The Possession of Clara Germana Cele

The possession of Clara Germana Cele is one of the most dramatic and well-witnessed cases of alleged demonic possession in the early 20th century. The events at a mission school in South Africa included phenomena witnessed by over 170 people.

Background

Clara Germana Cele was a 16-year-old girl attending St. Michael’s Mission in Umzinto, South Africa, in 1906. She was described as a devout Christian orphan who had been raised at the mission since childhood.

According to accounts, the possession began after Clara allegedly made a pact with Satan, confessing to a priest that she had made such a deal. Shortly after this confession, the strange phenomena began.

The Phenomena

Witnesses at the mission, including nuns, priests, and students, reported remarkable events:

Levitation

Multiple witnesses reported seeing Clara rise into the air, sometimes as high as five feet, while in a rigid horizontal position. On one occasion, she reportedly floated above her bed in front of a group of nuns. The levitation episodes would often end abruptly, with Clara falling to the ground.

Superhuman Abilities

• She displayed enormous strength, able to push away multiple adults attempting to restrain her
• She could bend metal and break ropes used to bind her
• Her body reportedly became so rigid that it could not be bent

Clairvoyance

Clara allegedly knew secret sins of people around her, revealing hidden information about priests, nuns, and visitors that she could not have known naturally. She would shout out people’s private thoughts and past transgressions.

Language Phenomena

Despite having no education in languages, Clara reportedly:

• Spoke fluent Polish, German, and French
• Understood and responded to questions in Latin
• Conversed in several African languages she had never been exposed to

Physical Manifestations

• Her skin reportedly became burning hot during episodes
• She could not tolerate holy water or blessed objects
• She would hiss, growl, and produce sounds “not of human origin”
• Her face contorted into terrifying expressions
• A horrible stench reportedly emanated from her during possession episodes

Aversion to Sacred Objects

Any attempt to bring crosses, holy water, or blessed items near Clara resulted in violent reactions. Witnesses reported that she could detect blessed objects even when concealed.

The Exorcism

Two days of exorcism rituals were performed by Reverend Mansueti, the director of the mission, and Reverend Erasmus. During the exorcism:

• Clara reportedly tried to strangle the priests with their stoles
• She tore a Bible from a priest’s hands with supernatural force
• The entire congregation reportedly heard demonic voices coming from her

The exorcism was deemed successful on the second day. Clara reportedly returned to normal immediately and had no memory of the events during her possession. She went on to live a normal life.

Documentation

The case was documented extensively by the mission staff and submitted to the Catholic Church. The number of witnesses, their credibility as mission personnel, and the consistency of their accounts have made this case a significant reference in possession literature.

Significance

The Clara Germana Cele case is notable for:

• The large number of credible witnesses (over 170 people)
• The variety and dramatic nature of phenomena reported
• The successful resolution through exorcism
• Its documentation by religious authorities
• Being one of the few well-documented possession cases from Africa

The case remains one of the most cited examples of alleged demonic possession in paranormal and religious literature.