Anneliese Michel

Bishop

Michel's gravesite, which became a place of pilgrimage.

Anneliese Michel (21 September 1952 – 1 July 1976) was a German woman who underwent Catholic exorcism rites during the year before her death. She died from malnutrition and dehydration after being subjected to 67 exorcism sessions over ten months, under the supervision of two Roman Catholic priests. Michel's case has been cited as an example of misdiagnosed mental illness, negligence, abuse, and religious hysteria.

Early Life

Anneliese Michel was born in Leiblfing, Bavaria, Germany, into a devout Roman Catholic family. She was deeply religious and went to Mass twice a week. When she was sixteen, Michel experienced her first episode of what was considered to be epilepsy by medical professionals. Over the years, her condition, which was diagnosed as temporal lobe epilepsy, worsened despite medical treatment. She also experienced diagnosed depression and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital several times.

Exorcism and Death

By 1973, Michel's condition had not improved despite medication. She described seeing demonic faces, hearing voices, and suffering severe convulsions. Believing her condition to be demonic possession, Michel and her family sought the help of the Catholic Church. After much hesitation, two priests, Ernst Alt and Arnold Renz, were granted permission by the Bishop of Würzburg to perform an exorcism on Michel, under the Rituale Romanum of 1614.

The exorcism sessions began in September 1975 and continued until her death in July 1976. During this period, Michel was frequently restrained so the priests could perform the rites. She stopped eating food and died due to malnutrition and dehydration. The autopsy report stated that she weighed 30 kilograms (68 lbs) at the time of her death.

Legal Proceedings

After her death, the state prosecutor charged Michel's parents and the two priests with negligent homicide. The trial attracted media attention and sparked a debate on exorcism practices within the church and the intersection of religious belief and mental health. In 1978, the court found the accused guilty of manslaughter resulting from negligence and sentenced them to six months in jail (which was suspended) and three years of probation.

Legacy

Anneliese Michel's story has been the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and films, most notably The Exorcism of Emily Rose, which is loosely based on her case. Her grave in Klingenberg am Main has become a pilgrimage site for some Catholics who believe she atoned for wayward priests and the sins of the youth.

Controversy

The case remains controversial, with some believing that Michel was mentally ill and should have received psychiatric care, while others believe she was possessed and that the exorcism was justified. The Catholic Church has since revised its exorcism guidelines and procedures to prevent similar cases.

See Also

• Exorcism
• Catholic Church
• Mental illness
• The Exorcism of Emily Rose