Marquis of Saint-Paul

The Marquis of Saint-Paul died in 1860 and was evoked on May 16th, 1861, at the request of his sister, who belonged to the Spiritist Society of Paris. Although she was herself a medium, she did not yet trust her own abilities enough to conduct the communication alone.

The medium’s hand begins writing...

AllanAre you here?

Marquis of Saint-PaulI am here.

AllanYour sister asked us to evoke you.

AllanAlthough she is a medium, she does not yet feel confident enough in herself.

Marquis of Saint-PaulI will do my best to answer you.

AllanShe first wishes to know whether you are happy.

Marquis of Saint-PaulI am presently in the wandering state between incarnations.

Marquis of Saint-PaulThat condition is neither truly happy nor truly unhappy.

AllanDid it take long before you regained consciousness after death?

Marquis of Saint-PaulI remained in confusion for quite a long time.

Marquis of Saint-PaulI came out of it only after becoming aware of the kindness of those who had not forgotten me and who prayed for me.

AllanCan you tell us how long your confusion lasted?

Marquis of Saint-PaulNo.

AllanWhich spirits did you first recognize after awakening?

Marquis of Saint-PaulMy father and mother.

Marquis of Saint-PaulThey received me when I awakened and helped introduce me to this new life.

AllanDuring your final illness, those around you observed that you seemed to be speaking with loved ones who had already died.

AllanWhy was this?

Marquis of Saint-PaulBecause the world I was about to enter was already starting to reveal itself to me before my death.

Marquis of Saint-PaulBefore dying, I became spiritually aware.

Marquis of Saint-PaulBut at the exact moment of final separation, my spiritual sight grew clouded because the bonds connecting my soul and body were still very strong.

AllanWhy were your memories especially centered on your childhood?

Marquis of Saint-PaulBecause the beginning of life stands nearer to its end than the middle years do.

AllanWhat do you mean by that?

Marquis of Saint-PaulI mean that dying people often recall the innocent years of childhood as if seeing a comforting vision.

Marquis of Saint-PaulPerhaps that is why elderly people, as they approach death, so often remember the smallest details of their early years with great clarity.

AllanDuring your illness, you often referred to your body as though it belonged to someone else.

AllanWhy did you speak that way?

Marquis of Saint-PaulBecause, as I told you, I had already become partially spiritually aware.

Marquis of Saint-PaulI could clearly perceive the separation between my spiritual self and my physical body.

Marquis of Saint-PaulWhile spirit and body remain joined during life on Earth, human beings usually fail to distinguish them clearly.

Marquis of Saint-PaulBut for someone becoming spiritually aware during death, the difference becomes obvious.

Marquis of Saint-PaulMy spirit already saw the body almost as another individual separate from myself.

Marquis of Saint-PaulSo when I said, "He is thirsty," or "He is cold," I was referring to the body, not to my true self.

During his final moments, witnesses had observed this dual perception very clearly. He repeatedly referred to his own body in the third person, saying things such as "He is thirsty" or "He is cold." When others reminded him that it was he himself who needed water or warmth, he answered, "No, it is he."

Allan Kardec notes that similar experiences of duality are often seen in somnambulists and in people nearing death.

AllanWhat you have told us about remaining in a wandering state and experiencing prolonged confusion seems to suggest that you are not yet fully happy.

AllanYet your excellent moral qualities would have led us to expect otherwise.

Marquis of Saint-PaulI am currently in a transitional condition.

Marquis of Saint-PaulThe qualities human beings admire on Earth are judged very differently here.

Marquis of Saint-PaulMy present condition is still infinitely better than earthly incarnation.

Marquis of Saint-PaulYet I have always longed for the highest truth and the highest beauty.

Marquis of Saint-PaulMy soul will not be fully satisfied until it reaches the presence of the Creator Himself.