Michel, Anneliese (1952–1976) Victim of a chilling Demonic Possession and Exorcism. The story was made into a film released in 2005, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, directed by Scott Derrickson and starring Jennifer Carpenter as Emily Rose and Tom Wilkinson as Father Moore, a Catholic priest.
The real Emily Rose was Anneliese Michel, who was born to a Catholic family in Klingenberg am Main in 1952. In 1968, she suddenly began suffering seizures that caused her to be hospitalized, where she was diagnosed with epilepsy. However, she was suffering from Demonic visions, too, and heard strange voices. The problems grew worse, and in 1973 her parents sought an exorcism. Several clergy declined, saying that she did not meet the Catholic Church’s strict definition of possession.
Anneliese continued to deteriorate. Her behavior became violent. She attacked her family, broke objects, bit people, and refused to eat food because the Demons would not allow it. She started eating insects and pieces of coal and drinking her own urine.
The church relented in 1975 and sent two priests, Father Arnold Renz and Father Ernst Alt, to perform the exorcisms. The exorcisms went on for 11 months, during which her medication was stopped. Anneliese worsened. She became severely emaciated and suffered physical injury from the hundreds of genufl ections she was required to perform in the exorcisms.
Anneliese died of starvation and dehydration on July 1, 1976. Her weight was 68 pounds. Fathers Alt and Renz were charged with negligent homicide. Their trial began on March 30, 1978. They were found guilty of manslaughter and given six-month suspended sentences.
In the film, Rose dies after Father Moore performs an exorcism on her, and Moore is charged with negligent homicide. Prosecutor Ethan Thomas (Campbell Scott) bases his case on the argument that Rose’s affl iction had a medical explanation, and Moore killed the girl by preventing her from taking her medication. The defense counsel, Erin Bruner (Laura Linney), claimed that Rose’s condition and death were due to supernatural causes. The trial becomes a stage for the debate of religion, philosophy, and supernatural beliefs. The principals suffer events of an apparent supernatural nature during the course of their arguments.
Whether or not Rose actually suffered from Demonic possession is never declared in the film, but is left up to the viewer.
SEE ALSO:
FURTHER READING:
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- Goodman, Felicitas D. The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel. Seavey, Ark.: Resource Publications, 2005.
- Lawrence LeBlanc. Anneliese Michel : A true story of a case of demonic possession Germany-1976
- Taylor, Troy. The Devil Came to St. Louis: The True Story of the 1949 Exorcism. Alton, Ill.: Whitechapel Productions Press, 2006.
- John M. Duffey. Lessons Learned: The Anneliese Michel Exorcism
SOURCE:
The Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits – Written by Rosemary Ellen Guiley – September 1, 2007