MORAL LAWS: EDITORIAL
Written by Yvonne Crespo Limoges
When I was young, many parents were a little stricter,
physical punishment at my schools was common and
many people attended religious institutions regularly.
Things have changed in all areas; some good, some
not so much. My concern is there is less instruction of
ethical and moral conduct, especially for the young.
In recent years, less and less people in the US don’t
attend places of worship, so there is less learning
communally of spiritual and moral teachings. This
involves study and discussion of the Creator, religious
tenets, spirituality and moral conduct.
Viewing society now, it seems people (other than their
conscience, which can easily be influenced) have no
guardrails, are unsure or don’t know the rules on what
moral and ethical conduct is anymore; don’t care or
are not aware if there are any actual consequences to
their own behavior in life. Many seem to feel that if
they act like the majority, they are doing alright.
We know the civil/traffic/criminal laws that regulate
society (whether fair or unfair), and if we break these
and get caught, we get fined or go to jail.
Moral and spiritual laws have consequences, too.
On NBC news, I recently heard the US is one of the
most stressed-out of nations. There are so many people
working hard, tired, with different problems trying to
live their lives as best they can, and, then also seeing
violence and chaos in the world. If they knew the
moral and spiritual laws and their consequences, in my
opinion, this would be very helpful to many.
So, what does Spiritism teach?
The Divine spiritual and moral laws we teach are what
Jesus taught. He said: love God above all else, and
your neighbor as yourself, bless and forgive those who
persecute you, pray for those who insult you, return
goodness for evil. He taught spiritual matters are more
important than material ones, and our soul lives on in
an afterlife. He taught our behavior has consequences.
We consider Jesus our model and guide of what level
of goodness humans can potentially obtain on earth.
Through the years, I found many people do not know
these teachings. Some say they are too hard, why try.
Some say only Jesus could be like that, we can’t.
Spiritism teaches the death of Jesus does NOT absolve
us. We suffer the consequences of our own thoughts,
words and deeds. We ourselves reap what we sow
(whether in this life or in future lives). We hold our
own selves accountable! If we break the moral laws,
we suffer. That’s why it is so important to be a good
person, and know and follow the Divine spiritual and
moral laws!
Also, constantly striving to be better has a Divine
purpose - our soul’s continual evolution towards
spiritual and moral purity; again, less suffering.
Through mediumship, spirits themselves communicate
to us their regrets for not being a better person, not
taking better care of their bodies and not helping
others they were able to while in the material world.
They are humbled when they face those who they
wronged upon returning to the spirit world.
Knowledge of moral laws is important, practicing
them even more so. It’s very difficult, for we are all
imperfect; all we can do, is the best we can!
2 Spiritist Society of Florida, April Newsletter 2019
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (short version)
Commentary by Yvonne Crespo Limoges
About these Divine moral laws (in the Gospel
according to Spiritism, Ch. 1), Kardec stated: “This
Law is for all times and all countries and because of
this it has a Divine character.” Yet, do we know them,
and does anyone follow them in this day and age?
1 – I am the Lord thy God. Thou shall have no
other Gods before me.
(There is one Creator. Yet, so many worship
wealth, fame, beauty, and all manner of vices.)
2 – Thou shall not take the name of God in vain.
(Just disrespectful language and gratuitous
expletives in general are all too commonplace.
Many of us are guilty! Yet, does it make it right?)
3 – Remember the Sabbath Day, keep it Holy.
(Do we take time to think of the Creator, or of
spiritual matters to nourish our souls, or pray or
evaluate our moral behavior on any day?)
4 – Honor thy Father and Mother.
(Is there respect shown, caring for and visiting of
parents; many who have made many sacrifices to
help their children? Or, forgiveness for whatever
caretakers who, could not or were not, so good?)
5 – Thou shall not kill.
(Homicide, suicide and genocide are still with us.)
6 – Thou shall not commit adultery.
(On many levels and in many ways, Society’s
culture – mostly via movies, TV reality shows,
social media, and the like - has at the very least
made this activity seem more “ok”, and at the
worst has glorified it.)
7 – Thou shall not steal.
(Simple cheating on income tax, hacking, scams,
money schemes…full out robbery – ill-gotten
gains – it’s to the point of even being cool to scam
the system. It is rampant everywhere.)
8 - Thou shall not bear false witness against thy
neighbor.
(Lying now seems fine for so many people, for so
many situations, and for so many purposes. What
can we believe?)
9 – Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s wife.
(See number 6.)
10 – Thy shall not covet they neighbor’s house,
nor his manservant, nor maidservant, nor his ax
nor anything that is thy neighbors.
(Envy, jealousy, greed, and lust are alive and well,
in our modern world the same as ancient times!)
Divine laws act as a moral guide and breaking them
has negative consequences eventually.
THE QUALITIES OF A GOOD PERSON
Written by Allan Kardec
“The truly good person is one who complies with
the laws of justice, love and charity in their
highest degree of purity. If they examine their
conscience concerning their own actions they will
ask themselves if they have violated those laws, if
they have practiced any evil, if they have done all
the good that was possible, if they have
voluntarily disregarded any occasion to be useful,
if anyone has any complaint to make of them and
finally, if they have done to others everything that
they would wish done to themselves.
“They deposit their faith in God, in His goodness,
in His justice and in His wisdom. They know that
without His permission [via the Divine Laws]
nothing can happen. So, they submit themselves
in all things to His will. Good people have faith in
the future, which is the reason to put spiritual
possessions before those of a temporary nature.
They know that all vicissitudes of life, all pain
and all deceptions are trials or atonements and
accept them without murmuring. Men and women
who possess the sentiments of charity and love, do
good for the sake of goodness, without waiting for
payment of any kind.
3 Spiritist Society of Florida, April Newsletter 2019
“They repay evil with goodness, take up the
defense of the weak against the strong and always
sacrifice their own interests in the name of justice.
These kinds of people encounter satisfaction in
the benefits they are able to spread, in the service
they are able to render, in the happiness they
promote, in the tears they are able to dry and, in
the consolation, they offer to those who are
afflicted. Their first impulse is always to think of
others before themselves, and to look after these
interests before looking after their own. On the
other hand, the selfish person always calculates
the benefits and losses arising from any generous
action.
“The good person is always good, humane, and
benevolent with everyone, without distinction as
to race or creed, because they see all men and
women as brothers and sisters. They respect all
sincere convictions in others and never launch
reprobation against those who think otherwise.
Charity guides them in every circumstance,
because they know that those who prejudice
others with evil words, who injure others with
their pride by disregarding their susceptibilities, or
who knowing they could avoid it, do not draw
back at the thought of causing suffering or yet a
contrariety, however small, lack the obligation to
love one's neighbor and so do not deserve the
clemency of the Lord.
“They do not harbor rancor, hate nor yet desire
vengeance. Instead they follow the example of
Jesus by forgiving and forgetting all offences,
only remembering the benefits received, because
they know that we ourselves shall be forgiven
only in as much as we are able to forgive others.
These kinds of people are indulgent with the
weaknesses of others because they know that they
also need indulgence, remembering that Christ
said: ‘Let he who is without sin cast the first
stone.’ They do not take pleasure in looking for
defects in others, nor in calling attention to them,
and if necessity obliges them to do so, they
always try to look for the good qualities so as to
lessen the bad ones.
“Good people study their own imperfections and
work unceasingly to combat them, using all their
strength, so that tomorrow they will be able to say
that they are just a little better than they were the
day before. The good person never tries to
emphasize the importance of their own spirit or
talents at the expense of others. But on the
contrary, they take every opportunity to highlight
in others whatever these people may have that is
useful.
“They are not conceited about their riches, nor of
any personal advantage, knowing that everything
that has been given to them may be taken away.
They use, but do not abuse, the possessions which
have been conceded to them because they are only
a deposit, for which they will be required to give
full account. They know that the most detrimental
employment that these riches can be put to is the
satisfaction of their own passions.
“If then, by social order, a good person has been
placed in a position of command over their fellow
creatures, they treat them with kindness and
benevolence, because before God all men are
equal. They use their authority to raise up the
morale of these people and never to crush them
with their own pride. They avoid everything
which might cause a subordinate position to be
even more painful than necessary. On the part of
those who are subordinate, let it be understood
that the duties which go with this position must be
clearly appreciated and conscientiously fulfilled.
“Finally, a good person is always one who
respects the rights of their fellow beings, as
assured by the laws of nature, in the same way
that they would wish their own to be respected.
These are not all the qualities which distinguish a
good person, but anyone who tries hard to possess
those which have been mentioned will find
themselves on the road which leads to all the rest.
(From - The Gospel according to Spiritism, Ch. 17, item 3 –
translated from the French by Janet Duncan.)
We must try, but we have a long way to go! – Y. L.
4 Spiritist Society of Florida, April Newsletter 2019
SPIRITUAL ADVICE
Spirit communication received by
Yvonne Crespo Limoges
God is the greatest thing that man can think of
upon the earth.
Be good, and do as much good when and as you
are able. Realize you are on earth to progress.
Suffering is a consequence of one’s poor choices
and actions from this lifetime or a past one.
There are times of less trials AND times when
trials and tests are very difficult.
One must make the best of one’s situation with
strong faith and moral courage. God knows what
you can bear.
Daily prayer that is sincere from the heart CAN
sustain a person through whatever one must
endure. God helps those that help themselves!
Being grateful for what one has, can provide some
solace; for others suffer so much more…
Always try to be a good person to the best of your
ability in any situation. Try to stay calm, be
organized and as productive as one can…to make
your daily life easier.
Frustrating situations are always, lessons of
patience and humility.
We reap what we have sown and must be willing,
at certain times, to accept our lot in life.
However, life situations do not remain always the
same.
Change is a great part of life.
Circumstances and opportunities arrive when least
expected and when it is appropriate…but in God’s
Time.
While undergoing trials, one can resist them with
resentment and anger, OR, face them with
emotional calmness and intellectual acceptance.
It’s not the trial itself that counts towards your
soul’s progression, but how one goes through it.
We each chose the kind of life that would help us
learn, grow and progress more as a spirit…which
is the true purpose of material life.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy
name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as
it is in heaven.
Gives us this day, our daily bread.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who
trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, the Power and Glory
Forever. - AMEN
(The Creator is “Father” of us ALL and is everywhere!
“Heaven” is any place where pure goodness exists. This
prayer is one of respect, humility, thankfulness, of
forgiveness and a request for sustenance and protection. So,
when words fail in times of sorrow, pain or despair, this
prayer of the ages can help soothe and nourish the soul)
***************************************
Edited by Yvonne Crespo Limoges, Director
E-mail: ylimoges@aol.com
Spiritist Society of Florida (est. 1982)
5042 22 Avenue North,
St. Petersburg, Florida 33710
Website: www.spiritistsocietyfl.com
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