Your social work III    

In his prayer spaces, Francisco Palau sees evil fighting against the Church. To which he has pledged his fidelity and is ready to defend it in a concrete and continuous manner. With all his talent, ability and possibilities.

At this historical juncture, the position of the Institution's magisterium was one of vigilance. This attitude was common to Catholic writers and circles. This was expressed by theologians, saints and even the Pope himself. He never tired of warning the faithful against revolutionary satanic action. Such an atmosphere characterised that century - and the next! Y...

How much vigilance and how much suffering Christianity had to endure in the 19th century! True, he was not in the front carriage of the convoy of history. And the adjustment to the proper position was a real plundering, no doubt! Let us hope that in ours it will continue to take new steps in fundamental values. In this way, it will be a relevant factor for coexistence with other collectives. To guide and accompany humanity in new directions.

The evil one is still an instrument in the hands of God. In Catholic thought he was recognised as a factor to be taken into account.

In the secularist route, the way of defending this Church is seen as a superstitious, irrational practice. Typical of rural, traditionalist milieus. Belonging to a bygone era. They are suspicious, frowned upon and risky. A mentality promoted, of course! by rationalism and sciences and ideologies hostile to Catholicism, Right! On the other hand, psychopathology, psychosomatic abnormality was an unknown science in the 19th century. Those suffering from any of the diseases included in this sector were considered victims of malign intervention.

However, there were numerous forms of defence. Among them were the exorcisms carried out in Barcelona. Some with excellent results. Among the exorcists was Father Claret. In the diocesan archives of Barcelona there are documents that prove this. And the fact is that such exorcisms are a sacramental in our Church. Of course!

After the 19th century, progress in normal and pathological psychology continued. And this science developed into experimental and critical knowledge.

But this scientific knowledge cannot be demanded of Francis. It was acquired after his own existence. A technical deficiency which does not cloud the righteousness of his actions. Whose aim was the fight against evil. And the liberation of the victims.

Fr. Palau lives in Vallcarca. In the cave. It was near the parish of Sant Genís dels Agudells. There he sought solitude to pray, space to discern, a place to improve communion, an opportunity to live alert to life. To be its sentinel. To accompany those who walked along it.

One of the books of Sacred Scripture most meditated upon by him was the Apocalypse. It was the main source of his vision of the history of the Church at that time in history. In it he contemplated the permanent struggle of evil against the kingdom of Christ.

He then built a chapel: Santa Cruz. It was requested by the neighbours to celebrate the Sunday Eucharist. The final name of the complex was called Els Penitents. Due to the austere and penitent lifestyle of Francis and his followers. A name that survives to this day. Even the mouth of the metro has picked up such a headline, hasn't it?

The area was transformed, due to the topographical situation and urban development projects. Francisco Palau, in collaboration with the authorities, ensured religious and spiritual assistance to the neighbours. Later, he established one of his foundations there. Today, after staying there for a considerable time since our founder, his daughters continue to live from such roots. From such ancestry and origins. And they are happy to remain in this place blessed by the presence of Francisco Palau, their/our father and teacher. They also contemplate, included in the project, the human-spiritual dimension, the substance of the whole family, enlightened by him. This presence is nothing less than an important emblem of our Carmelite Missionary Carmelite lineage.