Clara Rivier.

Mr. J…, a physician in… (Gard), conveys to us the following fact:

“A family of laborers, my neighbors in the countryside, had a ten-year-old girl named Clara, completely infirm since the age of four. Throughout her entire life she never uttered a single complaint, nor showed the slightest sign of impatience. Though without instruction, she consoled the afflicted family, discoursing on the future life and the happiness she was to find there. She died in September of 1862, after four days of tortures and convulsions, during which she did not cease to pray to God. She would say: “I do not fear death, because afterward a life of happiness is reserved for me.” To her father, who was weeping, she said: “Console yourself; I will come to visit you; my hour is near, I feel it; but when it comes I shall know, and I will warn you beforehand.” Indeed, when the fatal moment was about to arrive, she called all her family together and said: “I have no more than five minutes to live; give me your hands.” And she expired, as she had announced. “From then on, a rapping Spirit came to visit the Riviers’ house, where it overturns everything. It strikes the table as if it had a club; it shakes the sheets and the curtains, disturbs the crockery, and throws balls in the barns. This Spirit appeared in the form of Clara to her little sister, who is only five years old. [see below, question no. 7.] According to the child, her sister spoke to her many times, and what excludes any feeling of uncertainty is that the apparitions make her utter cries of joy, or laments, if they do not immediately do what she desires, that is, to put out the fire and all the lights in the room where the vision occurs, during which the child does not cease to say: “But see how beautiful Clara is!”

“Wishing to know what Clara wanted, she asked father Rivier to return to her the hair that had been cut from her, according to the custom of the region. But, although the parents had satisfied the wish, taking the hair to the tomb, the Spirit continued the visits and the noise, which I myself witnessed, to the point that the neighbors and friends were moved. Then I admonished the parents, asking whether they had nothing to reproach themselves with regarding anyone, or had committed some disloyal action; that it was probable the Spirit would torment them until they had repaired their faults, on which account I advised them to reflect seriously upon this. “During an absence of ten days, to which I found myself compelled, the obsession took on a more violent character, to the point that Rivier wrestled hand to hand and was thrown down. Terror seized these unfortunate people and they went to consult a medium, who advised them to give a general alms to all the poor of the region, a favor that lasted two days. I shall communicate to you the result; meanwhile, I shall be very happy to receive your counsel on the matter.”

Evocation of Clara Rivier.

Answer. – I am near you, ready to respond.

Whence came to you, young and without instruction as you were, the elevated ideas you expressed about the future life, before your death?

Answer. – From the short time I was to spend on your globe and from my preceding incarnation. I was a medium when I left the Earth and a medium upon returning among you. It was a predestination; I felt and saw what I said.

How is it explained that a child of your age did not utter a single complaint during four years of sufferings?

Answer. – Because the physical suffering was dominated by a greater force, that of my guardian angel, whom I saw continually near me. He knew how to relieve everything I felt; he made my will stronger than the pain.

How were you forewarned of the instant of death?

Answer. – My guardian angel told it to me; he never deceived me.

You said to your father: “Console yourself; I will come to visit you.” How is it possible that, animated with such good sentiments toward your parents, you came to torment them after death, making noise in their house?

Answer. – Without doubt I had a trial, or rather, a mission to fulfill. If I come to see my parents again, do you believe it is for nothing? Those noises, that disturbance, those struggles occasioned by my presence are a warning. I am aided by other Spirits, whose turbulence has a purpose, just as my appearing to my sister has. Thanks to us, many convictions are going to arise. My parents had a trial to suffer; it will soon cease, but only after having brought conviction to a multitude of Spirits.

Thus, it is not you personally who cause that disturbance?

Answer. – I am helped by other Spirits who serve the trial reserved for my dear parents.

How is it explained that your sister recognized you, if it is not you who produce the manifestations?

Answer. – My sister saw only me. She now possesses a double sight, and it will not be the last time that my presence comes to console and encourage her.

Will the general alms that was advised to your parents have the effect of making the obsession cease?

Answer. – The obsession will end when the time required for it arrives. But, believe me, prayer and faith give great force to dominate the obsession; the alms itself is a prayer: it serves to console and thus helps us bring conviction to many hearts. It is by faith that we must raise up and save an entire population. What does it matter if the enemies of Spiritism cry out that it is the demon! That cry has in all times favored its knowledge; and for every one who submits, there are a hundred whose curiosity leads to study. In truth, obsession and subjugation are trials for those who suffer them, but, at the same time, a path opened to new convictions. These facts oblige one to speak of the Spirits, whose existence cannot be denied, seeing what they do. Observation. – It seems evident that, in this circumstance, the alms advised to the Rivier couple was, at the same time, a trial for them, more or less profitable according to the manner in which it was made, and a means of drawing the attention of a greater number of people to these phenomena. It is a means of proving that Spiritism is not the work of the demon, since it advises good and charity to combat that which they call demons. What can the adversaries of Spiritism do against manifestations of this kind? They can prohibit people from occupying themselves with the Spirits, but they cannot prevent the Spirits from coming, and the proof of this is that these manifestations are produced in the very houses of people who do not wish to provoke them and who, by their reputation for sanctity, it would seem ought to defy them, if it were a matter of the devil. Against facts there is no opposition nor denial that can prevail; whence one must conclude that Spiritism must follow its course.

Why, while still so young, were you afflicted with so many infirmities?

Answer. – I had previous faults to expiate; I had abused the health and the brilliant position I enjoyed in the preceding incarnation. Then God said to me: “You enjoyed intensely, excessively: you shall suffer in the same way; you were proud: you shall be humble; you were vain of your beauty: you shall be reduced to nothing; instead of vanity you shall strive to acquire charity and goodness.” I did according to the will of God and my guardian angel helped me.

Would you like to say something to your parents?

Answer. – At the request of a medium, my parents performed much charity; they were right not always to pray only with the lips: one must do it with the hand and the heart. To give to those who suffer is to pray; it is to be a Spiritist.

Free will was given by God to all souls, that is, the faculty to progress; to all He gave the same aspiration, and that is why suffering touches the fortunate of the Earth more closely than is generally thought. Thus, draw the distances nearer through charity; bring the poor into your house, encourage him, raise him up, do not humiliate him. If everywhere people knew how to practice this great law of conscience, there would not be, at certain epochs, those great miseries that dishonor civilized peoples, and which God sends to chastise them and to open their eyes. Dear parents, pray to God; love one another; practice the law of Christ: not to do to others what you would not wish to be done to you; implore God to prove you, showing that His will is holy and great as He is. Prepare yourselves for the future, armed with courage and perseverance, for you are still called to suffer. One must know how to merit a good position in a better world, where the comprehension of divine justice is transformed into the punishment of the evil Spirits. I shall always be at your side, dear parents. Farewell, or rather, until soon. Have resignation, charity, love for your fellows, and one day you will be happy.

Clara.

Observation. – Here is a beautiful thought: “Suffering touches the fortunate of the Earth more closely than is generally thought.” It is an allusion to the Spirits who, from one existence to another, pass from a brilliant position to another humble and miserable one, for they often expiate, in a lowly environment, the abuse of the gifts that God had granted them. It is a justice that all understand. Another thought no less profound is that which attributes the calamities of peoples to the infraction of the law of God, because God chastises peoples as He chastises individuals. It is certain that if they practiced the law of charity, there would be no wars, nor great miseries. It is to the practice of this law that Spiritism leads. Will it be for this that it finds such fierce enemies? Will the words of this young girl to her parents be those of a demon?