The blessings which have come to me through Christian Science...

Anna Schwaninger

The blessings which have come to me through Christian Science impel me to make public acknowledgment thereof. In 1910 I received three copies of Der Herold der Christian Science from my sister in New York. She called my attention to Christian Science, as she knew that we were often struggling with illness. I was very much pleased with its contents, although it seemed strange to me that God should not permit sickness, and I could not then make up my mind to investigate the subject further.

I had been afflicted since childhood with a throat trouble which recurred regularly in winter time, manifesting itself in loss of voice. The least effort in speaking caused great distress, and the various physicians and specialists, as well as a professor who was considered very able, succeeded in relieving me only temporarily. In January, 1912, hoarseness again set in. At that time I had lost all faith in physicians, as I had tried so many "cures" for this as well as for the relief of an abdominal complaint and a severe bowel trouble. All the remedies which I tried failed to benefit me. I had been at two sanitariums and gone through a well-known "cure" in Wörrishofen, but, as I said, without being benefited.

Although I had been told that God does not send disease, I seemed comfortless, till finally, in January, 1912, I decided to go to Frankfort-on-the-Main and attend a Christian Science service. I also had a talk with a practitioner and was treated that same day, whereupon my voice began to return and I was able to speak, the pain having yielded considerably. The first thing I learned was that divine Love is omnipresent and omnipotent, that God sends only good, and creates only that which is perfect. The result was that my fear disappeared. The physicians had forbidden me to speak, and I had to desist from many other things without ever being benefited by so doing. The abdominal trouble had necessitated my wearing a truss for years, and it was difficult for me to do housework, so that many things had to be attended to by others. The bowel difficulty was accompanied by great suffering, and I often became frightened as to the possible outcome. I had a great desire to know the liberating truth, to have spiritual food, and this I received when treatment in Christian Science was begun by the practitioner, who also explained the subject to me.

I was completely healed of the throat and bowel trouble and the abdominal complaint in three months, through the power of Truth. Since then I have been doing all my work with ease and have become a very different woman, praising God for the grace which He daily bestows upon us,—the God, who, as David says, "forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases." I had twelve operations of the nose and throat performed in the course of eleven years, and two operations for the abdominal complaint. Twenty-one physicians have attended me, four of whom were "nature-cure" physicians.

I had always inclined toward religious subjects and had felt the desire for a better explanation of the teachings of the Bible. Now my wish has been fulfilled, as Science and Health furnishes me with the answers to all these questions. I have had beautiful results through the application of the truth taught in Christian Science, and I now understand the meaning of the words, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Would that all who suffer in body might recall the words of the Bible, "I am the Lord that healeth thee;" and "The Lord is my strength."

I am deeply grateful to God, who governs all things so wonderfully, for enabling me to discern the truth which was promised to us by Christ Jesus, and by which I have been blessed so abundantly. I will gratefully continue on the way which Mrs. Eddy has shown us in the spiritual understanding of God, good.

Frau Anna Schwaninger, Darmstadt (Hessen), Germany.

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Testimony of Healing

It is with deep thankfulness to God that I send this testimony...

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