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The Palatian exorcisms were similar to prayers for healing. They prayed to God for the health of the sick person. They included, at the same time, the value of witnessing in the hostile environment of the time.

Such a ministry is part of his roots. For the use of intercessory prayers, blessings and other sacramentals were common practice. From years ago. In time, however, they became one of his characteristic traits. His highly realistic attitude was imbued with a good spirituality! And as such, he observed the situation of the mentally ill.

On the other hand, the pages of My Relationships bear witness to the struggle that was going on inside him, facing this new chapter of his existence.

Against the backdrop of this committed service in 1865, we find Father Palau plunged into the night of faith. He was powerless to cure or even relieve a number of people - February and March 1866. This is how this man's blind faith came into play. Personified in the word of Christ - Church.

And the fact is that exorcisms were and are a sacramental of our Church, of course! Palau's call to cure the mentally ill in this way was a normal pastoral activity.

His definitive service to the society around him was the care of the poorest. If he had always felt a predilection for them, whether they were illiterate, sick, dechristianised masses, etc., now, from 1865 onwards, he overvalued them by devoting himself almost exclusively to them.

Those instigated by the anti-clerical press were talking about dels Penitents as a centre of superstition and political conspiracy. Then this man of the Church addressed to the bishop the aforementioned account of what had happened there - we have already considered it - and submitted his ministerial service to the prelate's judgement. Faithful to the end!

From the Hermitage, Fr Palau gave an accurate account of the facts. He also took on the defence of his own people and their cause.

The anticlericals defined The penitents as a centre of superstition and political conspiracy, of course. They had already done so, ad nauseam, years before, with the well-known School of Virtue. Both events would be with him until the end of his days. As in many other situations, Fr Palau suffered persecution, mockery and ridicule.

It is also discerning.

However, the truth is that in Els Penitents the spirit was one of welcome, of gratuity, of integration, of inclusion. Everyone's needs were attended to. Patients and their families were treated with the utmost respect. Anonymity and privacy were safeguarded by all means. Both the patients and their families were satisfied with the treatment they received there - an unbeatable testimony! This is why, later on, both confirmed what Fr. Francisco had said before the judges.

What was truly authentic about our Founder was that he was motivated by the highest spiritual values. If his diagnosis of the sick was sometimes a little off the mark, the quality of his ecclesial service was unquestionable. Of course it was! In the chapel of St. Cross, the number of visitors increased. And word of the healings spread throughout Barcelona. Achievements and projects were the talk of the ecclesiastical and social scene. Our Founder even had first-rate projects: to build a hospital to accommodate patients and their companions.

At the social level, there was extreme tension between the Church and the administration. For this reason, it was advisable to be more prudent. As the situation became critical, the bishop intervened in the matter. This led to the closure of the chapel. Once the Eucharist had been celebrated.

Fr. Palau gave him his reasons. He did not see why he should abandon that service. The parishioners sent the aforementioned letter to the prelate. In defence of our protagonist and his activity, yes. In it they refer, the quality of the apostolate palautiano, at the spiritual level: evangelical preaching, example of life, good coexistence among the people dels Penitents helped the spiritual regeneration of the population. The bishop had no doubts about the beneficial activity of Fr. Francisco. He could not doubt it! Evil was chased away, the reception of the sacraments increased, living together among the parishioners became less difficult, etc. In short, the sick benefited.

Our Founder had been denounced for his social activity. He was also harassed from ecclesiastical circles. For this reason the prelate closed the celebrations. Fr. Francisco accepted this decision. With humility, of course. With a lot of pain, too..

As long as the bishop did not forbid it, the celebrations were public. When the chapel was closed, they were limited to private celebrations.

However, neighbours also received the news with concern. Some even with concern. With great concern. They agreed with Father Director: they identified the triumph of evil over those shoots of moral and religious regeneration.

They were living in a situation that called for increased prudence. For the extreme tension between the Church and the administration required it. Although Fr. Palau saw no reason to abandon that service, the inevitable happened.