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Remembrance – the good and the bad – lest we forget,
let’s accentuate the positive. Brother Andre's healing
(Continued)
There is so much gloom and doom about Remembrance Day,
Memorial Day, Veterans’ Day, and similar celebrations
of Military Might, Heroism and Sacrifice, and somehow
there is an inadvertent glorification of war and
sacrifice, especially of the mostly young men and
women who have died or been injured while fighting for
their country or to police conflicts abroad, in particular, at the present time in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Now, I say this even though I have trained in the infantry, taken
part in Remembrance Day Parades when I was in the
army, with the Queen present at the Cenotaph, and on
other occasions, and even though my father served in
both world wars, and was twice decorated for heroism,
and he was one of the troops who opened up the
concentration camps after WW II. What I am saying is
that there must be a better way for us all to go about
things than to glorify war. We must in the first
place find better ways of negotiating between countries than going to war, as a matter of course, in any dispute. Then we must stop enjoying warfare and violence in our entertainments, sports, movies, video and computer
games and the like. Otherwise we will soon become
callous and revert to enjoying the primitive cruelty
and carnage of the Roman Colosseum.
We fight for freedom and positive values in opposing
unfriendly and evil forces, but the way to do this, in
the future, is not to glorify war and victory in
battle, by keeping on replaying the old conflicts of
the past, the war of Independence, the Civil War, the
wars of Civil Rights and Equality, the Wars against
Fascism, against Communism, against Military
Dictatorships, and wars to stop further wars and
genocide in several countries around the world. We
must remember that every European country, and not
just Nazi Germany, at one time or another has carried
out genocide against their Jewish populations, and
other minorities. Colonial countries have committed
similar crimes against aboriginal populations, and
before that, inter-tribal warfare in Africa, Australia
and the American continents, and in the Far East, in
fact everywhere, there has been continuous warfare of
one clan, tribe or nation against another. All
because humankind somewhere along the line lost
contact with its spiritual destiny.
Now that we are acquiring a fully-aware global
consciousness, tribal and ethnic disputes and battles
for temporal power in one country or region have no
practical meaning. Any act of violence affects us all.
So we need a new global approach to political
issues, and find practical ways to heal the planet, in
the same way we look for ways to heal the body and
mind in each one of us, by the four-pronged onslaught
against disease and disharmony.
So on Remembrance day we need to accept responsibility
for our past history, where no country in the world
has been free of prejudice and murder against its
minorities, of whatever race, color or creed. Just
read the history books with open eyes, and remember,
not to accrue further hate, and sense of vengeance,
but to learn to look for a better way to live. Then,
just as in local politics, so in international
matters, we need to negotiate with our neighbors, not
to hate and go to war against them. Bombing the hell
out of them is not going to bring about a glorious
outcome, no matter how heroic our efforts may be. We
are going against spiritual law if we try to win by
killing or torturing other people and destroying their
land and property. By such conduct we lose all the
values we were fighting for in the first place. We
have also got to base our economies not on the
production of weapons and vehicles and aircraft of
mass destruction, but to invest our money more wisely
in manufacturing environmentally friendly products.
Investors have to become aware, and no longer put
their money into the military industrial complex. That
industry, I must say it, is evil and corrupt and
without conscience. I worked in it myself, for a short
while, I have to admit, without realizing it.
We can see the four different levels of life in
operation here, the spiritual, mental, emotional and
physical. International politics at present are
unspiritual and irrational. Our leaders have lost
their mind and spirit, and like small children, they
act from a low emotional level in their own selfish
interests on the physical plane, fighting for this
piece of land, or for that particular profit. Just
look at the infantile or childish inflationary and
emotional language in the speeches of the leaders of
some of the military dictatorships, and even listen to
what some of our own politicians are saying. It is
quite shocking, literally!
In spite of our religions there have been appalling
atrocities carried out by the human race all through
history, and in increasing numbers over the past 200
years; pogroms, massacres, executions, acts of
genocide, wars and more wars. There will be no God on
earth to intervene, until we bring him here by our
good actions and behavior. There is no God to be seen
because we neglect to believe in such an entity or
power, and think that we have all the answers in our
instincts and biological drives. There is no all
powerful personal God in human form looking after one
people or nation, or even the planet. There are
guides and spirits and a planetary intelligence and
higher powers that tend the universe, about which we
know little, but in our own human affairs we are left
to our own devices. Our ancestors, loved ones in
spirit, all the billions of people who have ever
existed, they are alive somewhere in spirit, and some
will help us and inspire us, if we listen to their
advice. There is also a Divine mind which existed
prior to form, prior to our cosmic existence, but
mostly unfathomable. There is so much more which lies
beyond our physical and psychic senses, but to look
for God and find him, we must value and respect all
forms of life, and not kill and destroy them. The rule
of Love, not Might, must prevail.
How can we extend our healing prayers to reach not
only our small circle of patients needing physical,
mental, emotional and spiritual healing, but also to
reach all life at large – to heal the unrest, hate,
revenge, suicidal terrorism and all these awful
rituals and customs of “honor” and “respect” and
“vengeance” that cause fear, pain and suffering down
through the generations.. We must start at home, and
move ever outwards. But so much ignorance, so many
young souls struggling to live and understand, and
even find enough strength to fight off disease or find
enough to eat….there is no end to this hell on earth.
On this remembrance day we have to remember all those
who have died or been maimed and injured defending our
countries, in combating crime, keeping law and order,
and others who have made sacrifices to ensure that the
world becomes a better place to live in. We must
remember all those persecuted and killed out of
prejudice, hate, greed and religious fanaticism. We
must develop our powers to love and have compassion.
To cure all the ills of the world, and the ills of our
body, emotions, mind and spirit, we must investigate
more fully the four levels of our campaign against
disharmony.
First of all, at the spiritual level, we need to be
aware of, and observe, all the spiritual laws.
Marilyn Awtry-Smith’s latest book “The River of Life“
is the most recent treatise which can help us here.
All our religions teach these truths. We have to
think and act on a spiritual and ethical level, way
above personal and local self-interests. This
combines spiritual, mental and physical levels. At
the mental level, specifically, we can study history,
philosophy, math and other intellectual disciplines to
lift our minds out of ignorance and learn to think and
reason for ourselves, rather than let some dimwit
politician, journalist, pop star or soldier try to do
it for us. We idolize the wrong people. Make no
idols, the scriptures tell us, every wisely. Even to
idolize a wise man is to become foolish, as Socrates
himself taught.
Thirdly, at the emotional level, psychology will help
us to overcome the negative feelings: hate, prejudice,
fear, guilt, envy, greed and so on, and develop our
power to love and have compassion. As we combine
mind and emotion with spirit, we develop a conscience.
Then lastly, at the level of the material world, we
have to develop a sense of right action. Here we are
helped by the teachings of the Buddha and Jesus and
those of the prophets of other religions. We can’t get
into an argument about which is best, since they were
all right and appropriate for the time and place they
came into being. It is now time for a global ethic,
combining spirit with matter. This is most difficult
when the theories of economics, politics, business and
education are flawed, emphasizing competition, profit,
interest, power, misinformation, disinformation,
propaganda, and general dishonesty and malpractice.
We have to eliminate self-interest, impatience,
selfishness, thoughtlessness and so on and replace
them with harmony, cooperation, sympathy and
compassion.
The world at large at the moment is living on the
lowest levels of the emotional and physical planes, in
a mindless, thoughtless way, in almost total ignorance
of spirit law. We are all guilty of hate crimes
against our siblings, parents, friends and neighbors
as well as our enemies. Just think of road rage, and
the flaming that goes on in our e-mails. We have to
admit our guilt, grow up and move above all this
self-indulgence and violence in thought, emotion and
action. We can do well to become peaceful and humble,
following the example of workers for humanity, like
former President Jimmy Carter, and, to continue with
this series, healers like Brother André, whose story
we will now continue.
The healing work of Brother Andre'
There was one terminally ill man with heart disease,
coughing blood, and plagued with throat and digestive
problems, who came to see Brother André as a last
resort. His doctors told him that even climbing the
steps to the Oratory might bring on a fatal heart
attack. However the man persisted, and stayed with
the brother for nine days, unable to eat a proper meal
or exercise.. André rubbed him with oil two or three
times a day, and then on the ninth day he massaged him
for three hours, and prepared a meal of beef,
potatoes, spices and vegetables in the evening, which
he offered him for lunch the next day. Despite his
protests, he was able to eat it, and felt fine during
the afternoon. He ate a similar meal in the evening,
and slept soundly for six hours, for the first time
in nine days. The next day his full health had been
restored. He was able to take a streetcar home, rode
his bicycle for two miles, took a train to a
neighboring village, and then rode a further five
miles on his bicycle to his destination. This was in
the full heat and humidity of August weather. Three
weeks later he had gained eighteen pounds in weight,
and remained in the best of health for the rest of his
days.
On November 17, 1912, Archbishop Bruchési came to
give his benedictions to the new nave of the Oratory,
and in his address said,
“In the beginning a hand, pious and simple,
placed a statue here. Each day people came to pray.
Soon a little chapel rose on this spot. But the
devotees of Saint Joseph became more and more numerous
and it was necessary to enlarge the chapel many times.
Today this is the last addition which I shall come to
bless. But this work is only beginning, and I foresee
in a future, perhaps not far distant, a church, a
basilica worthy of Saint Joseph rising on Mount Royal
and facing that most magnificent horizon.
“ What shall I say of the miracles which take
place here? If I deny them, these crutches and
braces, witnesses of all the donors, will speak in my
place. I had no need of the inquiry. It is certain
that extraordinary things have taken place here, and
even greater prodigies than physical cures….the
greater things are the spiritual healings. …I beg you
to come here often to pray.”
Father André’s biographer notes that as always on
these great occasions the humble healer stood in an
obscure corner, and “must have been almost overcome
as the Archbishop thus publicly declared his complete
confidence in him, and for the first time sanctioned
the little brother’s fantastic dream of a basilica
dedicated to Saint Joseph of Mount Royal.”
There was no fixed pattern to the cures.
Sometimes, as in the above case, there was much
vigorous rubbing with Saint Joseph’s oil, and many
days of prayer. At other times a single application
would be enough. Quite often Brother André did not
even touch the sufferer, but merely looked at him and
said, “You are well. Put down your crutches and
walk!”
Some cures took place by distant healing, with
the brother ever seeing the sufferer. Once the Fire
Chief, a friend of his, came to see him, telling of
his six-month old baby girl, sick at home with a
temperature of 104. The doctor couldn’t be sure she
would survive. Brother André continued with his
service, telling the Chief to stay for the prayers,
and that his baby would be all right. When he got
home, after the service, and a four and a half mile
streetcar journey, he found the baby sitting up in bed
playing and singing, the fever completely gone. She
had recovered exactly at the time he had begun praying
at the service.
The brother once told a friend that those with
little or no faith were often quickly healed, so as to
give them faith, while the faithful often took longer
“for the good God prefers to allow them to suffer so
that they will be sanctified even more.!” That we
learn, grow and evolve spiritually through suffering
is not new to us, especially at this time of
remembrance.
Often, the brother could foresee the results of
his prayers and treatments. This prevision or
predictive ability was part of the cure. One young
workman crushed his leg under a heavy stone. Gangrene
set in and the doctors decided to amputate. One the
way to the hospital, the sick young man decided to
stop off at the Oratory and see Brother André who said
“Go home and we will make a novena (prayer) to Saint
Joseph. There will always be time to cut off your
leg.” The sick man returned to his home and at the
end of the novena was completely cured. In gratitude
this man and his two sons often came to work on the
road of the Oratory.”
When the brother saw that a patient was going to
die, in most cases he told them, or the parents,
exactly when. But he always would say some gentle,
calming and encouraging words such as “You are not
cured. You will die a week from today, but do not be
afraid. Saint Joseph is watching over you, and you
will not suffer.” A friend of the biographer told
him “I believe that it was not that Brother André had
a knowledge of the future, but that he was in constant
contact with Saint Joseph who put the words on his
lips.” A Spiritualist would say the same thing about
a healer, but that it was his guide or spirit surgeon
who told him of the prognosis.
To be continued The above cases are
reviewed from the many recorded in the biography by
Alden Hatch: “The Miracle of the Mountain.” Hawthorn
Books, New York, 1959.
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