He was a remarkable figure in the twentieth-century Spiritism movement, widely recognized for his extraordinary psychic abilities and profound literary contributions. Known for using a method called psychography—essentially channeling spirits through automatic writing—he authored close to five hundred books over the course of his life. His journey into the spiritual realm began at an incredibly young age; he became aware of his psychic gifts when he was just four years old. Born in Pedro Leopoldo, Brazil, he was raised by devout Catholic parents, Maria Joao de Deus and Joao Candido Xavier. As his reputation grew, so did the influence of his work, making him a central name in the history of Spiritism. He truly stood out as a spiritual leader, and his legacy continues to inspire many around the world.
Back in 1930, Xavier found himself in legal trouble when the widow of the well-known Brazilian writer Humberto de Campos filed a lawsuit against him. The case centered around a book that Xavier claimed had been psychically dictated to him by the spirit of de Campos after his passing. Naturally, this raised eyebrows and led to accusations of copyright infringement. Xavier, being the central figure in the controversy, maintained that the work was channeled through spiritual means, but that didn’t stop the legal battle from unfolding. Over time, the story became one of the more unusual chapters in literary and spiritual history, with Xavier at the heart of it all.