On the morning of August 12, 1983, the boy Rangel Diniz Rodrigues, Tetéo, as he was affectionately nicknamed by his family, was riding a bike in front of his house in a quiet street with his nanny, when he suffered a common fall for a boy of almost three years. Tetéo banged his head on the ground, but there was no serious injury. The doctors who examined him after the accident found no abnormality.

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Three days later, on the morning of the 15th, the boy went into convulsions and was immediately taken to Pedro Leopoldo's hospital. His condition was serious and he was immediately transferred to the hospital in Belo Horizonte city. Two hours later, Tetéo was dead.

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Son of dentist Aguinaldo Soares Rodrigues and Professor Célia Diniz Rodrigues, people well known in the city, belonging to two traditional families and very well connected in the community, the death of Tetéo, in unusual circumstances, moved the city.

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Almost a year later, on June 30, 1984, Chico Xavier received, in Uberaba, a psychographic message from Tetéo. In the message there are names, nicknames, data and references which were entirely unknown by Chico Xavier.

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Rangel belonged to a spiritist family, He was Manuel Diniz’s grandson, a spiritual leader. However the medium, on receiving the message, hardly knew the boy’s parents, for being many years away from Pedro Leopoldo.

 

"Dear  father Aguinaldo and dear mother Celia with Grandma Lia (1). It's me, Tetéo (2). I am here with my grandfather Lico (3) and with my Aunt Gilda (4). Grandpa helps me write because I'm learning. I see Aunt Lé (5) and our friend Sérgio (6), and Grandpa tells me that an educated boy should not forget his friends.

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Father Aguinaldo and Mother Celia, I come to ask you not to cry so much for me. Mom, I was already sick when I talked and played with Cota (7). Then I hit my head on the floor, but I was strong. But the head got heavy and you remember the night I cried with my head aching ...

I saw that Dad was scared and then I remember that I came out of the room. Then I saw nothing else. It was all so dark; Then I heard Daddy call me: my son, my son! I wanted to respond, but I could not. I think I slept a lot.

 

When I woke up I was near the girl who asked me not to cry and call her my Aunt Gilda. Then Grandpa Lico came to the place where I was and I started crying and begged him to take me home. He hugged me and said: Rangel, you are not a weak boy. Do not cry like this, because we're at home ...

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I tried to obey, but I was very much in love with Aguinaldinho and Mariana (8), daddy and mommy, Cota, Grandma Lia, Grandma Dite, Grandpa Totone (9), Aunt Lé, Uncle Neca and Auntie Maria (10), but I did not want to talk about it because my grandfather and my aunt were so good to me.

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Many days passed and Grandpa Lico took me home. Dad, you were wondering why you had not taken me on the sidewalks with my little brothers and cried ... I explained that I was very sick and that you and Mom could not always go out with me. Do not cry any more, my father, thinking that I should be sad. I was always happy waiting.

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Here Grandpa Lico told me that I did not go to our house to stay a long time, and that my head would not allow me to walk around much. I'm telling Dad and Mom not to worry.

Father Aguinaldo, Grandpa Lico asks you not to be discouraged by the service and do not let Aunt Bete (11) uncheck the consultations. Dad, if I were there, with my sick mouth, you would treat me, for the boys and the big people who look for you, as I think of today, are like myself. I've seen you talking to Grandma Dite who is discouraged, do not be like this, I'm alive and I'm going to grow up.

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I'm learning to write just to tell your affection and mother's affection that I did not die. I will learn many things and many lessons to know how to write better. But I am more advanced than Mariana and I believe that Aguinaldinho will be satisfied.

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Father and mother, Grandma Lia and Aunt Le, I cannot write any more, because I was tired of making letters. But when I can, I'll come back. I miss you very much and this Grandpa Lico tells me that I can write. Many hugs to my brothers and tell them that Tetéo has not disappeared.

Mother Celia, I am happy with the faith that your prayers offer me.

 

Daddy Aguinaldo, I ask your heart to be smiling. Grandma Lia will hug you all for me.

And to my father and my mother, many kisses from the son who asks them for the blessing,

Tetéo. Rangel Diniz Rodrigues. "

 

Notes and identifications:

1. Grandma Lia: Maria Luíza Diniz, maternal grandmother

2. Tetéo: Rangel’s nickname

3. Grandfather Lico: Manuel (Lico) Diniz, maternal grandfather, died on 1979, was known by Tetéo only by photograph.

4. Aunt Gilda: Gilda Marta Soares, paternal great-aunt, died on 1954

5. Aunt Lé: Celma Pinto Pereira, a friend of the family.

6. Sérgio: Sérgio Luiz Ferreira Gonçalves, a friend of the family.

7. Cota: Nickname of Maria Sandra Alcântara, Rangel’s nanny since his birth.

8. Aguinaldinho and Mariana: Brothers of 6 and 5 years of age, respectively.

9. Grandma Dite and Grandpa Totone: Edith Soares Rodrigues and Antônio Hilário Rodrigues, paternal grandparents.

10. Uncle Neca and Aunt Maria: Cláudio Berger and Maria Vianna Mello Berger, neighbors and friends of the family.

11. Aunt Bete: Maria Elizabeth Rodrigues Lessa, paternal aunt, secretary from Dr. Aguinaldo’s Dental Office

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Rangel's mother, Célia Diniz Rodrigues, stated in an interview about the authenticity of the message: "... the messages were permeated by so much evidence that there was no room for uncertainty. They had nicknames, family names, friends, home helpers, deceased relatives we did not even remember or knew they existed; familiar everyday situations, such as more intimate feelings, dialogues. They also provided details of my son's final moments. Needless to say, the medium did not know all this. "

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Rangel’s story was told in the movie “As mães de Chico Xavier" (Chico Xavier’s mothers), where Celia is portrayed by the character "Elise".