Description of Demonic Possession
Control over a human body and mind by the devil (Satan) himself or one of his demons.
Physical and Psychological Manifestations Include: Personality changes, the ability to speak in different tongues (otherwise unknown to the victim), vulgar language, lewd behavior, knowledge of the future, super-human strength, and an aversion to all things holy.
Demonic possession is considered to be true and shared among many cultures and faiths around the world. The claim that possession can also take place in inanimate objects, animals, deceased individuals, and other living objects, is deemed as fact among believers.
(St. Francis) "Exorcism of the Demons at Arezzo"
(Giotto di Bondone 1267-1337)
In 1971, William Peter Blatty wrote the terrifying best-selling novel, "The Exorcist." The novel captured the imagination of millions around the world, with a movie that soon followed in 1973. The book and the movie tapped into our darkest and most implicit fears; the devil and possession. When many are reluctant to admit a belief in such taboo, yet inexorable subject such as the devil, demons, and possession, the book made us consider the inconceivable. Could something so dreadful and sinister really exist? And could a human be possessed by the devil?
Blatty's The Exorcist
After reading the novel, one could heave a huge sigh of relief knowing that the story was only fictional. But was this really the case? What many people are unaware of is that in 1949, while Blatty was a student at Georgetown University, ( having considered becoming a priest at one time) he had researched the story of a true exorcism case that took place in 1949. Blatty contacted one of the priests involved with the exorcism for more information. The Priest was tight-lipped about the case and refused to share confidential information with Blatty, however, he did mention that he wished the story could be told in order to allow the world to know that the devil was real and so was this story.
After failing to gain any information from the priest, William Blatty continued researching and found enough information to form an idea that would change the face of horror forever. He used the true case as a catalyst for inspiration, and changed the victim ( a boy ) into a girl for his novel. He did not write about the real case but gleaned ideas from his research, and went on to write one of the most extraordinarily prolific and frightening books of all time. So grab your crucifix and holy water, and whatever you do, don't turn down the lights. The Following Is The Widely Circulated True Account Of "The Real Exorcist Story.
1949, Mt. Rainier, Maryland
Newspaper Clippings Of The True Story 1949
( There are numerous accounts of the story and locations that cannot be verified )
A 14 year old boy named Robbie ( last name unknown ) lived with his mother, father, and grandmother in the suburbs. He was exceptionally close to his aunt from St. Louis, who was a spiritualist. She communicated with spirits through various means; one being the
Ouija Board, and encouraged her nephew to play along, after all, it was harmless, and Robbie would be able to communicate with "the other side."
( Popular belief is that any contact with the spirits of the dead can open portals and invite in malevolent spirits, or the devil. )
After a period of time, strange things began to take place in the home. First it was scratching in the walls which sounded like rats. The family called in an exterminator but no rats were found. As each night passed, the scratching continued, and grew louder, and soon it was accompanied by loud pounding in the walls.
As the weeks passed, other odd occurrences began to befall the boy and the home. House-hold objects began moving around in the house. Fruit flew through the air and furniture moved around on its own, including the kitchen table. One night Robbie was called to his grandmothers room, when a picture of Christ started moving around on the wall as if someone was banging on it from behind the wall. There was no explanation for the phenomenon.
Later as Robbie lay upon his mattress, he could hear scratching coming from inside it, and what sounded like someone walking across it. The boy became alarmed, as did the family. They could not imagine what was happening, although they knew it was not normal.
In January, his beloved aunt died. Robbie was inconsolable and began using the Ouija Board to contact her. Soon after, major changes took over the boy. His moods turned dark, he became agitated and withdrawn. Then he began experiencing nightmares that grew progressively worse. Robbie's family was terrified, and rightly so.
They soon contacted a Lutherine minister, Reverend Luther Schultz, who was a believer in parapsychology, but not possession. He believed the mind was responsible for everything that was happening. He felt that it was poltergeist activity or better known as PK, psychokinesis, the ability of the mind to affect matter, which was brought on by Robbie's grief and state of mind.
( Some experts believe that poltergeist phenomenon is believed to happen as elevated stress levels of a person transfers through the power of the mind. It is known as energy transference, which is then converted outside of the body, causing phenomena to take place. )
But Reverend Schultz wanted to be sure that the boy was not faking the disturbances, so he took Robbie into his home to study the tormented youth. He set up the boy in a room with him that had two beds, side by side, so he could watch him closely. What he witnessed was astounding, but felt that somehow the boy was fooling him, as the strange and scary phenomenon took on darker and more frightening overtones. Furniture began to move around on its own, the boys bed shook so badly that Schultz had the boy sleep in an arm-chair.
That soon began to shake, even after the reverend asked the boy to pull his legs up and set his full weight on the chair. The result was the boy being thrown from the chair. There was no logical explanation for this and it truly mystified Schultz.
One night while the boy was on the bed it began to shake so violently that the reverend proceeded to place the mattress on the floor, just to be sure that the boy was not causing the bed to shake. A while later, as Schultz watched in horror and amazement, the mattress began gliding across the floor and eventually went under the bed while the boy slept. Schultz was quite shaken by this strange phenomena, and couldn't explain what was happening. The reverend decided he could not help the boy.
Next, Robbie was taken to the County Mental Clinic where he had two interviews. He was deemed normal, but was headed back for another interview when his body began exhibiting strange words that appeared on his body without explanation. The family was frightened and then contacted the minister once more.
(The third visit never took place. It was supposed that because of the deplorable conditions and the terrible treatment of patients, the family decided they would not risk having their son put in a psych ward. Besides, at that time in history, there was a stigma attached to having mental illness, and having a loved one institutionalized).
Reverend Schultz, who witnessed the evil firsthand, told the parents to contact the Roman Catholic Church for help.
First Attempted Exorcism
Robbie arrived at St. James Catholic Church in Mt. Rainer, Maryland, where he was interview by Reverend Edward Albert Hughs. The young and newly ordained Hughs was disturbed by the encounter with the boy. Robbie's parents were present during the consult. While talking to the boy and his parents, Robbie's behavior became erratic. Then a phone slid across Hugh's desk as the boy stared at it. The holy relics in the room disturbed the boy, he told the priest that he could not be helped and began cursing him. The room then became icy cold and the felt as if an evil presence was there.
Father Hughs turned to the Roman Ritual, a prayer book for guidance. He felt Robbie was under Satanic possession and decided he did not want the case, but was given it regardless of how he felt. He was not an experienced exorcist, but he prayed and fasted, in hopes that he would be ready.
Robbie was taken to Georgetown Hospital, where the ritual would take place. He was restrained and while Hughs was preparing to begin the exorcism, the boy flew into a rage, broke loose of his restraints and attacked the priest. He viciously slashed him from his shoulder to his wrist with metal springs he tore from the bed. The exorcism was over before it even began. Father Hughs had to go for treatment to close up the horrible wound he suffered. The priest felt he was no match for the devil and washed his hands of the case.
St. Louis
Soon after Robbie returned home, his mother heard him scream and entered the bathroom. She witnessed what appeared to be bloody scratches and writing on her sons chest. The word "Louis" was scrawled in bloody scratches. His mother asked him if it was St. Louis and if he wanted to go there. Suddenly the word "yes" appeared right in front of her eyes on his chest. She was frightened and soon the family headed to St. Louis. They stayed with family there, but the phenomenon continued to take place.
A relative of Robbie's spoke to a priest named Father Raymond Bishop and then begged the family to see the priest, they agreed. Bishop was a professor with the faculty of St. Louis University, a Jesuit institution. Bishop teamed up with an older priest and pastor of St. Francis Exavior Church, Father William Bowdern.
Together they counseled Robbie and the family. He was distressed, and became violent and belligerent to all things religious. Bowdern had Bishop keep a diary of the case as they took over. He wrote down everything about the case, but what previous records failed to mentioned to the priests was that a failed exorcism had taken place before. They had no idea about the attack on Reverend Schultz. Bishop wrote down everything for the next six weeks.
The Ritual Begins
Initially, the priests first began visiting the boy at his home. On the first visit Robbie cried out and flinched as stomach pain gripped him. Then bloody scratches appeared on the boys chest and body. While the boy slept, a bottle of holy water flew through the air and landed in the corner of the room. Five minutes after both priests left the house, there was a heavy scraping noise in Robbie's room. When the family went to investigate, they discovered a large bookcase had been turned completely around and a table moved. Later, the crucifix that had been placed under his pillow, appeared at the foot of the bed, while yet another holy relic, St. Margarete Mary, disappeared, never to be found again.
After studying the boy, it was decided that he was possessed and needed an exorcism. On March 16, Bowdern was given permission to do the exorcism according to Roman ritual. He asked another young Jesuit, Walter Halloran, to drive him to the house of some people he had to see. He agreed. Bishop, Bowdern, and Halloran arrived at the house around 10 pm. Holloran didn't know what was happening. The boy went upstairs to his room. After prayer, the priests entered the boys room and began the opening prayer for the exorcism.
A bottle of holy water went flying and crashed into a table, the bed began to shake violently. Halloran was shocked but told not to be afraid, and then realized what was happening. As the ritual continued, lashes by unseen claws appeared on the boys body. Then mysteriously, the picture of the devil appeared on the boys skin along with the word "hell" on his chest. Robbie became violent. He screamed, thrashed about, and spit on the priests.
Days passed and the ritual continued. The violent curses and malevolent laughter continued unabated. As the boys health was affected, Robbie was taken to Alexian Brothers Hospital, where the exorcism continued. The situation was not improving so the priests felt it was in the best interest of Robbie to convert to Catholicism. The family agreed and as he was on his way to be baptized, while on the road, Robbie went berserk and tried to control the car. He screamed, “So you think you will baptize me and you think you will drive me out with holy communion?"
Luckily they made it to the church after a near accident. The boy was fighting all the way to the rectory where the baptism was finished.
When the priests tried to give the boy his first holy communion, he kept his mouth shut. Only after hours of trying, they prayed the rosary and he finally swallowed the communion wafer. After days of being confined to the hospital, Father Holloran thought it would be good to take Robbie to the Jesuit retreat house. When Robbie arrived, he stared at all the statues of the stations of the cross then suddenly took off running. Holloran managed to tackle him at the edge of a cliff before the boy could jump. Robbie did not remember what had happened.
During holy week, the priests felt confident that the possession would most likely end and continued forward, but nothing happened, it was getting worse. Holy Saturday, a statue of the St. Michael the Archangel was placed in the boys room.
Easter passed and still the possessed boy suffered. The next day, Robbie threw the holy water over one of the priests head, smashing it against the wall.
During the exorcism, communion was to be administered. The boy cried, “I wish to receive you.” The devil inside of him replied with laughter that he would not leave until the boy said one word, and the boy will never say it. So while the curses and screams continued, so did exorcism. Then sometime into the exorcism, a imposing and authoritative voice reverberated in the room, from the boys throat. It said, “Satan, I am St. Michael, and I command you to leave this body in the name of Dominus immediately! Now! Now! Now!
The war waged for a few seconds more as the boy growled, writhed, and screamed. Then suddenly he sat up and said, “He’s gone.” The exorcism ended and without warning, a loud sound like gunfire exploded in the room, signaling the end. At the same time, several priests at St. Francis Exavior Church saw a vision of St. Michael the Archangel in the dome of the church. Its brilliance lit up the sanctuary for a moment and suddenly disappeared.
St. Michael The Archangel ( Guido Reni 1635 )
AFTER THE EXORCISM
Robbie and his family remained Catholic. The boy moved on with his life productively where his identity remains a secret. The site where the exorcism took place, Alexian Brothers Hospital, was said to be haunted for many years after. The room in which the ritual took place in was locked afterward and never entered again. But for years, many attending nurses and workers heard voices, shouts and slamming doors. That area remained drafty for no apparent reason. Eventually it was torn down.
Father Bowdern was involved in other alleged cases of possession, but none have been validated, and none ever compared to the case of the "Mt. Rainer Exorcism Case." Bowdern died in 1983 at age 86. Father Albert Hughs became pastor of St. James Catholic Church in Mt. Rainer and passed away in 1980.
OTHER CAUSES?
In the field of Psychiatry, most experts believe there is no such thing as true cases of possession. In many cases, it has been established that many people who are thought to be demon possessed are actually suffering from mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and epilepsy. But when psychiatry cannot confidently explain this condition away, with the help of modern medicine and psychiatric treatment, where else is a person to turn to?
When the alleged victim of demonic possession is plagued by paranormal phenomenon, and exhibits all of the traits of a truly demon possessed person, the course of action and treatment is usually determined by another kind of expert; a priest versed in the rites of exorcism. In these cases, the priest is able to exclude the possibility of mental illness, and acknowledge the obvious through discernment and other methods used by the Roman Catholic Church.
ALLEGED HOMES OF THE FAMILY
3807 Cottage City House and also 3210 Bunker Hill Rd. Which is now a Vacant lot, the house was used by firefighters for a fire drill. There is some conjecture as to where the boy actually grew up. Mt. Rainer, Maryland, St. Louis, or Cottage City.
IN CONCLUSION
If you were to research this case, this yarn has slightly differing adaptations, but most of the accounts stick with the same fundamental facts. The characters involved, the events that took place in a young boys life in 1949, and the remarkable conclusion to the story.
Whether one is to believe in the possibility of a supreme evil ruler out to destroy all mankind, or demonic possession, this story may shed some light on this much debated and frightening subject. When most "level-headed" individuals have established, in their own minds, that such things cannot exist, or that they are better off not knowing about it, then the possibility of evil influences controlling the body and mind only serves as a scapegoat for a much less complicated scientific explanation.
Then there are those who are of the belief that "We Wrestle Not Against Flesh And Blood," but with malevolent spirits, personified as the "Evil Ruler of the Earth" or "Satan" and his demons. Having experienced firsthand, what is not readily accepted by the mainstream society as supernatural and unsurpassed evil, these individuals assert indisputably that this entity known as "The Devil" destroys and ravages lives, all in hopes of claiming another human soul. In the minds of the believers, there is no other logical explanation, when science fails to prove otherwise.
One thing is certain, this story continues to haunt us and resonates as loudly today as it has over the decades. And as long as books, movies, and documentaries, continue to reflect on this historic tale, then we can be sure that this revealing account of "The Exorcist" will live on as a testament of hope. And in the end, for many of us, this story only reminds us that good can and still does triumph over evil.
Copyright© Sylvia Zimmer 2009
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Sources:
The Exorcist
The Possessed
In The Grip Of Evil
The Truth Behind The Exorcist
An Exorcist Tells His Story
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