Theophilus Riesinger
Encyclopedia
Theophilus Riesinger a Roman Catholic priest
, who later became an exorcist
, was born in Germany
and later resided in Marathon, Wisconsin
, in the United States
.
He was ordained on May 29, 1899 and later was an exorcist. In 1928, he traveled to a convent
in Earling, Iowa
where he performed the Roman Catholic rite of exorcism
on a forty year old woman. After twenty-three days of exorcism Father Theophilus was fatigued. Two days before Christmas
1928, the demons were driven out and the woman cried, “My Jesus mercy. Praised be Jesus
Christ
.”
The incident was written up by Rev. Celestine Kapsner
as Begone Satan! in 1935 and became a well known case. Father Riesinger himself wrote about the case in a 1934 book called The Earling possession case;: An exposition of the exorcism of "Mary", a demoniac. Another book about the case is The Devil Rocked Her Cradle, by David St. Clair (Dell,1987).
Riesinger died on November 9, 1941 in a monastery in Wisconsin.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, who later became an exorcist
Exorcist
In some religions an exorcist is a person who is believed to be able to cast out the devil or other demons. A priest, a nun, a monk, a healer, a shaman or other specially prepared or instructed person can be an exorcist...
, was born in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and later resided in Marathon, Wisconsin
Marathon, Wisconsin
Marathon is a town in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,085 at the 2000 census...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
He was ordained on May 29, 1899 and later was an exorcist. In 1928, he traveled to a convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
in Earling, Iowa
Earling, Iowa
Earling is a city in Shelby County, Iowa, United States. The population was 437 at the 2010 census.-History:The town was platted in 1882 by the Milwaukee Land Company and was first known as Marthan. However there was already a town called Marathon in Iowa, so the name of the town was soon changed...
where he performed the Roman Catholic rite of exorcism
Exorcism
Exorcism is the religious practice of evicting demons or other spiritual entities from a person or place which they are believed to have possessed...
on a forty year old woman. After twenty-three days of exorcism Father Theophilus was fatigued. Two days before Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
1928, the demons were driven out and the woman cried, “My Jesus mercy. Praised be Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
.”
The incident was written up by Rev. Celestine Kapsner
Celestine Kapsner
Reverend Father Celestine Kapsner O.S.B. , was a Catholic priest and exorcist who was stationed at St. John's Abbey at Collegeville, Minnesota, in the early 1960s....
as Begone Satan! in 1935 and became a well known case. Father Riesinger himself wrote about the case in a 1934 book called The Earling possession case;: An exposition of the exorcism of "Mary", a demoniac. Another book about the case is The Devil Rocked Her Cradle, by David St. Clair (Dell,1987).
Riesinger died on November 9, 1941 in a monastery in Wisconsin.