Your social work II

Another of the manifestations of this period was popular religiosity. Father Palau declared that his was his own family substratum. As a child of the rural Catalonia of his century, he incorporated such convictions. Evil was a character who was often relied upon. This belief was rooted in his deep religious sense. And its influence on everyday life: no doubt about it! Illnesses, mishaps, storms, bad harvests... Everything was the work of evil, of course! Therefore, it was urgent to chase it away, at all costs! Science was in its infancy. Blessings, aspergations and exorcisms were used by Palau to fight it. Yes! Yes!

Later, the population of Vallcarca was made up of popular collectives. Many emigrated from the countryside. Population lacking in culture. Prone to superstition. In its socio-cultural uprooting, it was especially vulnerable to the philosophical currents of the time. Also to ancestral beliefs, of course!

At the same time, Francisco knew about the expansive movement of spiritualism in Barcelona. Its generating centres. In view of specific cases, he had become convinced of the harmful influence they exerted. Both on individuals and on families. In a trance of anguish, both men and women turned to spiritualism in search of relief. They also turned to magic. Driven by the Gospel and compassion for the suffering, Francis studied the errors of these ideologies - magic, spiritism, occultism. And he fought them from the doctrine of the Church. It was an open struggle against the power of evil. And the Spiritualist clubs of Barcelona recognised him as a great adversary. It could not be otherwise!

Both his origins in the rural and traditional world and his contact with the media, influenced by spiritualism and with groups prone to fantastic beliefs, had an impact on him. They hurt him.

The feeling of coexistence with evil nestles, in a particular way, in simple people, orphans of culture. Nor is it absent from educated people or from the Church. No, no. Many clerics practised exorcism. They were not wrong. Jesus drove the evil one from their presence. Nor is he absent from certain present-day situations. This is affirmed not only by gullible people but also by realists and learned churchmen. Such a situation became alarming. The ecclesiastical authority alerted the faithful and gave them guidance. The outskirts of Barcelona proved to be a favourable environment for the spread of these doctrines. There, new immigrant population centres were forming. This was where our protagonist was active. This was the origin of his social inclination.

In Catalonia, the common people had deep-rooted beliefs and customs. These influenced a kind of cult of the spirits. The broad and ambiguous concept of revolution and everything new was perceived as the work of evil. In the areas of ideas and customs. Particularly in the areas of health and crops. In the area of health, this was accentuated during the severe epidemics of the time. To this day, there are still traces of these beliefs in their cultural baggage. They are very well known, aren't they?

They did not see a demon with horns, a tail and a pitchfork, as popular imagery depicted him. But as the source of the evil that was shaking humans. Their environment. Francisco Palau also thought of this evil. Of course he did!

On the opposite side to the Church, the rationalist movement was imposing Satanism in the sense of traditional magic. Spiritualism and occultism were also gaining influence.

So much scum in the changing times like the one Francis lived through! And like the one we have to live through!