Antoine Costeau
Antoine Costeau was a member of the Spiritist Society of Paris and was buried in September 1863 in the paupers’ section of the Montmartre Cemetery. He was a simple street worker who possessed very little materially, yet he was known for his deep goodness, humility, charity, and sincere faith in God and the future life.
Even with his small income, he always found a way to help those poorer than himself. Spiritists believed that an expensive tomb meant nothing compared with the moral value of a righteous life, so the Society chose to use its limited funds to help the living rather than purchase a costly grave for the dead.
At the cemetery, Mr. Canu, secretary of the Society and once a convinced materialist, spoke beside Costeau’s open grave. He said that a few years earlier many of them would have seen only annihilation in such a scene.
Now, through Spiritism, they saw the grave as the end of a trial and the beginning of Costeau’s reward for his courage, patience, charity, and goodness. He asked Costeau to carry their gratitude to God, who had lifted them out of doubt.
Instead of saying a hopeless farewell, they now said: may God bless you until we meet again. Be happy... and pray for us.
Immediately after the speech, one of the Society’s mediums received a spontaneous communication from Costeau beside the open grave itself. Everyone present — including the grave-diggers — listened with deep emotion as the words of the deceased were read aloud beside his own body.
The medium’s hand begins writing...
Antoine CosteauThank you, friends... thank you!
Antoine CosteauMy grave is not yet closed.
Antoine CosteauIn a few moments, the Earth will cover my mortal remains.
Antoine CosteauBut you know very well that my soul won't be buried beneath this dust.
Antoine CosteauIt will rise upward through space toward God.
Antoine CosteauWhat a comfort it is to still be able to say, even after the breaking apart of the physical body:
Antoine Costeau“No... I'm not dead.”
Antoine Costeau“I'm alive with the true life... the eternal life.”
Antoine CosteauThe funeral of a poor man is not followed by crowds.
Antoine CosteauNo worldly display surrounds his grave.
Antoine CosteauAnd yet, friends, believe me...
Antoine CosteauAn immense multitude is gathered around you right now.
Antoine CosteauGood spirits have accompanied this humble coffin to its resting place.
Antoine CosteauThey came because you believe in God and honor His goodness.
Antoine CosteauOh no, my beloved wife... we don't die merely because the body breaks down.
Antoine CosteauFrom now on, I will always remain near you.
Antoine CosteauI will comfort you and help you endure the trial of my departure.
Antoine CosteauLife will be difficult for you.
Antoine CosteauBut with your heart filled with thoughts of eternity and love for our Creator, earthly sorrows will seem of little importance.
Antoine CosteauRelatives gathered around the beloved companion of my life...
Antoine CosteauGive her your affection and respect.
Antoine CosteauBe for her like brothers and sisters.
Antoine CosteauNever forget that you must help one another during life on Earth if you wish to enter the peace of the spirit world.
Antoine CosteauAnd you, Spiritists... friends... brothers...
Antoine CosteauThank you for coming to bid me farewell in this place of dust and mud.
Antoine CosteauYou know that my soul is immortal.
Antoine CosteauYou know that it still lives.
Antoine CosteauAnd that it will often come to ask for your prayers.
Antoine CosteauDon't refuse them to me.
Antoine CosteauThey will help me advance along the magnificent road you opened before me during life on Earth.
Antoine CosteauFarewell, all of you gathered here.
Antoine CosteauWe will meet again somewhere far better than beside this grave.
Antoine CosteauHappy spirits are calling me to go with them.
Antoine CosteauFarewell!
Antoine CosteauPray for all who suffer.
Three days later, Antoine Costeau was evoked again in a private gathering through another medium.
The medium’s hand begins writing...
Antoine CosteauDeath is life.
Antoine CosteauI'm only repeating what has already been said.
Antoine CosteauBut truly, there is nothing else to say, no matter how strongly materialists insist on remaining blind.
Antoine CosteauOh friends... what a glorious sight it is to see the Spiritist banner unfolding across the Earth.
Antoine CosteauProclaim the great revelation whose beginnings you have only barely started to witness.
Antoine CosteauWhat magnificent light it brings to those willing to be enlightened...
Antoine CosteauTo those who have broken the chains of pride...
Antoine CosteauAnd who dare openly proclaim their belief in God.
Antoine CosteauPray, dear brothers.
Antoine CosteauThank God for all the blessings He grants us.
Antoine CosteauPoor human race...
Antoine CosteauIf only you could truly understand.
Antoine CosteauBut no... the time has not yet come for all humanity to fully receive the mercy of God and understand His divine will.
Antoine CosteauIt is through your luminous doctrine — this Science of Sciences — that human beings will eventually come to understanding.
Antoine CosteauIt is through its divine fire that hearts will be warmed again.
Antoine CosteauThrough it, the comforting flame of faith and hope will be rekindled.
Antoine CosteauThrough the beneficial influence of its revelations, masters and workers will finally become united in brotherhood.
Antoine CosteauBecause Spiritism explains human life in a way that reveals the true charity taught by the Divine Messiah.
Antoine CosteauReflect, my brothers, upon the immense happiness granted to you by being among the first initiated into this work of regeneration.
Antoine CosteauHonor to you, friends!
Antoine CosteauContinue your labor faithfully.
Antoine CosteauAnd one day, like me, when you arrive in the spirit world, you too will say:
Antoine Costeau“Death is life.”
Antoine CosteauOr rather...
Antoine CosteauDeath is like a dream.
Antoine CosteauA sort of nightmare lasting only a brief moment.
Antoine CosteauAnd afterward, you awaken to find yourself surrounded by loving friends who welcome you with open arms and ease your arrival.
Antoine CosteauMy happiness was so immense that at first I could hardly believe God would grant me so many blessings for the little good I had accomplished on Earth.
Antoine CosteauI truly thought I must be dreaming.
Antoine CosteauAnd because I had sometimes dreamed during life on Earth that I was dead...
Antoine CosteauFor a few moments I feared I might be forced to return to the miserable body I had just left behind.
Antoine CosteauBut I quickly understood the truth of my situation.
Antoine CosteauAnd I blessed the Supreme Master who allowed me to fulfill, on Earth, the duties required of those who sincerely wish to prepare for the future life.
Antoine CosteauYes indeed... I blessed and thanked God for this immense blessing.
Antoine CosteauFor The Spirits’ Book awakened within my soul the love of my Creator.
Antoine CosteauThank you, friends, for bringing me toward this truth.
Antoine CosteauTell our brothers and sisters that I'm often with our friend Sanson.
Antoine CosteauCourage!
Antoine CosteauVictory is assured for our doctrine.
Antoine CosteauHappy are those who have taken part in the struggle.