Table of contents

(Selected articles from the magazine)

News from the Circle of Friends

Bruno Groening in the "Land of unlimited opportunity"

Publisher

At the Frankfurt Book Fair

Medical Scientific Group

Healing drug addiction of many years' duration

Healing decades-long psoriasis

Bruno Groening back then

I only want to help and heal"

Bruno Groening in the "Land of unlimited opportunity"

Lectures in the USA and Canada, autumn 2006

It was Bruno Groening's greatest joy to hear people say they were pain-free and healthy once again. Over the past few years people here and there in the USA and Canada have had this experience.

As a result, interest in Bruno Groening has also grown considerably in the "Land of unlimited opportunity", and many people have expressed interest in learning more about spiritual healing through his teaching.

Information - not advertising!

"Bruno Groening never wanted to advertise. What he wanted was to inform people. Thus he once said to his friends, "I have come for all people, regardless of country or religion. We are all equal", says Grete Häusler, Director of the Bruno Groening Circle of Friends and [Bruno Groening] eyewitness. From 1950 to 1959 she met with Bruno Groening many times and was able to get to know him in this way.

Kinschash Kambui (left) announced the upcoming lecture during an interview on her Minneapolis radio show. Here she is shown with friends after the broadcast.

She acquired a deep insight into his life work and how he talked about it. Grete Häusler goes on, "He said we are all children of God and that every individual is worthy of receiving help and healing. In the course of the establishment of the communities in North America it has become clear that even here, where people have so many spiritual paths to choose from, there is a great demand for his teaching. As a result, we recognize the need to help these people and guide them onto the path that Bruno Groening opened up for us - the path to God".

Press and publicity work

Just as in previous years, information lectures were prepared for North America again this autumn. The coordination of the large number of lectures represented a special challenge for the organizers and helpers involved in press and publicity work Lecture tours by a doctor accompanied by at least one experienced Bruno Groening friend were organized for certain cities throughout the USA and Canada. Planning was initiated for the tours in April, and many press and publicity helpers were available to help the lecture teams.

 A broad spectrum of possibilities

It became clear during the preparatory stage that access to the media in these countries is relatively easy to arrange. There is a great openness toward spiritual healing. The spectrum of possibility encompassed radio shows, calendars of events, and announcements in regional newspapers. The people who made their premises available free of charge often added the lectures to their own events' calendars. The Americans showed a special readiness to help even during the preparatory stage.

Numerous telephone calls and the mailing of announcements played a special role. It was in this way that most of the lecture rooms were found and most of the newspaper work completed.

The "foreigners" living in America, too, were not forgotten. People of many nationalities were informed in their mother tongue of the upcoming events.

The press and publicity helpers, under the leadership of Heike Beck, made it their goal to fill the lecture halls. At the halfway point in mid-October there had been around 150 items published in newspapers, as well as several radio interviews.

After this year's series of events in the USA and Canada, Grete Häusler said, "All of the lectures take place in the hope that the people in these countries, too, will be able to experience the teaching of Bruno Groening and spiritual healing".(heb)

At the Frankfurt Book Fair

Grete Häusler, GmbH.  -  Publishing House extends its contacts

Grete Häusler, GmbH.  -  Publishing House participated again this year in the Frankfurt Book Fair, led by Rosemarie Prömpers and her helpers.

The goal of the Publishing House was to sell its own list of publications to bookstores and on the Internet.

Intensive conversations were held at the stand with people interested in the wide spectrum of books, films and recorded music. The offerings mirror the many-sidedness of the Bruno Groening Circle of Friends itself.

At the stand of Grete Häusler, GmbH.  -  Publishing House at the Frankfurt Book Fair. At the centre is Rosemarie Prömpers, Director of the Publishing House

Some of the Circle of Friends' own choral and instrumental music compositions were played, providing the stand with a pleasant acoustic atmosphere, and the trailer of the documentary film "The Bruno Groening Phenomenon" - comprising two excerpts from the film - was also shown to those interested.

On the history of the "Publishing House"

This year the Publishing House will celebrate its twentieth anniversary. It was founded to meet the demand for more information on the teaching of Bruno Groening and healings that have occurred. The initial publication was a book that was subsequently translated and published in many other languages.

A fair visitor from Hungary was happy to find a brochure on the Medical Scientific Group (MWF) in her native tongue at the stand.

All helpers at the Publishing House work on a voluntary basis and without remuneration. This spring a change was made that gave the undertaking an entirely new direction. All of the book tables in the Bruno Groening Circle of Friends are now stocked with books that are given away on a purely donation basis.

The Publishing House now has the task of providing information on the teaching of Bruno Groening to the public outside the Circle of Friends in the form of literature, DVDs, videos, music and CDs. This takes place through traditional bookstores, the Internet, and the Publisher's own Internetshop. Today receiving orders from the world over at its office in Hanau, the Publishing House has made a name for itself in the publishing world and is becoming increasingly well received.

In addition to conversing with visitors at their stand, Rosemarie Prömpers and her team visited their fellow booksellers at other stands. They have had friendly relations with some of them now for many years.

Many important doors have been opened for the Publishing House through personal contacts made at the fair. Thus, ways have been discovered to make the Publishing House book list better known in German-speaking countries. In the future it will be easier to order the Publisher's products from traditional bookstores and over the Internet. Finally, new ways of selling abroad have been opened up. (art)

Healing drug addiction of many years' duration

Success Report of Andrea Matlschweiger, 42

A fatal invitation

"Don't you want to have a smoke, too?" It was an invitation with disastrous consequences for my entire later life. I had just turned 17, was very shy and had no self confidence at all when my friend - later my husband - and I were invited by an acquaintance to have a joint (hashish cigarette).

Eight years after her healing, Andrea Matlschweiger radiates her zest for life.

This kind invitation from so-called "friends" was followed by more of the same, which we happily accepted. The trap was set, und we walked right into it like so many before and after us. Just a short time later we began to buy hashish ourselves, which we used only on weekends in the beginning.

The addiction insidiously takes over

After about two or three months we were already smoking every evening, and after around six months also during the day. Even when I went to work I never left the house "sober". It wasn't so easy to know how many grams I was using daily because I seldom smoked alone. I assume it was about three grams, probably more. The consumption of hashish became a permanent part of our lives. I was able to conceal the outer signs of drug consumption quite well by using eye drops to reduce the redness.

The range of drugs expands

The spectrum of stupefying substances is gigantic, and I tried out all the possibilities. I was soon taking whatever I could get my hands on. There were LSD trips, speed, cocaine, hallucinogenic mushrooms, pills (Lexotanil, Rohypnol, etc.), alcohol - sometimes I would take a few pills and at the same time drink tequila and beer until I didn't feel anything any more - and naturally heroin!

When I think back, I wasn't sober a single day. It all happened so insidiously - after all, all of our friends were people who also took drugs. Back then I thought I still had it under control, but that was in no way the case. When I was 29, my husband died in an auto accident.

I lost my inner stability

From then on things really went downhill. I lost my grip on life and was not capable of holding a regular job. To deaden the emotional pain and to forget, I began to shoot heroin as soon as I got up on the morning. The six years that followed were the worst of my life. I used from one to two grams of heroin daily, depending on the quality, and accepted whatever was available at the moment

Without heroin I wasn't able to do anything at all, couldn't eat or drink. Not even a swallow of water would stay in my stomach, and then there was vomiting, diarrhoea, shivering, cramps, and coldness and pain in my entire body. It was so bad that I just wanted to die. Then, when I took heroin again, all the pain would disappear, I could eat and drink again and I would feel good.

In addition there was the fear of the police, because it wouldn't work unless we sold drugs to one another.

I sold all my valuables and owed the bank a lot of money. Although 5' 6" tall, I weighed only 99 pounds and was a physical wreck.

Sometimes I just wanted to die

To spare my parents the pain caused by my appearance, I broke off contact with my family. At that time I had no contact with other "normal" people. Nevertheless, my parents and my family never gave up. My mother told me later that she had always prayed for me over the years. My sister and her husband often tried to help me stop, but I never succeeded.

With the aid of a doctor my mother knew I went four times to a hospital for withdrawal, where I was given 10 codicol, 120 mg every 12 hours to help the physical withdrawal.

A close relationship has developed between Andrea Matlschweiger and her niece and nephew.

In spite of the medication I had pain all over my body and sleep was impossible. I wasn't even able to get through the physical withdrawal one single time. Therefore I had a friend bring heroin to me at the hospital. And so I went home again every time without any real improvement. Often I didn't have any more money for heroin, so I ate poppy pods and all kinds of things to stick out the physical withdrawal. At this time I often just wanted to die and simply didn't know any way out.

A flyer shows the way

When I came to the Bruno Groening Circle of Friends I had 18 years of drug addiction behind me, more than seven of them firmly held in the grip of heroin. At a doctor's office I found a flyer with an invitation to a Physicians' Lecture. My brother accompanied me, and even then I was in no way sober.

Afterward, when driving home with my brother, I thought, "Now you're going to stop smoking hashish! " My brother didn't believe me, as I had already said that all too often. At that moment I wasn't thinking of hard drugs such as heroin at all. But from that evening on - it was October 22, 1998 - until today, in June of 2006, I have never again used heroin, cocaine, speed, etc. Astonishingly, I had no withdrawal symptoms of any kind. The yearning for drugs was simply gone. After about two months I did start with hashish again for two weeks, but then that, too, was over for good.

Since November of the same year I have been regularly attending the community hours and following the teaching of Bruno Groening. I have great joy in life again and have very good contact with my family, too, once again. Every morning I feel happy to still be alive. My weight has become normal and I am able to hold a job again. Of the 20 "friends" I had during my period of drug addiction only five are still living. Therefore I can really appreciate that I am able to live a normal, healthy life.

Healing decades-long psoriasis

Success Report of Maria van Rüschen, 69, Cloppenburg Community, Germany

Has it ever happened to you in the winter time? You haven't properly applied hand lotion and your skin starts to tighten, becoming rough and even splits open here and there. It is unpleasant and painful. You decide to be more careful from now on. For me that was an everyday occurrence - and for over 30 years on my entire body. There was never a day when I couldn't feel and see it. The doctor diagnosed it as a pronounced psoriasis.

Maria Rüschen, 69, Cloppenburg Community, Germany

Skin like parchment

The psoriasis spread over my entire body up to my scalp. I always had bloody places on my body so that, when I undressed my skin tore open even more and my clothing, nightgown and my entire bed were bloody every day. I wasn't able to tolerate wool or synthetics directly on my skin. My skin had become like parchment due to the cortisone treatments and was very sensitive. It really hurt to wash or shower, so I eventually showered less and less.

Short-term relief, but no healing

I underwent medical treatment for over 20 years. Medication (Diclofenac, MTX and, as salve, Topisolon) and other therapy would provide only a short-term relief, but no healing. I had to apply the cortisone salve on my body daily. In addition I was given therapeutic salt and sulphur baths and light therapy. This also didn't help me. Additionally, I underwent three cures at health spas. They would provide relief for around two to three months, but were unsuccessful in the long run. The last cure was of no use at all.

A life of shame

My life had become a great torment for me because I was always afraid, wondering, "What are people thinking? " People would often ask me, "What is it that you have? Is it psoriasis?" I always kept my body hidden under clothing and wore thick makeup. I kept my hands hidden as much as possible. I didn't let anyone see it, but I was inwardly ashamed. It was also very unpleasant for my family and other people, since my hands were often torn open and bloody. When I got undressed, it looked as if it had snowed around me.

Sometimes you have to "fight"

I actually got introduced to the teaching of Bruno Groening in June, 2005 because of a different illness. Since then I have attended the community hours regularly and absorb the Heilstrom* every day. In March, 2006, when I was in hospital once again, additional medication was recommended which the dermatologist prescribed for me. I didn't bother to pick it up because I thought it wouldn't help anyway. It was only at the beginning of May, 2006 that I realized I could do something myself to accelerate the healing process. I gradually became acquainted with the teaching. Deep within me the belief arose that the healing was going to come. At the time I was really desperate about the severe effects of the psoriasis. My husband and I wanted to go out. As I stood before the mirror, he looked at me and said, "You've got to do something again" and he wanted me to go to the doctor again. That was the last straw, and I protested both inwardly and outwardly against the fact that my husband was concerning himself so intensively with this problem. I implored him urgently to support me in the healing process. From that moment on nothing more was said about the subject of psoriasis. That evening I asked Bruno Groening for the healing with all my heart. During the next four weeks it all healed up. First the itching stopped. Today I can wear short sleeves again and unreservedly shake hands with people again.

"I only want to help and heal"

The life of Bruno Groening for children, youth and adults

Excerpts from the book of the same name by Thomas Eich, part 3

During the events at the Traberhof in 1949 the Bavarian authorities were very well-disposed towards Bruno Groening, and the Bavarian Interior Ministry even referred to his activity as "an independent activity of love". But in 1950 this positive attitude changed. In September of 1950 he was also prohibited from healing in Bavaria. Just as in Herford in 1949 they accused him of violating the Healing Practitioners' Law. Preparations were even made for a trial against him.

The first big trial

It finally happened in 1952. Bruno Groening was put on trial. It must have been very humiliating for him. He had always done everything to help those in misery, had never thought of himself and had never asked for money from the sick. And now he was being accused of doing just that. He was being taken to court because he had helped people.

Bruno Groening speaking at a community hour

In March, 1952, the judgement was announced and Bruno Groening was acquitted. But the public prosecutor that had pressed charges against him didn't want to accept the judgement and filed an appeal. In July there was another trial, and Bruno Groening was again acquitted. That was good, but the justification given was not. The judge said that Bruno Groening had indeed violated the Healing Practitioners' Law, but hadn't been aware of it and hadn't done it knowingly. That was why he had acquitted him. But from now on, he said, Bruno Groening would be aware of the law and shouldn't do it again. Thus the acquittal was the same as a new prohibition to heal for Bruno Groening.

The Groening Association

After the trial, Bruno Groening tirelessly sought ways to help the sick and to fulfil his mission without coming into conflict with the law. Therefore, he founded the Groening Association in 1953. It was intended to unite the communities that had been forming since the beginning of the fifties. Bruno Groening had founded the communities in order to give his friends the opportunity to gather together in his name and to learn his teaching.

Under the auspices of the Association, Bruno Groening would only appear as a speaker and hold lectures - protected by the "freedom of speech"assured by the constitution. In this way further conflict with the Healing Practitioners' Law should be prevented.

A number of well known and distinguished personalities were on the Board of the Groening Association, such as, for example, Count Zeppelin, Count Matuschka und Anny, Baroness Ebner von Eschenbach. Bruno Groening was made President for life.

The big trial

Despite all his efforts, Bruno Groening was charged once again in March, 1955. He was accused again of violating the Healing Practitioners' Law.

Butt his time there was a second charge. Bruno Groening was charged with involuntary manslaughter. The public prosecutor maintained that Bruno Groening had promised healing in 1949 to the 17-year-old Ruth Kuhfuss and had kept her from visiting a doctor. Since the young woman thereafter didn't want to be treated by doctors any longer, she died in late 1950.

A serious accusation

That was naturally a serious accusation. Was Bruno Groening really to blame for the girl's death? The newspapers came out with big headlines and the public became excited. For many, Groening was guilty from the beginning.

"When someone calls me, I will be there for him, and I will continue to help"

A few days after being charged, he wrote a letter to his friends. In it he responded to the accusations.

"I am supposed to have promised healing to a 17-year-old tubercular girl and then to have prevented her from going to a sanatorium and a doctor. I am supposed to be to blame for the death of this young human being (. . .)

Of course things were different than the way they have been represented! I don't have to comment on this to my friends. They know that I make no "promises of healing" and that I never advise against medical treatment.

In 1952 I was acquitted. Isn't it strange that the "Kuhfuss case", which had already arisen at the end of 1949, was not brought into play against me in the trial of 1951-52, even though all the documentation was already available then?

Isn't it striking that the investigations for a retrial against me began at exactly the same time that it became publicly known that the "Groening Association" had been founded in Murnau on November 22, 1953?

The Kuhfuss case

The events surrounding Ruth Kuhfuss had taken place during the same period that Otto Meckelburg was Bruno Groening's "manager", that is, in November, 1949 in Bad Wiessee and in May, 1950 in Säckingen.

At the time, Ruth Kuhfuss suffered from double-sided tuberculosis of the lungs. The doctors had tried everything, but weren't able to help, and after many painful treatments the girl also didn't want anything more to do with the doctors. Her father, a savings bank official, drove her to a lecture of Bruno Groening at Bad Wiessee on November 5, 1949.

When Bruno Groening saw the girl for the first time, he knew immediately that she could no longer be helped. He also said that to a doctor who was present. But Meckelburg pressed him intensely, demanding he should heal the girl. A wily businessman, he hoped to have a good source of income in the father and convinced him that Bruno Groening could heal his daughter.

The main charge now being made against Bruno Groening was that he had forbidden Ruth Kuhfuss treatment by a doctor. Contrary to this was the fact, however, that he himself - and even the prosecution witnesses confirmed this - had sent the girl to the doctor again during their first meeting.

Even in a radio broadcast in the autumn of 1949 he had called on people to "keep having medical examinations until the end". He had always advised seekers of help to place trust in their doctors.

Ruth Kuhfuss already had many painful, but unsuccessful therapies behind her. She refused to submit herself to further treatment. On December 30, 1950 she died from the effects of the disease.

The first trial

The preparations for the trial lasted over two years. Bruno Groening's defence was made very difficult. He couldn't understand why they would attack him with such spite and malice. He once said during a hearing:

"Should it be an offence when I show people how to become well again and how to find the right way to do it? Thousands who are allegedly incurably sick could become well if only they knew how. I do nothing more than to make the people aware that it all depends on their will whether they get well again, and I show them how to bring about order within themselves. It has been proven thousands of times that people who followed my advice have become happy with their lives again. (...) I harm no one with my activity; on the contrary, I help everywhere where help has been denied.

The trial took place at the end of July, 1957. Three days later the judge gave his verdict: acquittal on the charge of involuntary manslaughter and a fine of 2,000 DM for violation of the Healing Practitioner Law.

At first glance the verdict seemed very positive. There was acquittal on the most important point, and the fine of 2,000 DM could also have been worse. But the judgement was unacceptable to Bruno Groening. It was equivalent to a final prohibition of his activity. However, because of an error by his lawyer, it was not Bruno Groening who filed an appeal against the judgement, but the prosecutor's office. The prosecutor made a motion that the entire trial be held again.

The second trial was held in mid-January, 1958.

"His word banishes illness"

During these arguments and disputes Bruno Groening's activity continued. Thus, Dr. Horst Mann reported the following in a series of articles in 1959 in the magazine, "Das neue Blatt" under the title, "His word banishes illness":

"The next morning I drove from Hameln to Springe, the little town on the Deister. There, too, a Bruno Groening community had arisen as a result of the healing of a number of people. And - just as in I had experienced before in various places in Schleswig-Holstein, as well as in Augsburg, Hameln, Vienna, Plochingen and other cities - there, too, people stood up and told me of their illnesses. They told me the names of the doctors who had treated them. They told of their recovery thanks to Groening. And they were always ready to raise their hand and repeat their statements under oath.

'Both of my legs were already dislocated at the hip joint when I was a baby' said the 50-year-old Julie Prohnert from Hannover. Later I was able to walk only with crutches. The doctor was only able to mitigate my suffering. When I heard a lecture by Mr.Groening, I felt a strong reaction. My back, which was already completely bent, became straight again. I was able to walk again. I have never had any relapses. . . "

'I had rheumatism of the joints and was continually tormented by rashes and abscesses. Mr. Groening freed me from that,' said Wilhelm Gabbert of Hameln.

'I was only able to endure my biliary tract ailment through morphine', reports Kurt Severit from Evestorf. 'I thank Bruno Groening for liberating me from this ailment'.

'I had elevated sugar,' reports Robert Thies from Springe. 'But what was more threatening was a heart muscle weakness. Neither of the ailments troubles me any more. I thank Mr.Groening for that.'

This list could be continued. People of all ages reported to me - men, women and children. Many illnesses were enumerated - from headaches, neuritis and ailments of the sciatic nerve, kidneys and gall bladder to heart disturbances and paralytic symptoms.

But there was still something else that profoundly moved me. They all freely reported in front of the audience that they had experienced an inner transformation through Groening. The race for success and the egoistic attitude had given way to an inner peace, composure and a community-oriented way of thinking."

Continuation of the trial

In January 1958 another trial was held in Munich. This time the opposition witnesses appeared much more confident than in the first trial. It seemed that they had reached an agreement on the point,"forbidding treatment by a doctor" in the Kuhfuss case.

Bruno Groening in the dock

Thus the verdict this time was eight months imprisonment for involuntary manslaughter and a 5,000 DM fine for violation of the Healing Practitioners' Law. The sentence was suspended, that is, Bruno Groening didn't have to go to prison, but would instead be allowed to "prove himself" for several years. If during that time he did nothing wrong the punishment would be considered complete. But it didn't come to that. Bruno Groening couldn't accept the judgement and his lawyer filed an appeal. A new trial had to be held.

Anny, Baroness Ebner von Eschenbach, who had witnessed the trial of July, 1957 as well as that of January, 1958, called the judgement "a disgrace for Germany".

Bruno Groening was very disappointed and outraged. He bitterly complained that he was being punished for doing good. It also pained him that during the entire trial no one had shown any serious interest about how a healing comes about - not even his own lawyers. If they had clarified this question they would have realized that his activity had nothing to do with the Healing Practitioners' Law. The trial would have been invalid. But that didn't interest anyone at the court. They had a preconceived idea of Groening and were not ready to deviate from it.

The date for the appeal was set for January 22, 1959. But in the meantime something tragic had occurred in Bruno Groening's life.

Death and a new beginning

In November, 1958 Bruno Groening drove to Paris with his second wife Josette, a Frenchwoman whom he had married in 1955. There he was examined by a physician friend, Dr. Pierre Grobon. The analysis of several x-rays revealed that he had stomach cancer at an advanced stage. Dr. Grobon wanted to operate immediately, but Bruno Groening refused.

He drove back to Germany because he still had something important to prepare for the communities. Then he drove back to Paris.

His path ended in Paris

Dr. Grobon had meanwhile informed the distinguished cancer specialist, Dr. Bellanger. Bruno Groening was operated on in his clinic in the Rue Henner on December 8. The result was alarming for the doctors. It was even worse than the x-rays had suggested. Nothing more could be done, and the wound was immediately closed again.

To the astonishment of the doctors, Bruno Groening recovered very quickly and drove back to Germany.

On December 26, he called some of his closest friends together and held a lecture. None of them knew how badly off he was. He didn't show any of his feelings.

In mid-January, 1959 he met for three days with the two leaders of the new Association and determined how his activity should be expanded. Neither of them suspected that it was to be their last meeting with him.

On January 21 he flew to Paris again and was operated on once again on the 22nd. At 9:00 in the morning - at the same time that the appeal trial began in Munich - Bruno Groening lay on the operating table in Paris. He had to go through what he had spared countless others. He could not and was not permitted to help himself.

In the days after the operation Bruno Groening got up two more times and sat in a chair. But on January 25 he fell into a coma and the next day, on January 26, 1959 at 1:46 p.m., Bruno Groening died in the Clinique Henner in Paris.

His path ended in Paris

Dr. Grobon had meanwhile informed the distinguished cancer specialist, Dr. Bellanger. Bruno Groening was operated on in his clinic in the Rue Henner on December 8. The result was alarming for the doctors. It was even worse than the x-rays had suggested. Nothing more could be done, and the wound was immediately closed again.

To the astonishment of the doctors, Bruno Groening recovered very quickly and drove back to Germany.

On December 26, he called some of his closest friends together and held a lecture. None of them knew how badly off he was. He didn't show any of his feelings.

In mid-January, 1959 he met for three days with the two leaders of the new Association and determined how his activity should be expanded. Neither of them suspected that it was to be their last meeting with him.

On January 21 he flew to Paris again and was operated on once again on the 22nd. At 9:00 in the morning - at the same time that the appeal trial began in Munich - Bruno Groening lay on the operating table in Paris. He had to go through what he had spared countless others. He could not and was not permitted to help himself.

In the days after the operation Bruno Groening got up two more times and sat in a chair. But on January 25 he fell into a coma and the next day, on January 26, 1959 at 1:46 p.m., Bruno Groening died in the Clinique Henner in Paris.

Burned up inside

The doctors declared cancer as the cause of death. However, after the second operation Dr. Bellanger had also said:

"The destruction in Bruno's body is terrible; it is a total inner combustion. It is a mystery to me how he was able to live so long and without suffering terrible pain."

It had happened just as Bruno Groening predicted it would:

"If they forbid my activity I will burn up inwardly".

The healing prohibition that kept haunting him, the never-ending trial, the continual maliciousness and spitefulness of former helpers and the narrow-mindedness of his own friends - all that had contributed to the death in Paris of the man who had freed countless people of their pain and suffering and had brought healing to thousands and thousands of help-seekers. Alone and in silence - no friend knew about it - he had carried out all human suffering. But even in dying Bruno Groening showed greatness. Thus, Dr. Bellanger wrote in a letter in December, 1974:

"Bruno Groening was a man with heart, a valuable human being who held his own, and his dignity in the face of suffering and death gives rise to admiration even today". Bruno Groening's body was cremated in a crematorium in Paris and the urn was buried in the cemetery in Dillenburg.

The trial was declared completed and a final verdict was never announced. Bruno Groening's lawyer had expected the judgement of January, 1958 to be nullified at the trial of January 22.

A thorny path

Why did all that have to happen in that way? Why did Bruno Groening's path have to end like that? Why couldn't he help himself? In the lecture before his closest friends on December 26, 1958 - a month before he died - he said:

"I have no rosy path to tread; instead I have only one path to tread - a thorny one. And the path is so blocked, so obstructed! I have to free the way. So I free the way. Then, no sooner have I freed it than it is blocked once again".

In order to free the way once and for all so that all people could have the connection to God again and so that everyone could become well again and live happily again, Bruno Groening also had to complete the last stage of his "thorny path". It had to be that way; otherwise it wouldn't have been possible to help people.

It was the last stage of a life that hadn't been easy. It had been a life completely devoted to service to God and service to suffering mankind, a life that had demanded the utmost from him in love and service. He once rightly said:

"The best day of my life on earth will be when I am permitted to return home to the glory of God".

When the news spread that Bruno Groening had died, his friends dispersed very rapidly. Only a few remained, only a handful of the faithful. But they experienced something that was perhaps even more wonderful than what had happened during Bruno Groening's lifetime: the healings continued on. His prediction came true:

"Everyone has to die - I, too. They will put my body into the ground, but I won't be dead. Whenever anyone calls me, I will be there and will continue to help. But then everyone will experience help and healing on his own". (the)