Two or three nuns of the Loudunais parish of Saint-Pierre-du-Marché, encountered a "Spirit"
Jeanne des Anges, the prioress of the Ursuline convent
Sister de Colombiers, the sub-prioress
Sister Marthe de Sainte-Monique, a junior nun.
Two weeks later, the spirit reappeared, looking like the priest Urbain Grandier
The priest was a controversial figure in town
After Jeanne's demons were dispersed names appeared on her arm
She traveled all across France to show her marks
She continued to tell until her death of the possessions
The town eventually settled down and the possessions became a draw for people to visit
What is Hysteria?
Hysteria- refers to various mental and emotional disorders, that typically involve physical symptoms
Mass Hysteria - is when a large group, with no cause, exhibit the same physical symptoms.
Hysteria cannot be explained, there is no physical cause
Typically the result of extreme stress
Media
Fingers Begin Pointing
Even though this took place in the 1600s the media played a large part
The stories traveled across Europe
People from all over came to see the possessions
After the nuns accused the priest and had proof against him he was put on trial
Signed pact with the devil written in his blood
Executed August 18, 1634
Town hoped to settle down and return to normal
Jeanne the Mother Superior remained possessed with 7 different demons
Eventually a Jesuit priest was able to "save her "
A Professional Opinion
Possessions Begin
Works Cited
The Loudun Possessions changed the view of woman in the church
Woman had a greater impact in the church
It also changed the view of woman's spirituality
Author - Moshe Sluhovsky a French Jewry
Imaginary Large Black Ball pushed 2 nuns down
Human Skeleton walked the corridors
Exhibiting supernatural physical strength,
Screaming
Crying
Fainting
Suffering from uncontrollable seizures and convulsions
All the signs of Demonic Possession
Because these “symptoms” and allegations came from the Catholic Parish it carried heavy weight and was believed by everyone in the town, especially when the spirit “revealed” itself as the priest
"Hysteria." Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia (2016): 1p. 1. Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.
Sluhovsky, Moshe. "The Devil In The Convent." American Historical Review 107.5 (2002): 1379-1411. Professional Development Collection. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.
Stephenson, Craig E. "Looking Back: The Possessions at Loudun | The Psychologist." The Psychologist. The British Psychological Society, Feb. 2014. Web. 24 Oct. 2016