The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund

The case of Anna Ecklund (a pseudonym) represents one of the most detailed and documented exorcism cases in American Catholic history. Over a period spanning from 1912 to 1928, Ecklund underwent multiple exorcisms, with the final and most dramatic taking place in Earling, Iowa. The case was documented by Father Carl Vogl, who published an account in German that was later translated into English as “Begone Satan!”

Background

Anna Ecklund was born in the American Midwest around 1882. According to accounts, she was a devout Catholic child who began experiencing unusual symptoms around age 14. She developed an intense aversion to sacred objects, reacted violently to blessed food, and could not enter a church without convulsing.

Her family suspected that curses had been placed on her by her father and his mistress, who were allegedly involved in witchcraft. This belief—whether accurate or a family interpretation—colored the subsequent handling of her case.

First Exorcisms

In 1912, Father Theophilus Riesinger, a Capuchin priest with experience in exorcism, performed a ritual that apparently freed Anna temporarily. She was able to return to normal life and religious practice.

However, in 1928, the symptoms returned with greater intensity. Anna was no longer able to function normally. She was brought to Father Riesinger for treatment.

The Earling Exorcism

Father Riesinger arranged for the exorcism to take place at a Franciscan convent in Earling, Iowa, where the nuns could provide care and the setting would be removed from public attention.

The exorcism began on August 17, 1928, and continued for 23 days. During this period, Anna reportedly displayed phenomena that convinced witnesses of supernatural intervention.

According to Father Vogl’s account, Anna exhibited superhuman strength, required several nuns to hold her down, and would become physically contorted. She allegedly levitated off the bed on multiple occasions. Her body swelled to enormous proportions, and she vomited quantities of material that seemed impossible given her lack of food intake.

Most dramatically, Anna spoke in voices not her own, claiming to be various demons including Beelzebub, Judas Iscariot, and the spirits of her father and his mistress. The voices spoke in languages Anna did not know and revealed information she could not have learned naturally.

Resolution

After 23 days of continuous ritual, the demons were reportedly expelled. Anna recovered fully and lived the remainder of her life without recurrence. She reportedly died in 1941, having maintained her religious practice and mental stability.

The Published Account

Father Vogl’s pamphlet “Begone Satan!” was published in 1935 and became one of the most widely circulated accounts of a Catholic exorcism. It influenced public perception of possession and exorcism for decades.

The account was intended to serve as evidence for the reality of demonic possession and the power of the Church’s ritual. It included testimony from multiple witnesses, including the priests involved and nuns who observed the proceedings.

Skeptical Analysis

Skeptics have questioned the account on several grounds. The documentation comes entirely from believers who expected to witness possession. Anna’s symptoms are consistent with various psychological conditions. The most dramatic phenomena—levitation, impossible vomiting—come from accounts that cannot be verified.

The belief that Anna’s condition was caused by curses from her father and his mistress suggests a family dynamic that might explain psychological disturbance without requiring supernatural explanation.

Assessment

The Anna Ecklund case remains significant in the history of American exorcism. The detailed documentation, the lengthy ritual, and the apparent successful resolution made it a reference point for Catholic exorcists and a challenge for skeptics.

Whether Anna was possessed by demons or suffering from a psychological condition that responded to religious ritual, her case demonstrates the power of belief—and the continued practice of exorcism in twentieth-century America.