The orphans

My brothers, love the orphans. If you knew how sad it is to be alone and abandoned, above all in childhood! God permits there to be orphans, to exhort us to serve them as parents. What divine charity to support a poor little abandoned creature, to keep it from suffering hunger and cold, to direct its soul, so that it does not stray into vice! He who extends his hand to an abandoned child is pleasing to God, because he understands and practices his law. Consider also that often the child whom you succor was dear to you in another life, in which case, if you could remember, you would no longer be practicing charity, but fulfilling a duty. Thus, then, my friends, every sufferer is your brother and has a right to your charity; not, however, to that charity which wounds the heart, not to that alms which burns the hand into which it falls, for often your offerings are quite bitter! How many times would they be refused, if in the hovel infirmity and hunger were not awaiting them! Give delicately, join to the benefit you bestow the most precious of all benefits: that of a kind word, of a caress, of a friendly smile. Avoid that air of pity and of protection, which is equivalent to turning the blade in the heart that bleeds, and consider that, in doing good, you work for yourselves and for your own. Jules Morin. n Observation. – The Spirit who signs the message is completely unknown. We can see from the communication above and from many others of the same kind, that an illustrious name is not always necessary to obtain beautiful things. It is a puerility to cling to the name; one must accept the good, come whence it may; besides, the number of illustrious names is very limited; that of the Spirits is infinite. Why, then, should there not be ones also capable among those who are not known? We make this reflection because there are people who believe they can obtain nothing sublime, except by calling celebrities. Experience proves the contrary every day, showing us that we can learn something from all Spirits, provided we know how to take advantage of the occasions. [1]

Translator's note: This message was inserted by Allan Kardec in The Gospel According to Spiritism, chapter XIII, item 18 of the definitive edition .

[2] [cf.

Jules Morin. ]