Paris, on a cold morning of April 1860, Allan Kardec, the Codifier of the Spiritist Doctrine, was weary. Despite the consolidation of the Paris Spiritist Society and the promising selling of books, money was getting scarce for the gigantic task that the Superior Spirits had entrusted him. There was a growing pressure, sarcastic letters abounded.

When he was feeling more discouraged, his wife, Madame Rivail, brought to him a package. The professor opened the parcel and found the letter of a book restorer. And he read: “Mr. Allan Kardec: With all my gratitude, I send to you the attached book, as well as its history, begging you, above all, to proceed with your mission to enlighten Humanity because I have strong reasons for doing that”.

The author of the letter told that, feeling desperate after the passing of his wife, he planned to commit suicide. In a certain night, he looked for a bridge. At the moment he was putting his hand on the bridge wall in order to throw himself into the waters, he touched an objected, which fell to his feet. Surprised, he noticed that it was a book. Under the light of a lamppost, he read: “This work saved my life. Read it carefully and enjoy it. – A. Laurent”. 

The Codifier unwrapped, then, a volume of “The Spirit´s Book”, with a beautiful new cover. On the front page, he read, with great emotion, not only the note quoted by the addresser, but also another one: “It saved me too. God bless the souls who helped its publication. Joseph Perrier”.

After the reading, the Professor Rivail experienced a new light shinning through him. Taking the book to his chest, he thought, immersed in a radiant hope: “It is necessary to go on, to forgive attacks, to embrace sacrifice and not to mind the slanders”. The world needed renovation and mercy. Allan Kardec rose, opened the window in front of him, took a deep breath, and, before taking the pen to restart his usual job, took a handkerchief to his eyes and dried a tear.

Summary of the message “A century ago”, dictated by the Spirit Hilário Silva. The complete text can be found in the book “The Spirit of Truth”, published by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation, in 1961. Psychography by Francisco Cândido Xavier.  ISC-2004.