Episode 68
William Peter Blatty wrote the book The Exorcist in part to convince people of the truth and power of the Catholic Churh. If only the Catholic hierarchy can expel demons, then it must be the Church founded by Jesus Christ. His book became the 1973 movie The Exorcist, which is one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Among horror flicks, only Jaws is in the same league of success. The book, and subsequently the film, are based on a number of accounts of actual exorcisms, but one in particular dominates. This was an exorcism carried out in 1949 in Washington, DC and St. Louis, Missouri. The person possessed was a boy (not a girl as in the book and movie) who had used a ouija board with his aunt. In January 1949 manifestations of possession began, but his parents — who were Lutheran — did not understand them. Eventually they contacted the Jesuits at Georgetown University who identified the happenings as demonic possession. An exorcism was attempted, but it was cut short. The boy's family moved to St. Louis, but the manifestations continued. Jesuits from St. Louis University became involved and the archbishop of St. Louis authorized the exorcism to commence. For months the priests involved battled the demon or demons possessing the boy, until finally the possession ended in dramatic fashion on Easter Monday in April. One priest involved kept a daily diary of everything he witnessed. That record was a significant resource for Blatty.
More Information
- The Actual 1949 Diary of the Priest Who Inspired the 1973 Film: The Exorcist
- “Priest Frees Mt. Rainier Boy Reported Held in Devil’s Grip,” The Washington Post, August 20, 1949
- The St. Louis exorcism of 1949: the real-life inspiration for ‘The Exorcist’ | Post-Dispatch Archives | stltoday.com
- Roland Doe And The Chilling True Story Of The Exorcist
- The Horrifying True Story Behind THE EXORCIST: The Possession of Ronald Hunkeler – The 13th Floor
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