne, I know that you are happy, and that is all I wished to know; this does not prevent me, however, from remembering you many times, nor from not forgetting you in my prayers.

A. Have confidence in God, seek to inspire in your sick ones a sincere faith, for thus you will always attain what you desire.

Never concern yourself with the reward, for it will always be superior to what you can expect.

God knows how to reward justly the one who devotes himself to the relief of his brothers, inspired by absolute disinterestedness; were it otherwise, all is illusion, all is chimera. One must have faith above all, for otherwise nothing will be achieved. Remember this maxim and you will be astonished at its results.

The two sick ones whom you cured are the proof of what I affirm to you, for, in the state in which they were, with remedies alone you would have achieved nothing.

When you implore permission from God for the good Spirits to transmit beneficial fluids to you, if you do not feel an involuntary shudder, it is that your prayer was not fervent enough to be heard. It is only under these conditions that prayer can become valuable.

Nothing else results from saying: “Almighty God, Father of goodness and infinite mercy, permit that the good Spirits assist me in the cure of…; have pity on him, Lord; restore his health to him, for, without you, I can do nothing. May your will be done.”

You have done well not to disdain the humble; the voice of one who suffered the miseries of this world with resignation is always heard, and no service ever fails to be rewarded.

Now, a word concerning myself, confirming what I told you above.

Spiritism explains to you my language as a Spirit, without my needing, moreover, to enter into details in this regard.

Likewise, I judge it useless to speak to you of my previous existence. The situation in which you knew me on Earth will make you understand and judge the preceding incarnations, not always free of blemish.

Condemned to a wretched existence, infirm, invalid, I begged throughout my whole life. I did not accumulate money, and in old age my meager savings amounted to no more than a hundred francs, set aside for the eventuality of being confined to bed, bedridden.

God, judging the expiation and the trial sufficient, put an end to them, freed me from earthly life without sufferings, since I did not commit suicide, as at first was believed.

I died suddenly at the edge of the well, when I had sent to God from the Earth my last prayer; then, owing to the slope of the ground, my body slid down naturally.

I did not suffer when my passing took place, and I am happy to have fulfilled my mission without wavering, with resignation.

I made myself useful to the measure of my strength, always avoiding harming my fellow creatures. Today I receive the prize and give thanks to God, to our Divine Master, who softens the bitterness of trials, making us forget, when incarnated, the faults of the past, while at the same time placing upon our path charitable souls, so many helpers who lessen the weight, the burden of our former faults.

Persevere you too, for, like me, you will be rewarded. I thank you for the good prayers and the service you rendered me. I will never forget it.

One day we shall see each other again, and many things will be explained to you, things whose explanation today would be untimely. Only be certain of my devotion, that I shall be at your side whenever you need me to relieve those who suffer.

The little old beggar woman, Julienne-Marie.

— Evoked on June 10, 1864, at the Paris Society, the Spirit Julienne dictated the following message.

“Dear president: thank you for being willing to admit me to your center. You foresaw, from the social point of view, the superiority of my antecedent incarnations, for, if I returned to Earth with the trial of poverty, it was to punish myself for the vain pride with which I repelled the poor, the wretched.

Thus, I passed through the law of retaliation, becoming the most horrid beggar woman of this country; but, even so, as if to assure me of God's goodness, I was not repelled by all: and that was my entire fear; 4 it was also without complaints that I bore the trial, sensing a better life, from which I would no longer return to the world of exile and calamity.

What happiness on that day when our rejuvenated soul can cross over into spiritual life, there to see again the loved ones! Yes, because I too loved, and I consider myself happy at the encounter with those who went before me.

Thanks to Mr. A…, that good friend who afforded me the expression of my acknowledgment. Without his mediumship I could not prove to him, in gratitude, that my soul does not forget the beneficial influences of a kind heart such as his, recommending to him that he seek to progress in his divine belief.

Since he has the mission of regenerating the souls gone astray, let him be quite certain of my help. Yes, I can repay him a hundredfold for what he did for me, instructing him on the path you tread.

Give thanks to the Lord for permitting that the good Spirits guide you, in order that you may encourage the poor in their sorrows, and restrain the rich in their pride.

Be convinced of how shameful is the repulsion toward the unfortunate, taking my example as your guide, in order to avoid the return to Earth, in expiation of faults, in the painful social positions that place you so low as to be regarded as the dregs of society.” Julienne-Marie.

— This communication having been transmitted to Mr. A…, he in turn obtained the one that follows, which is moreover a confirmation:

Q. Good Julienne, since it is your desire to assist me with your counsels, in order that I may advance in our divine doctrine, come to communicate with me, certain that I shall strive to profit from your teachings.

A. Remember the recommendation I am going to make and never depart from it. Always seek to be charitable to the measure of your strength; you understand charity such as it ought to be practiced in all the acts of life. I have no need, consequently, to advise you of a thing of which you yourself can be the judge; nevertheless, I will tell you to follow the voice of conscience, which will never deceive you, provided you consult it sincerely.

Do not deceive yourself about the missions to be fulfilled; small and great, each one has his mission. Painful was mine, but I deserved such punishment, in consequence of the preceding existences, as I confessed to the good president of the Mother Society of Paris, who one day will gather you all together.

That day comes less far off than you suppose, for Spiritism marches with great strides, despite all the obstacles set before it. Follow on, then, without fears, fervent adherents; follow on, for your efforts will be crowned by just as many successes. What does it matter to you what may be said of you? Place yourselves above the derisive criticism, which will fall back upon the very adversaries of Spiritism.

Ah! the proud ones! They think themselves strong, believing they can annihilate you, but… good friends, set your minds at rest and do not fear to confront them, for they are less invincible than you may perhaps suppose. Among them, there are many who fear that the truth may come to dazzle their eyes. Wait, for they will end by coming to aid the crowning of the work.

Julienne-Marie.

Here is a fact full of teachings. Whoever deigns to meditate upon these three communications will find condensed in them all the great principles of Spiritism.

In the very first communication, the Spirit manifests its superiority through its language; like a beneficent genius and as if metamorphosed, this radiant woman comes to protect those very ones who despised her under the rags of misery.

It is the application of these evangelical maxims: “The great shall be brought low and the small shall be exalted: happy are the humble, happy are the afflicted, for they shall be consoled; do not despise the small, for he who seems small to you in this world may be far greater than you think.”