In the spring of 1915, I had my first glimpse of Christian Science...

Carolina Agnetti

In the spring of 1915, I had my first glimpse of Christian Science and received it with a transport of true joy. At that time I suffered much from pessimism, which had been cultivated in me from childhood and seemed growing daily with its sad train of evils,—profound distrust, no hope for the future, a spirit of criticism, indifference towards others, envy, lack of satisfaction in my work, coldness towards my family, irritability, and melancholy. While I was in this condition, one of my companions, who seemed to me very different from all the others, gave me some of the writings on Christian Science to read, then began to explain the gospel according to the scientific interpretation, and finally translated into my tongue for me some passages from the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. It was a true revelation, and produced in me a profound change. Hope and joy took the place of depression and irritability, and everything appeared in a new light. When after some months I returned to my family, no one could understand my transformation. From that time Christian Science has been my only physician, my daily sustenance.

For several years I needed almost continual help from loving practitioners, Christian Scientists who helped me conquer physical and moral difficulties. Colds, which before had been a long torment, were healed in a few hours; an eruption with fever disappeared after the first treatment; and I was able to resume my work four days after an attack of so-called Spanish influenza. Once, while I was unable to leave a small town because of a railway strike, a finger began to swell and turn black. I tried to help myself through the little I knew of Truth, and was at once freed from pain. The following day I was able to send word to a practitioner; and the finger, though continuing to swell, gave me no discomfort. One evening while I was returning on the train from my work, an unknown physician became curious because of my swollen hand, imperfectly hidden by a covering, and came towards me telling me it was a serious infection; but his words gave me no fear. After three or four days it began to decrease in size, and was rapidly healed.

In the same year I was taken with fever, which appeared every night at sunset and lasted till morning. My days were full of weakness, sleepiness, coughing, difficulty of breathing, and copious perspiration. I was unable to remain away from my work without a doctor's certificate; and as I was not willing to go to a physician, I continued to get up every morning at six o'clock, take the train and teach four hours in a neighboring town, while the friend who had told me of Christian Science helped me from a distance. The healing was slow, and many times I had to conquer the thought that I was too weak to continue my work; but my heart was full of gratitude for the sense of calm faith and the certain expectation of my healing, which came before the vacation.

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