Chico Xavier

Chico Xavier was a Brazilian medium, philanthropist, and spiritist writer who claimed to use a process called psychography to write over 490 books and thousands of letters. He donated all the profits from his books to charity and became one of the most popular religious figures in Brazil. He was born in Pedro Leopoldo, Minas Gerais, in 1910, and had a difficult childhood marked by poverty and abuse. He claimed to have seen and heard spirits since he was four years old and started to write his first book at the age of 17. He followed the teachings of Allan Kardec, the founder of Spiritism, and believed that he was a channel for the messages of various deceased authors, poets, philosophers, and scientists. He wrote books on topics such as religion, philosophy, history, literature, poetry, and science, as well as letters to comfort and advise the families of the dead. He was known for his humility, kindness, and generosity. He also performed many acts of charity and social work in his community. He appeared on TV shows and radio programs and attracted millions of followers and admirers. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize four times and received many honors and awards. He died of heart failure in 2002, at the age of 92. He was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 2010.