She spent the last years of her life happily like other ordinary people which was really needed, and this is the best part of her life story. Julia was eventually exorcised, a process during which she allegedly spewed threats, levitated, exhibited super strength, and changed the temperature of the room. Laycock J. He believed, as explained by the Catholic mythos, that she was being possessed by the returned demon, who brought seven fellow spirits with him. It is possible that Ecklund's father accused his daughter of possession because he was sexually abusing her, and she had fought back, and her case was further complicated because her aunt Mina who may have also been her father's lover was alleged to have been practicing black magic on her. The most brutal possession experienced by her was in 1928 when she suffered through an intensive series of exorcism rites over a 4-month period. Not much is known about her early childhood, but there doesn't seem to have been anything particularly abnormal about her in these early years. "[9] According to an account published in 1935, the believed source of Ecklund's possession was her aunt Mina, a reputed local witch who placed spells on herbs for food she prepared. Maybe the movie itself, like so many other bad horror movies, needs to be exorcised from people's minds. Often said to include speaking in tongues and strange guttural voices, levitating and clinging to bedroom walls, disturbed thoughts and revulsion of holy objects and sacred spaces, Ecklunds possession spanned several decades beginning in 1912 when she was just 14 years old. The responsible priest experienced physical attacks that left him trembling like a fluttering leaf in a whirlwind. When holy water touched her skin, it burnt off. As one viewer wrote on the IMDb page, "Girl is possessed, priests get 'clearance' to perform exorcism, demon possesses the priests, rinse and repeat.""[6]. Anna Ecklund, the Levitating Girl. In: Giordan G., Possamai A. [1] Some sources contradict the narrative that she was raised in Marathon, Wisconsin. The Truth About The Exorcism Of Anna Ecklund. She was strapped onto the bed while Riesinger prayed over her. Annas father sought revenge because Anna had refused a sexual relationship with him when he was alive. ", Jason Rhode of Cryptic Rock was more favorable, opining in their review that "Ultimately, The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund is interesting since it is based on a true story, flows evenly, and has a solid soundtrack. Doe's case became so notorious that it, too, was adapted into a film: His case was the inspiration for the 1973 horror classic The Exorcist. 23 days of exorcism drained the priestand the demons. [10][14] During the exorcisms, Ecklund also spoke in a high falsetto voice, which Riesinger interpreted as the voice of her aunt Mina. 2017. "[5], The film received negative reviews on IMDb and per Screen Rant, was one of the ten lowest rated horror films as of 2019, summarizing by writing "If you're wondering what makes this movie different from the other exorcism movies, the answer is nothing. Over the following two sessions, from September 13 to 20 and December 15 to 23, Anna deteriorated quickly. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Anna was a devout Catholic and went to church regularly. The boy was around 14-years-old at the time. [10], On June 18, 1912, Ecklund underwent an exorcism by Father Theophilus Riesinger, a Capuchin priest originally from Bavaria, Germany, entrusted by Bishop Thomas Dunn of Des Moines, Iowa. Top Image: Two exorcisms were performed on Anna Ecklund. Even Steiger grew increasingly worried at this, and suggested the exorcism be moved. Photo by fa.b Festa S.Filippo Limina (ME)CC BY-SA 2.0. Very much like . The Devils Lair: Five Modern Cases of Demonic Hauntings and Possessions, The Devils Playthings: 5 Notorious Cases of Violent Poltergeist Hauntings, 13 People Describe Their Eeriest Experiences with Shadow People, Featured photo: Occult Museum; Additional photos: St. Joseph Catholic Church / Facebook; Alchetron. Unfortunately, it did not last. [5] The unpublished Bunse manuscript states Riesinger exorcized Schmidt in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the Bunse manuscript states that Emma Schmidt known as "Mary X" met Riesinger in New York when Emma Schmidt was 16, around 1898. Anna despaired, feeling that she must be losing her mind. Following a full night of exhaustive exorcism sessions, the priests claimed they had pulled upwards of 40 demons from Taylor but that several remained inside him when they sent him home. in the May celebrations in his honor at Limina, Sicily. Riesinger well knew the stakes and the potential trouble an exorcism could cause. Anna was able to return to her regular life and Riesinger developed a reputation for dispelling the evils that infect human beings. Emma Schmidt (referred to as Anna Ecklund in a 1936 Catholic Church-sanctioned publication, "Satan Begone!" by Father Carl Vogl) was born in 1882 and grew up in Marathon, Wisconsin. Riesinger was born in Germany in 1868 but joined the Capuchin order in Wisconsin in 1899. Related: 6 Modern-Day Cases of Demonic Hauntings. This is the story of a 20th century exorcism, one that was supposed to remain a secret but which has inspired horror films ever since. Father Joseph Stieger of Earling, Iowa, a friend of Riesinger, suggested the exorcism be undertaken at a convent owned by the Franciscan Sisters in Earling. Ecklund was said to have exhibited symptoms akin to possession beginning at age fourteen, and was forty-six years old during her final exorcism by . After arriving home, Michael Taylor murdered his wife as well as the family dog in a gruesome manner. Hope remained, though, as Anna could be brought back to her senses by blessed or holy objects. Her condition was initially regulated by medications, but as more epileptic fits followed, she was diagnosed with other mental issues. Little is known for certain about her early life. Yes! Written in the 1930s by Carl Vogl, it was only translated into English by Celestine Kapsner in 1973, and it was only with this translation that the story surrounding Anna Ecklund received wide attention. Her once soft voice often sank into a guttural growl capable of creating impossible sounds. "Exists (2014)" is a found footage horror film about a group of friends in the remote Texas woods being stalked by an angry Bigfoot. After 23 days, the exorcism was over, and the evil was gone. "[21], In February 1936, the 1928 exorcism was profiled in Time magazine.[22]. Ecklund, whose real name might have been Emma Schmidt, was born in Marathon, Wisconsin in 1882, and claims of her being possessed first surfaced when she was 14, according to InfoBarrel . [14] The exorcism was reportedly so grueling, and Ecklund's behavior so violent, that several nuns in the Franciscan order asked to be relocated to a different convent. The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) is based on the real life the story of Anneliese Michel and addresses the question of whether or not are demonic possessions real. The unsolved locked room murder of Joe Elwell, 1920, Cryptic lost Canaanite language decoded on Rosetta Stone-like tablets. Anna was born in 1882, but by age 14, she had already begin to have severely strongly presented symptoms of possession, such as an intense aversion to anything holy or sacred, including blessed objects or images. As they spoke the opening prayers, Anna sank into a deep sleep with her eyes shut tight. After the three sessions, she was very weak and heavily malnourished. Save. However it was allowed to be continued and at 9pm on December 23rd, Anna finally leaped up and claimed to have been freed from a terrible burden. Ideas of smashing the holy water fonts, harming priests, desecrating consecrated items as well as being unable to receive communion were all warning signs that something was not right. The exorcism of Anna Ecklund: Americas most terrifying story of demonic possession from the 1920s, Later, three sessions of exorcism were performed on Anna Ecklund. On December 23, 1928, the final session began. She opened her eyes, and then spoke in her own voice, saying "My Jesus, Mercy! Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions. This meant that the exorcism could be carried out in secret. However, their fears that at least three demons insanity, murder, and violence were still left inside him were realised that very morning. To confirm if Anna was not faking the attacks, Father Riesinger sprayed her with fake holy water. The real girl was born in 1882, and her name is unknown. However, the car refused to accelerate to full speed. "[1], The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund was released in the United Kingdom on 7 March 2016. Anna Ecklund was a pseudonym for Emma Schmidt (March 23, 1882 July 23, 1941), an American woman whose alleged demonic possession and exorcism occurred over several decades, culminating in an extensive exorcism that lasted from August 18 to December 23, 1928 in Earling, Iowa. These real exorcism stories span centuries and crisscross the globe. You Might Also . At one point, writes Cult of Weird, she was alleged to have leapt from the bed and levitated to the ceiling. In many ways, Ecklund and Roland Doe (also known by another alias, "Robbie Mannheim") had similar experiences with possession, including the fact that both were cataloged and published by priests. But, he managed to get out of the car alive. Although only intended to illustrate Satans power to seminary students, the story of a 1928 exorcism quickly spread to Catholic and secular publications alike. With the demons identified, the exorcism would soon come to an end. The plot is based on the alleged true story of Anna Ecklund . During the exorcism, Father Steiger claimed the demon threatened him to withdraw permission for the exorcism. Write a review. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE EXORCISM OF ANNA ECKLUND. It soon attracted media attention, includingTimemagazine. Related: Possessed: The Real-Life Exorcism of Roland Doe. Upon receiving the Mother Superiors permission, the reverends brought Anna to the convent on August 17, 1928. Anna grew up in Marathon, Wisconsin and her parents were German immigrants. 268. She also gained knowledge of other languages, supposedly levitated up to five feet off the ground, exhibited superhuman strength, and relayed personal information about others she shouldnt have been able to know all trademarks of possession. Anna arrived in Earling on August 18th, 1928. She later died at the age of fifty-nine on July 23rd, 1941. The duo had been damned and now joined the demon hordes within Anna. Both the priests who organized the rites in secrecy and her parents were charged with negligent homicide. At one point, the girl allegedly attempted to strangle one of the priests, but this fact remains a matter of debate. I also want to get the Early Bird Books newsletter featuring great deals on ebooks. The Exorcist: Father Theophilus Riesinger and the Possession of Anna Ecklund. By continuing to browse, you accept the use of cookies and other technologies. Available at: https://the-line-up.com/the-exorcist-father-theophilus-riesinger-and-possession-of-anna-ecklund, Rue, L. 2021. Interesting history topics are just a click away. Iscariot was there to lead Anna to commit suicide. [7] She reportedly began exhibiting signs of possession during her adolescence, demonstrating revulsion of holy objects, "disturbed" thoughts, and inability to enter churches. In 2016, the movie The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund was released.The movie is based on a true story that stretches back to the late 1800s to the early 1900s.. Then, she spoke in a clear voice, for the first time in many months. The cause of death was starvation. Showing Editorial results for anna eklund. "Welsh actress takes on the role of a possessed woman in new film", "Our 11th feature film 'The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund' is released in the UK today.The DVD is available at ASDA & HMV", "The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund Trailer Delivers Some True Story Chills", "The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund: Film Review", "The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund (Movie Review)", "10 Of The Lowest-Rated Horror Movies (According To IMDb)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Exorcism_of_Anna_Ecklund&oldid=1108749218, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 6 September 2022, at 02:31. His family reported to the local priest that strange things such as objects moving on their own accord were happening around the house. Add photo. Her parents concluded she needed a priest. (eds) The Social Scientific Study of Exorcism in Christianity. Her skin sizzled and burnt when holy water touched it. Very little is known about her parents but it is estimated that her mother died in approximately 1890 leaving Emma in the clutches of her abusive and alcoholic father. What follows are the details of the Anna Ecklund case, as claimed by Reverend Vogl in Begone, Satan! A dramatization of the exorcism in "The Exorcism of Anna Ecklund". He arrived at the train station and was met by Steiger who was supposed to drive them to the convent. Anna refused all food and drink from the convent. Yes! While the real story sounds suitably horrific, the movie version though didn't fare that well. Nearly 70 exorcisms were performed in secrecy under the order of the church. By the end, she had become a pale, deathlike figureher body emaciated and her eyes glowing like red embers. Emma Schmidt is the suspected real name of Anna, which was only changed to protect her identity after the first exorcism. She is finally out on her own in a beautiful space in Santa Clara. In the aftermath, he was arrested by the police as he walked naked beside the road, covered in blood. It got so bad that she began to feel unable to enter the church being held back by an interior hidden power. The devil will try his utmost to foil our plans. It has been claimed he said I was not wrought up about it all. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Ecklund's case is considered by theology and paranormal scholars to be one of the most abundantly documented cases of possession in the 20th century, including a profile in a 1936 issue of Time magazine. This time the ritual of relinquishing demons was reported to have lasted two days before she was finally freed.. [3] Ecklund was taken to the convent on August 17, 1928, and reportedly exhibited numerous symptoms, including falling into fits of rage over food that had been sprinkled with holy water, and hissing like a cat. She participated in intense sexual acts. Search instead in. 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