In 1906, a teenage South African girl would become possessed by devil. Considered one of the most famous and legitimate exorcism cases in history, this case is truly unique in that it was witnessed by such a massive number of people. At least a 170 people saw the unbelievable feats performed by the teenage girl. In this post, we will explore the frightening case of Clara Germana Cele.
Clara Germana Cele was born in Natal, South Africa in 1890. An orphan, she would live in the Anglican St. Michael’s Mission, although it’s not evident at what point she entered. Some say her parents died, while others say her parents entrusted the nuns there.
In 1906, Clara then sixteen years made a confession that she had made a deal with the Devil. There are several different stories regarding how and when this exactly occurred, but there’s no dispute as to when the odd behavior started.
On August 20th of that year, Clara began stripping and running through the dorm while talking to someone. It’s said she saw a nun and came back from her trance like state.
However, Clara’s troubles were just beginning.
Clara would have strange outbursts. The nuns at the school reported she would levitate both horizontally and vertically. It’s said that she possessed intimate knowledge of people, including their darkest secrets, of people she never spoke with. The Nuns also alleged she could speak several different languages of which she didn’t know. Others would see her body bending in impossible ways and a strong aversion to anything religious, like holy water.
One odd story says that Clara bit a nun, and the impression marks that she left resembled that of a snake.
To combat the evil, an exorcism was performed on September 11, just 3 weeks after her initial incident. Father Horner, whom she confessed to and another priest, Reverend Mansueti performed the exorcism.
The exorcism lasted from the early hours of the morning until noon and then commenced again at 3. The priests worked into the night and the next morning. Then in the Chapel in front of around 170 people, the entity would agree to leave. Allegedly, the demon told the priests he would mark his exit by allowing Clara’s body to levitate.
Clara was now free of the possession.
Or was she?
Four months later, in January 1907, a nun heard a strange whisper in a room. When she went in, Clara was levitating again.
Some reports indicate she had made another deal with the Devil. Others allege the first exorcism didn’t completely work and the demon had just gone dormant, or something similar.
The Connecticut Witch Hunts- Read here
Regardless, a second exorcism was performed. This one lasted for two days and it’s said that when the demon was exorcised, a foul smell came from her body.
Clara would die six years later from heart failure at the young age of 22.
The Exorcism of Clara Germana Cele is certainly an interesting one and one not well known.
The story of Padre Pio- read here
Clara had all the classic signs that someone possessed typically has. She was clairvoyant, had superhuman strength and was able to levitate. Exorcisms have been around for hundreds, probably thousands of years across all major religions. Today, modern day Exorcists still train for the rite and diagnose possession using many of the characteristics that Clara displayed.
