I was born in Sao Joaquim da Barra, Sao Paulo, Brazil, on March 9, 1924, into a family with deep roots in Roman Catholicism. My father was Portuguese and, not to be an exception to the rule, did what tradition required: he consecrated himself to the Blessed Virgin of Fatima and devoted himself to destiny and good wine. His mother was of Italian descent and boasted of the Pope's golden throne in Italy.
My mother's father, who was very devoted to religious practices, used to take me from an early age to the solemn rituals of the Roman Catholic "Mother Church." Even before I turned seven, I regularly attended catechesis at the parish. Once, a priest spoke to us, full of energy and vivacity, about hell. He showed us the danger, but he did not give us any indication as to how to escape this danger.
The day of my first communion
My first communion was on May 1, 1932. I was animated by the purest feelings. However, one incident disturbed the solemn atmosphere of those moments: When the priest had just placed the wafer on the tongue of one of my comrades, he began to shout, "The host has stopped in his throat, Father!" he sat quietly and did not take the host with his fingers from the "sky of the mouth." It was a sacrilege to touch the host with your fingers. Arriving outside in front of the church, the boys and girls surrounded him and blamed him as much as he could for not showing due respect to the holy Lord.
In 1936, the family moved to the neighboring town of Orlandia, so that my brothers and I could attend high school. My father wanted to give his sons the opportunity to study, because he hadn't had one.
From childhood I was accompanied by a serious problem, namely what will happen to me after death. I was always thinking about it. Trembling with fear, I remembered the words of the priest who was preparing us for the first communion. He had taught us all the pious deeds recommended by a very strict Spanish priest. The great desire to serve God as a child arose in me. Without knowing another way to do this, I became a priest.
Priests' seminary and ordination
At the age of 17 I managed to enter the seminary. But the atmosphere there was not good. I had never lived in a place with so much slander. I devoted myself intensely to my studies, but my dissatisfaction continued. I was ordained a priest on December 8, 1949 in the town of Montes Claros, north of Minas Gerais. The diocesan bishop gave me the responsibility of building and running a support point among the workers. This assignment corresponded to my wishes. Social activity soothed my spiritual fears. I was very active and won the sympathy of the workers throughout the region, as well as much praise from the ecclesiastical authority.
Priest in social work
In early 1952, the bishop of Montes Claros was transferred by the pope to Recife as archbishop. I was included in this transfer and I had to move to Recife.
In this city, I was given the task of re-establishing a charity with a network of orphanages and Roman Catholic education centers that had gone through a financial crisis. I worked hard, aiming to regain the public reputation of the institution. In fact, the great responsibility for these goals weighed heavily on me. After a little more than two years of work, the financial problems of the institution were solved. Orphanages and nursing homes received a larger number of children and the elderly. The schools were able to resume their activity. My name has appeared in the press several times.
No peace with God
But despite my personal success and the praise of the fans, I never felt peace in my soul. Neither my total dedication to the duties of the charitable society nor the praise of the ecclesiastical authorities answered my tormenting questions spiritually. I longed to be sure of my eternal salvation, and no one could give me that security.
In 1960 I was transferred to Guaratingueta inside the state of Sao Paulo, a neighboring town to Aparecida do Norte. I enjoyed this change, especially because the place was right next to the "Holy Patron of Brazil". It was also the first time that I was going to be involved in an activity related to social management. I was very concerned with social work. I thought I would find in my duties as a priest an answer to my spiritual anxiety. But I didn't find it.
Working in the parish
Working hard, I set up a new parish in the Pedregulho district of Guaratingueta. Proof of my dedication was seen in building a parish house, a parish hall and three churches in just three years. But despite a long list of services to Roman Catholicism, I still wasn't sure I was saved.
In October 1956, my father died of lung cancer. For a whole year I kept a liturgy in mind for his soul. And my family let the liturgy be held for him. But not even the liturgy, despite its claim to infinite value, gave us the assurance of saving my father.
And I cried for this security for myself, for neither the successful social work, nor the building of the churches, nor the ceremonies I conducted, nor my blind obedience to the ecclesiastical authorities, nor the Roman Catholic system could give me any answer.
My hatred of evangelicals
My absolute obedience to Roman Catholic doctrines produced in me a real hatred of evangelicals, whom I called "goats" in my sermons, while I called Roman Catholics "lambs of Christ."
An event clearly proves my anti-Protestantism. On the occasion of the day of the dead, in the cemetery of Pedregulho district, some evangelical believers performed an evangelization by distributing treatises and portions of the Bible. True to the Jesuit motto "glory of God" and in defense of the "Holy Mother Church", I decided to ruin their work. I gathered the children from my parish together and divided them into groups. Every hour another group had to go to the cemetery and pray there. The idea was to receive literature and then burn it in the candles in the mortuary chapel.
However, one evening, when I had finished the ruthless destruction of the evangelical material, I went to the shelves of my library to look for a book that would entertain me. By the wonderful grace of God I came across a Bible translated by Matos Soares.
I opened this inspired book and read chapter 11 of the Gospel of John. I felt that my burden was eased and that there was a power in the gospel that transformed my spiritual depression. I continued to read with increasing interest. I always had to think about this chapter.
A beginning of Bible study
Gradually, I noticed that new horizons were opening up in my soul, and I decided to study the Bible without my previous prejudices. Without the influence of others and only by divine grace, we have discovered through this study God's real plan for our salvation. Amazed, we have discovered that we can have absolute and unceasing certainty that we will reach heaven if we accept His plan. But I was not yet ready for this, for my soul had become accustomed to Roman Catholic practices.
A discussion with the bishop
I went to visit my bishop. I wanted to talk to him very openly. But my questions puzzled him, and he finally told me that I was in Aparecida to take care of the construction of the new church. Thus, the purchase of concrete, bricks and tools became my main concern. And I kept praying to "Our Lady of Appearance."
The turning point of God in my life
At that time, evangelical believers in Guaratingueta were handing out tracts. One of them was about Roman Catholic idolatry and the worship of icons and statues. In response to their statements, I decided to explain these doctrines from the pulpit, to tell the parishioners that worship of icons and statues was not forbidden by God. I took my Bible and began my defense speech by reading the passage from Exodus 20. I skipped verses 4 and 5 so as not to give "ammunition to the weapons of my enemies." When I came down from the pulpit I was very ashamed of myself. I decided to make a sincere comparison between Roman Catholic doctrine and the Bible. When I did this, I saw what an infinite chasm there was between the two.
I'm starting to use biblical standards
In January 1963, I received an invitation to be a priest in Orland, where I had spent my adolescence. I was so excited to be back where I had so many
friends! However, this pleasure was not enough to remove my spiritual anxiety. I devoted myself entirely to the work in the Roman Catholic parish, full of all the shortcomings of an old parish with outdated traditions. Despite the opposition of a group of dissatisfied but pious women, I managed to develop a splendid work in which everything corresponded, if possible, to Bible standards. I cleaned the church and removed all the idols. My preaching was biblical. My daily radio programs simply consist of a commentary on a passage from God's Word.
Many religious hymns sung during the divine services were Christian songs.
My hatred of evangelicals turns to fear
Something very interesting happened to me. My former hatred of evangelicals changed into fear. I wanted to talk to a pastor, but I didn't have the courage. When I was in Guaratingueta, I decided to go to Sao Paulo with the sole intention of resolving this situation. After getting off the minibus, I went to the post office to send a telegram. At that very moment, an evangelical was preaching in the front seat of the post office.
Seeing my cassock, he challenged me by pointing a finger at me and exposing me with harsh words. He did not know what was going on in my soul, nor why I had come there.
After that I went straight home.
A servant of God helps me
In 1964 I was nearing the end. I couldn't go on like this. In November I went to Santos. My plan was made: dressed in civilian clothes, I took part in the Sunday morning divine service of the First Baptist Church. As incredible as it may seem, the basis of the sermon was none other than chapter 11 of the Gospel of John.
The next day I managed to meet in person with Pastor Eliseu Ximenes. This servant of God greeted me in such a friendly way that I was soon captivated and was able to give up all my previous impressions. We began to plan my departure from the Roman Catholic Church together. It was not a formal departure at all, because it was done in a longer period of time.
Faith in our all-sufficient Savior
On May 12, 1965, thanks to God's special protection, I was able to completely break away from the Roman Catholic Church. On June 13, in the First Baptist Church of Santos, publicly confessing my faith in my one and all-sufficient Savior, Jesus Christ, I was baptized.
In addition to bringing me into His Kingdom, God has placed in my heart the task of preaching His holy Word, and I have devoted my whole life to this work. He recently helped the work of this humble servant of His by giving me the joy of seeing hundreds of souls come to Jesus Christ.
In my sermons I emphasize God's plan of salvation that is made only through Christ. Every time I preach I can feel a more intimate communion with Him.
I have never felt such spiritual joy as now. I have complete peace in my heart because I am sure of my eternal salvation. My soul has been purified by the redemptive blood of Jesus Christ, to whom all glory is due for eternity.
An encyclopedia on the Internet Wikipedia gives in an article written in Portuguese some data about the former priest Anibal Pereira Dos Reis. He lived between March 9, 1924 and May 30, 1991. He wrote about 40 books in which he especially criticized the ecumenical movement and Catholicism. Due to his "radical" attitude, he received a lot of resistance and persecution.
(Translator: Olimpiu S. Cosma)
[Source: bereanbeacon.org]
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