When I see this angel, I feel like I’m unworthy even to pronounce her name. Yes, by her life, she has not only been a powerful witness of God but has also made many stand in awe of her courage. In all truth I can tell, that on reading this, the crosses we often grouse about in our daily life will seem nothing as we come to discern what really ’suffering’ is.
Normally when I see ‘Horror Pictures’ I become terror-stricken so much so that I stay awake the whole night frightened, have all sorts of imaginations with the aftertaste lingering for a week or so. . But when I first saw this picture of Anneliese Michel in this condition, believe me I had a peaceful night’s sleep. Here goes her real-life story. (Owing to space constraints, I am publishing an abridged version of her life).
Born on September 21st, 1952, our warrior had the privilege of being nurtured in a devout Roman Catholic home. She was no doubt a very pious girl. While she had a very normal life like any of us, things changed in the year 1968 leaving herself and her family in unspeakable agony. Suddenly, her body began to shake violently and she had no control over it. Her condition was diagnosed as “Grand Mal” epilepsy. And soon after the attacks, her every effort to pray was thwarted by the visions of some devilish grimaces. Not only that, she began to hear voices, voices which even shouted Anneliese will “stew in hell.” She mentioned this to her doctors once who gave up all hopes of curing her. At a time, when everybody of her age enjoyed the privileges of life, this young girl was tormented by demons and was struggling to come to terms with the fact that “she was possessed.”
In the year 1973, her parents approached some pastors to perform an exorcism of their daughter. But their requests were turned down on the grounds that in order to perform an “exorcism”, certain criteria for “possession” must be met. Anneliese was advised to continue with her medical treatment. However, the treatment did her no good and things were getting worse. She began to scream for hours in her house, ruining pictures of Christ, trying to break the crucifix and pulling the rosaries. She began to eat flies, spiders and even drank her own urine. When she tried having her meals, the demons wouldn’t allow her. Additionally, she had also begun to inflict wounds on herself. However, in September 1975, the then Bishop finally gave his approval for an “exorcism” and two sessions of “exorcism” were carried out during that year. Although during these sessions, she could resume her normal activities for a while like continuing her studies and going to church, those attacks did not stop. She in fact suffered more than before.
Finally, after the turmoil, her life came to her end. Her parents and the Exorcists were accused by the court of being negligent in that they failed to administer the prescribed medical treatment to the girl. But, in reality what happened? Here is the truth:
On June 30th, 1976 when the last exorcism rites were performed, Anneliese Michel was down with Pneumonia and suffered enormously. Not long before her death, Anneliese handed over a letter to one of the exorcists. In the letter, Anneliese wrote that the Virgin Mary appeared to her giving two choices 1) Either she could choose to be delivered from the possession (OR) 2) continue to be possessed for a longer time in order to prove to the world that hell exists, so as to save souls from that dreadful place.
Also, Mother Mary promised her that in any case she would be freed from the demons before her death and die in a state of grace.
And our Anneliese out of her love of God chose the second option – to allow herself possessed by the demons and even stopped the Exorcisms. Days before her death, Anneliese predicted the time she would depart from the world.
Here’s an audio tape of one of her exorcism session. Do not miss it !
Also, click below to watch this faithful representation of the life of this appealing model, Anneliese Michel (Name has been changed).
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
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