The Earling Exorcism: America's Most Documented Possession

Okay, here’s the rewritten section, incorporating all the provided text into prose paragraphs, maintaining the headings and non-bullet text exactly as given.

In the summer of 1928, in a Franciscan convent in Earling, Iowa, a German-American woman named Anna Ecklund underwent what would become one of the most documented exorcisms in American history. For 23 days, Father Theophilus Riesinger—a Capuchin priest with decades of exorcism experience—battled what he believed were demons possessing the 46-year-old woman. Witnesses reported levitation, superhuman strength, projectile vomiting of impossible quantities, voices speaking in languages Anna never learned, and knowledge of hidden secrets. When it ended on September 23, 1928, Anna reportedly said: “Praised be Jesus Christ.” The account of the exorcism, published as “Begone Satan!”, became a sensation and shaped how Americans understood demonic possession for generations. It influenced the Church’s training of exorcists and the public’s fascination with the phenomenon. The Earling case remains one of the most thoroughly documented—and most disturbing—possession cases in history.

Anna Ecklund

The Possessed

Who She Was: Anna Ecklund was a German-American woman born Emma Schmidt around 1882 in Germany. She immigrated to America as a child and settled in the Midwest. She was Catholic, devout from childhood, and lived quietly, never married.

Her Early Life: By all accounts, Anna was a normal child. She attended regular church services, had no history of mental illness, and was well-regarded in her community. Nothing suggested what would come, a stark contrast to the terrifying events that unfolded.

The First Signs

Age 14: Around 1896, Anna began showing symptoms. These included an aversion to holy objects, an inability to enter churches, and disturbed behavior during Mass. Something was fundamentally wrong, a disruption to her faith and her sense of self.

The Alleged Curse: According to Church accounts, her father was involved in the occult and allegedly performed a ritual to curse her, possibly with the help of his mistress. This was believed to have opened the door to demonic attachment, a dark and insidious beginning.

The First Exorcism (1912): In 1912, Father Theophilus Riesinger first encountered Anna in Wisconsin. He performed an exorcism which appeared successful, and Anna returned to normal life. For 16 years, she seemed cured.

The Return

1928: The symptoms returned, but they were worse than before. Anna couldn’t eat blessed food, couldn’t enter churches without distress, and voices spoke through her. She was no longer herself, a terrifying regression to a state of profound suffering.

What Happened?: Some accounts suggested she encountered her father again, fueling the belief in the curse. Others claimed the original demons returned, having never fully left her. The possession had deepened, demanding a renewed battle. She needed help again.

Father Theophilus Riesinger

The Exorcist

Background: Father Theophilus Riesinger was a Capuchin priest born in 1868 in Germany. He was ordained in 1899 and had decades of experience in exorcism, having performed many before 1928. He was considered an expert by his order.

His Approach: Father Riesinger followed the Roman Ritual strictly, believing in thorough investigation first. He wasn’t easily convinced of possession but, when convinced, he was relentless. He was known for successful exorcisms.

Why Earling?: Father Riesinger chose Earling because Anna needed privacy, and a convent offered seclusion. Father Joseph Steiger, the local pastor, would assist and document the proceedings.

The Exorcism

The Setting

The Convent: The Earling exorcism took place in a Franciscan convent in Earling, Iowa—a small, isolated community. The nuns agreed to help, and a private room was prepared. The exorcism began on August 17, 1928.

The Participants: Father Theophilus Riesinger (exorcist), Father Joseph Steiger (assistant), several nuns, and approximately 30 people witnessed events over the course.

The First Days

The Beginning: Anna was brought to the convent and placed on a bed, specially reinforced. Nuns were assigned to hold her, and the prayers began.

Immediate Reactions: At the first Latin prayers, Anna reacted violently—screaming, contorting her body, and becoming impossibly strong. Multiple people were needed to restrain her.

The Phenomena

Levitation: Witnesses reported Anna rising from the bed, sometimes several feet into the air, while nuns tried to hold her down. She would land on the wall, clinging like an animal, defying all natural explanation.

The Voices: Multiple voices spoke through Anna, different pitches and tones. Some claimed to be demons, giving their names—Beelzebub, Judas, and others—speaking in Latin, German dialects, and unknown tongues.

The Vomiting: Anna vomited constantly—impossible quantities of material, far more than she had consumed, sometimes foul-smelling and containing foreign objects. The nuns collected bowls full.

Inhuman Knowledge: The entities revealed secrets, knowing things Anna couldn’t know—private sins of those present, hidden information, and the past and present of the priests.

Physical Changes: Anna’s face reportedly distorted, taking on inhuman expressions. Her body swelled, and her features twisted, terrifying the nuns.

Specific Incidents

The Car Accident: During the exorcism, Father Steiger drove somewhere. His car’s brakes failed on a hill, nearly killing him. The demons reportedly mocked him about it, before it happened.

The Attack on Father Riesinger: One night, the entities spoke directly to Father Riesinger, threatening him. His room was disturbed, objects moved, and he continued the exorcism.

The Foul Smell: The room was filled with an unbearable stench, despite constant cleaning—the smell of sulfur and decay—it couldn’t be eliminated until the exorcism ended.

The Demons

Who Claimed to Speak: Beelzebub claimed to be the leader, Judas Iscariot claimed to be present, Anna’s deceased father claiming he cursed her, and Mina, the father’s mistress, also deceased, claiming to be involved. Multiple lesser entities were also present.

What They Said: They had been sent to destroy Anna, that her father had cursed her through incest and abuse, that they would not leave easily, and that they revealed sins of those present, speaking with hatred of God.

The Resolution

September 23, 1928: After 23 days of continuous prayers, the demons finally departed. Anna screamed one final time and then went silent. She opened her eyes.

Her First Words: “Praised be Jesus Christ,” she said clearly and calmly. She was herself again, the nightmare was over, and she had survived.

Her Recovery: Anna regained full health and returned to normal life, living quietly in Iowa and never speaking publicly about the exorcism. She died in 1941.

”Begone Satan!”

The Pamphlet

Publication: Father Theophilus wrote an account, published in German in 1935 and translated to English in 1935. It was titled “Begone Satan!” and became widely distributed.

The Content: The pamphlet detailed the exorcism, with names changed (Anna Ecklund was a pseudonym), described the phenomena witnessed, and presented it as instructional for clergy. It also warned the public.

The Impact: It became a sensation in Catholic circles, widely read in America and Europe, shaped public understanding of possession, influenced later exorcism accounts, and provided a template for possession narratives.

Church Response

Official Position: The Church never officially confirmed or denied the case. It treated it as genuine at the time, and the account was approved for publication. Father Riesinger was not disciplined. The case entered exorcism training materials.

Lasting Influence: The Earling case became a reference point for exorcists learning their ministry, for researchers studying possession, and for the public understanding what possession “looks like.”

The Evidence

What Was Documented

Witnesses: Approximately 30 people witnessed events, including nuns, priests, and assistants. Their accounts were consistent and recorded in “Begone Satan!”

The Phenomena: Levitation, xenoglossy (speaking in unknown languages), knowledge of hidden things, physical changes, and the foul smell were all documented.

The Aftermath: Anna’s complete recovery and her peaceful later life are notable, as is the absence of relapse. The exorcism appeared successful.

Skeptical Perspectives

Possible Explanations: Hysteria or conversion disorder, multiple personality disorder, extreme religious conditioning, and embellishment in retelling have been suggested.

Problems with Skepticism: The phenomena reported go beyond known conditions, multiple witnesses corroborate, physical evidence (levitation) is hard to fake, the knowledge of secrets is difficult to explain, and Anna’s permanent recovery is unusual for mental illness.

Context and Significance

American Exorcism

Before Earling: Exorcism was rare in America, primarily a Catholic practice, mostly private, and with little public awareness.

After Earling: The case brought attention to the practice, “Begone Satan!” educated the public, interest in possession increased, and later cases would reference it. It ultimately led to “The Exorcist” cultural moment.

The Catholic Tradition

What the Church Teaches: The Church teaches that possession is real but rare, that exorcism is a recognized rite requiring authorization by bishops, and that it must be preceded by careful investigation and ruled-out medical and psychological causes.

The Earling Case’s Role: It became a training case study, demonstrating the ritual’s application and showing what genuine possession might look like. It influenced how exorcists approach their ministry.

Visiting Earling

The Convent

Current Status: The original Franciscan convent may still exist, but the building is now private property and not a tourist attraction. The community is small and quiet.

Earling, Iowa: The town is a small rural community with a population around 400 in Shelby County, western Iowa. The exorcism is part of local lore, but not prominently featured.

Visiting: There are no official markers, and the town doesn’t promote the history. It’s a pilgrimage site for some Catholics, and respectful visitors are tolerated. The community values privacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Anna Ecklund actually possessed?

If you accept the witness accounts, the phenomena described go beyond known medical or psychological conditions. Levitation, speaking unknown languages, and knowledge of hidden secrets aren’t explained by mental illness. The Church treated the case as genuine. Skeptics would say the accounts are exaggerated or the phenomena had natural explanations we don’t understand.

What happened to Anna after the exorcism?

She recovered completely and lived a quiet, normal life until 1941. She never spoke publicly about her experience. The absence of relapse is notable—conversion disorders and related conditions typically recur. Her permanent recovery suggests either genuine spiritual resolution or spontaneous remission of whatever afflicted her.

Was “Begone Satan!” accurate?

It was written by Father Riesinger, the exorcist, with information from witnesses. Names were changed to protect privacy. Some details may have been emphasized for instructional purposes. But it remains the primary account, and multiple witnesses corroborated the basic phenomena described.

Did the exorcism influence later cases?

Significantly. “Begone Satan!” became a template for understanding and describing possession. The 1949 case that inspired “The Exorcist” was compared to the Earling case. Modern exorcists study it. The language and imagery in popular culture about possession often traces back to accounts like this one.

Can you visit the site of the exorcism?

The convent building may still exist in Earling, Iowa, but it’s private property. There are no official tours or markers. Some Catholics make pilgrimages to the town. Respectful visits are possible, but the community values privacy, and the site isn’t maintained as a historical attraction.

Legacy

The Power of the Account

The Earling exorcism shows us:

Documentation Matters: This case was recorded while it happened.

Multiple Witnesses Add Credibility: 30 people saw events.

The Ritual Can Work: Anna recovered completely.

Public Interest Is Enduring: We’re still discussing it nearly a century later.

The Woman in the Convent

For 23 days in 1928, something happened in a small Iowa convent that witnesses struggled to explain. A woman levitated. Voices not her own spoke through her. She knew things she couldn’t know. And when the prayers finally prevailed, she was herself again.

---

August 17 to September 23, 1928. A woman levitates. Voices speak in unknown tongues. Secrets are revealed. The smell of sulfur fills the room. And a priest prays for 23 days until finally: “Praised be Jesus Christ.” The Earling exorcism: America’s most documented possession case.

Sources

• Wikipedia search: “The Earling Exorcism: America”
• JSTOR — Religious studies — Peer-reviewed research on possession and exorcism
• Chronicling America — Historic US newspapers (1690–1963)