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It Is All a Matter of Mentality

I very much appreciate this quote from the famous German photographer who lived in the United States, Ruth Bernhard (1905-2006): “I shall die young, at whatever age the experience occurs.” Her words are in line with what I...

Believing in the Human Being

Speech given by Paiva Netto during the Illumination ceremony of the LGW’s ParlaMundi building. Brasília, December 24, 1994. God is Present! (Crowd: Hail Jesus, the Christ and the Statesman, who is arriving, in our hearts forever!)...

Love — The Basis of Dialogue

I have been saying for so many years and I published it in the book Reflexões da Alma (2003) [Reflections of the Soul]: The heart is more willing to listen when Love is the basis of dialogue. For this...

Charity

Solidarity: A Path to Peace

Reprodução

Abraham Lincoln

Unarmed Peace will never come about solely from political agreements, but rather from a deep sublimation of the religious spirit. Since great achievements often have their roots in simple but practical and true initiatives by people who with great courage moved from theory to action, with the strength of the authority of their universally recognized acts, let us avail ourselves of this lesson from Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865): "When I do Good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That’s my religion." Now no one can ever call old Abe an unbeliever . . .

Money and fame can become a heavy burden for human beings. Rarely do they bring happiness, except when they correspond to benefits promoted in favor of the collectivity. Here is a path to Peace between those who have everything and those who need help: Solidarity.

Leilla Tonin

When you understand the meaning of renunciation, you learn to love. It is at this moment that happiness truly takes hold of your heart. A lesson from the Bhagavad-Gita: "He knows peace who has forgotten desire."

Bezerra de Menezes

Thoughts based on Peace — Lasting transformations often arise during periods of great historical turmoil. The tenacious grow in times of conflict. If they do so with their thoughts based on Peace, the effect of their efforts will mark their passage on Earth with the signet of Light. The renowned Brazilian physician Dr. Adolfo Bezerra de Menezes Cavalcanti (1831-1900) taught that, "If we aspire to transmit Peace, if we want to elevate the hearts of creatures, we cannot do so without a profound and radical change in the quest to strengthen our Faith and understanding of it."

Afresco: Raffaello Sanzio (1483-1520)

Isaiah

The effect of Righteousness will be Peace — People are usually able to survive the confusions that cross their paths. This stubbornness is very good, this common sense of so many people who base their actions on Courage, as well as on Love, Goodness, Solidarity, Fraternity, and Reason enlightened with thoughts illuminated by God. However, never on fanaticism.

This boldness is what allowed Humanity to survive so much madness. The following lesson from Isaiah, in his book of the Old Testament (32:17), endorses this reality when he states: "The effect of Righteousness will be Peace, and the result of Righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever."

José de Paiva Netto is a writer, journalist, radio broadcaster, composer, and poet. He is the President of the Legion of Good Will (LGW), effective member of the Brazilian Press Association (ABI) and of the Brazilian International Press Association (ABI-Inter). Affiliated to the National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Union of Professional Journalists of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the Union of Writers of Rio de Janeiro, the Union of Radio Broadcasters of Rio de Janeiro, and the Brazilian Union of Composers (UBC). He is also a member of the Academy of Letters of Central Brazil. He is an author of international reference in the concept and defense of the cause of Ecumenical Citizenship and Spirituality which, according to him, constitute “the cradle of the most generous values that are born of the Soul, the dwelling of the emotions and of the reasoning enlightened by intuition, the atmosphere that embraces everything that transcends the ordinary field of matter and comes from the elevated human sensitivity, such as Truth, Justice, Mercy, Ethics, Honesty, Generosity, and Fraternal Love.”