Bezerra de Menezes was a 19th century Brazilian doctor and Spiritist who dedicated his life to helping the poor. He graduated from medical school in 1856 and held several medical and political positions throughout his career. In 1875, he was introduced to Spiritism through Allan Kardec's book The Spirits' Book, which resonated deeply with him. He became a leading figure in the Brazilian Spiritist movement and helped unify Spiritist groups. Menezes believed doctors should help all those in need, regardless of ability to pay, and saw medicine as a calling to relieve suffering rather than for personal gain. He died on April 11, 1900 and is remembered for his compassionate service to the poor.

1. Bezerra de Menezes
The Doctorof the Poor
Let Allan Kardec’s work
not only be believed or
felt, proclaimed or
manifested in our
convictions, but also be
sufficiently lived,
suffered, wept over, and
put into practice in our
own lives.
August 29th
, 1831
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2. • XIX Century:
• Great and significant changes
• The sacred teachings of Spiritism were on the
verge of being heard by suffering humankind.
• Era of Inventions
• The Mission of the Intelligent Person on the Earth.
“Brilliant minds can cause great suffering –
it is also necessary to educate the heart.
The development of the good heart, the
warm heart, and the development of the
good brain, these must go together.“
Dalai Lama
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3. XIX Century Progress:
The progress of the typographical art influenced all centers
of human effort, allowing for the birth of many magazines
and numerous newspapers
The ease of communication via telegraph and railway lines
established direct exchange among nations
Literature was filled with noteworthy and immortal works
The dry cell battery was developed; magnetic induction was
discovered, and the telephone and phonograph were invented
Atomic theory was explored
Arts became alive - painting and music expressed a
lofty aspect of advanced spirituality
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4. “Ardent appeals were addressed to the Divine
Master by the guardian spirits of earth’s nations.
Numerous assemblies met in the spirit world in the
spheres closest to the earth. One of the most lucid
disciples of Christ descended to the planet imbued
with his consoling mission.”
On the way to the Light
Chico Xavier
By the Spirit: Emmanuel
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5. Important Facts:
Born on August 29th
, 1831 as Adolfo Bezerra de Menezes Cavalcanti
in Ceara, Brasil
In November of 1852, he enrolled as an intern at the Mercy Hospital
He graduated from the College of Medicine of Rio de Janeiro, in 1856,
presenting a doctorate thesis about: “Diagnosis of Cancer”
On April 27th, 1857, he applied for a position in the the Imperial
Academy of Medicine, presenting the work: "Some Considerations on
Cancer under its treatment perspective" and won
In 1858 he applied to a position, as substitute, in the Area of Surgery
in the College of Medicine – instead - recommended by his teacher
Manoel Feliciano Pereira de Carvalho, at the time Chief Surgeon of the
Army, Bezerra de Menezes was named his assistant, assuming the
position of Surgeon – Lieutenant
In 1861 Bezerra de Menezes was elected the public representative of
the Liberal Party
In 1867, he was elected Deputy General Counsel.
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6. Supposedly, in 1850, Brazil
abolished the African
trafficking of slaves.
Slavery officially ended in Brazil
only on May 13, 1888, with the
signature of the Golden Law –
Lei Áurea – by Princess Isabel.
“Fulfilling the orders of the
Divine Master, his messengers
from the invisible realm
labored with governments to
facilitate the victory of
freedom”.
On the way to the Light
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7. Bezerra de Menezes & Spiritism
1st
Spirits’ Book translated into Portuguese by Dr.
Joaquim Carlos Travassos, arrived in his hands in 1875
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8. “He gave me the book in the city, and I lived in
Tijuca, about an hour away. I was carrying the book
with me and since I did not have anything else to
read during the trip I said, well, why not read this! I
will certainly not go to hell for reading this... And
after all, it will be embarrassing to have to declare
myself ignorant regarding this philosophy, when I
have been dedicating myself to the study of all
philosophical schools. With this thought, I opened
the book and I immediately became fascinated by it –
as it happened when I first read the Bible. I kept on
reading, but I couldn’t find anything that was new for
my Spirit. And at the same time, it was truly all new
to me!...Somehow I felt I had already read or heard
everything that was contained in the "The Spirits’
Book.” I was quite amazed with that wonderful fact
and I said to myself: it seems that I was a Spiritist
without knowing it, or as people usually say, I was
born a Spiritist.”
Bezerra de Menezes
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9. The Brazilian Spiritist Movement
In 1883, those who were in the core of the Brazilian Spiritist movement, and
those who directed the Spiritist society and groups in Rio de Janeiro felt the
need of a better structured union and for this very reason a stronger one.
1894 –
Automatically, he was called upon to run the Presidency post of the
Brazilian Spiritist Federation responsible for the Unification of all other
groups and Spiritist Movement.
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10. “A doctor is not entitled to finish a meal, nor to ask if it is
far or near, when an afflicted person knocks on the door.
Those who do not help because they are entertaining
guests or because they have worked long hours and are
tired, or because it is too late at night, bad road or bad
weather, because it is far or is on the top of the hill, or
above all, those who ask for a car for those who have not
even resources to pay for the prescription, or that say to
those who are crying at their door to seek for another
doctor -- those are not doctors, but rather Medical
Businessmen, who work for the income and to pay off
their college debts”.
Bezerra de Menezes
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11. Bezerra de Menezes
The Doctorof the Poor
August 29th
, 1831
April 11th, 1900
Forever in our hearts!
“Do not accumulate treasures on
the earth, where rust and worms
corrupt them and where thieves
unbury and steal them; but create
treasures in heaven, where neither
rust nor worms corrupt, for
wherever your treasure is, there is
your heart also.”
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