The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel

The case of Anneliese Michel is one of the most controversial and tragic possession cases of the twentieth century. Between 1975 and 1976, this young German woman underwent 67 exorcism sessions authorized by the Catholic Church. Her death from malnutrition and dehydration led to the criminal prosecution of her parents and the two priests who performed the rituals. The case raised profound questions about the intersection of mental illness, religious belief, and medical responsibility.

Background

Anneliese Michel was born in 1952 in Leiblfing, Bavaria, to a devoutly Catholic family. As a teenager, she began experiencing what doctors diagnosed as epileptic seizures. She was treated with anticonvulsant medications and was able to continue her education, eventually enrolling at the University of Würzburg to become a teacher.

In 1970, Anneliese experienced what she described as a demonic vision while praying. She began to feel that she was possessed, a belief reinforced when she found herself unable to look at religious images, drink holy water, or pray normally. Doctors adjusted her medications, but her condition continued to deteriorate.

The Decision to Exorcise

By 1973, Anneliese and her family had become convinced that her problems were spiritual rather than medical. They sought permission from the Catholic Church to perform an exorcism. Initially, Church officials refused, recommending continued medical treatment and a more devout religious life.

However, as Anneliese’s behavior became more extreme, including self-harm, eating insects, and violent outbursts, her family renewed their petition. In 1975, Bishop Josef Stangl authorized an exorcism to be performed by Father Arnold Renz and Pastor Ernst Alt.

The Exorcisms

Between September 1975 and July 1976, Father Renz and Pastor Alt performed 67 exorcism sessions on Anneliese. The sessions were conducted in her parents’ home, often lasting several hours. Forty-two of these sessions were audio recorded, providing a disturbing document of the proceedings.

During the exorcisms, Anneliese spoke in voices that identified themselves as various demons and damned souls, including Lucifer, Cain, Judas Iscariot, Nero, and Hitler. She exhibited violent behavior, destroyed religious objects, and injured herself. Her body contorted into painful positions, and she refused food, believing that suffering would help atone for the sins of others.

The recordings capture hours of screaming, growling, and the voices allegedly speaking through Anneliese. They also record the prayers of the priests and the responses they believed they received from the demonic entities.

Physical Deterioration

As the exorcisms continued, Anneliese’s physical condition deteriorated dramatically. She ate almost nothing, believing that her starvation was a form of atonement. She performed hundreds of genuflections daily, causing injuries to her knees. Her weight dropped dangerously low.

Neither her parents nor the priests called for medical intervention. They believed that her suffering was necessary for the exorcism to succeed and that she was willingly participating in a spiritual battle. Anneliese herself reportedly refused medical treatment, seeing her ordeal as a divine calling.

Death and Aftermath

Anneliese Michel died on July 1, 1976. She weighed only 68 pounds at the time of her death. The official cause of death was malnutrition and dehydration resulting from almost a year of semi-starvation.

The case became a national scandal in Germany. Her parents, Anna and Josef Michel, along with Father Renz and Pastor Alt, were charged with negligent homicide. The prosecution argued that they had allowed a mentally ill woman to die by denying her proper medical care.

The Trial

The trial in 1978 drew international attention. The defense argued that Anneliese had been genuinely possessed and that the defendants had acted in accordance with their sincere religious beliefs. They presented the audio recordings as evidence of supernatural phenomena.

The prosecution countered with testimony from psychiatrists who diagnosed Anneliese with temporal lobe epilepsy combined with severe depression and possibly psychosis. They argued that proper medical treatment could have saved her life.

All four defendants were found guilty of negligent homicide and sentenced to six months in prison, suspended to probation, and three years of probation. The court acknowledged their sincere belief but held that they should have sought medical care.

Legacy

The case prompted the German Catholic Church to revise its policies regarding exorcism, requiring consultation with medical and psychiatric professionals before any exorcism is authorized. Similar reforms were adopted by Catholic Churches in other countries.

Anneliese’s grave became a pilgrimage site for those who believe she was genuinely possessed and martyred. Her family successfully petitioned the Church to exhume her body in 1978, reportedly finding it incorrupt, though this claim has not been independently verified.

The case inspired several films, most notably “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” (2005), which dramatized a fictionalized version of the story. These adaptations brought renewed attention to questions about possession, mental illness, and the responsibilities of religious communities to those in their care.

The audio recordings from the exorcisms continue to circulate and are analyzed by both believers, who see them as evidence of demonic activity, and skeptics, who hear only the sounds of a severely mentally ill woman in crisis.

Anneliese Michel’s death remains a cautionary tale about the dangers of prioritizing supernatural explanations over medical care, while also serving for believers as evidence that the battle between good and evil remains real and ongoing.