The Possession of Anneliese Michel

The case of Anneliese Michel is one of the most tragic and controversial possession cases in modern history. A young German woman underwent sixty-seven exorcism sessions over ten months before dying of malnutrition and dehydration in 1976. Her death led to criminal trials and raised profound questions about the boundary between religious practice and medical care.

Background

Anneliese Michel was born in 1952 in Bavaria to a devoutly Catholic family. She began suffering from epileptic seizures at sixteen and was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy. Despite medication, her condition worsened, and she began experiencing what she described as demonic visions.

By 1973, Anneliese had become convinced she was possessed. She reported seeing demonic faces, hearing voices commanding her to do evil, and experiencing an aversion to religious objects. Her family shared her conviction and sought help from the Church.

The Exorcisms

After initial rejections, Bishop Josef Stangl authorized exorcism in 1975. Father Arnold Renz and Father Ernst Alt performed the rites, conducting sessions once or twice weekly for nearly a year. Audio recordings were made of many sessions.

During the exorcisms, Anneliese claimed to be possessed by multiple demons, including Lucifer, Cain, Judas, and Hitler. She refused to eat, believing the demons would not allow it. She performed up to 600 genuflections daily, resulting in ruptured knee ligaments.

The Death

Anneliese died on July 1, 1976, weighing only 68 pounds. The autopsy revealed death by starvation and dehydration. She had not eaten solid food for nearly a year before her death.

The state prosecuted Anneliese’s parents and the two priests for negligent homicide. All four were convicted and sentenced to six months in prison, suspended. The court also required the priests to pay the costs of the proceedings.

Legacy

The Michel case prompted the Catholic Church to revise its guidelines for exorcism, requiring medical and psychological evaluation before any exorcism could proceed. It also inspired multiple films, including “The Exorcism of Emily Rose.”

Anneliese has become a controversial figure. Some Catholics view her as a martyr who willingly suffered to expiate the sins of others. Others see her case as a tragic failure to provide proper medical care to a mentally ill young woman. Her grave has become a pilgrimage site.