The Possession of Clara Germana Cele: South Africa's Chilling Battle with Evil
An Unforgettable Exorcism, Unnatural Strength, and a Demon’s Grasp on a Young Girl's Soul
Case File: The Possession of Clara Germana Cele (South Africa)
Case No.: 33ZA-1906-KZN
Classification: Demonic Possession
Location: Natal Province (now KwaZulu-Natal), South Africa
Date of Incident: 1906
Filed by: Local Clergy and Witnesses
Status: Resolved – Phenomena Documented, Possession Expelled
Incident Summary
In 1906, a 16-year-old girl named Clara Germana Cele, from the Natal Province of South Africa, became the center of a notorious and terrifying case of demonic possession. Clara, a student at a convent school, was known for her piety and devotion to her faith. However, her behavior changed dramatically one day, and what began as a series of strange and violent outbursts eventually escalated into a full-fledged possession.
According to local witnesses, Clara reportedly began to exhibit unusual strength, a complete change in personality, and an ability to speak languages she had never learned. Several signs, including physical marks on her body, strange sounds emanating from her, and her violent reactions to religious objects, led the nuns and local clergy to believe she was possessed.
The church responded with a series of exorcisms, led by priests who had experience with similar cases of possession. The possession, which became widely known, garnered significant attention at the time and was documented by the clergy involved in the exorcisms.
Phenomena Overview
The following types of phenomena were reported during Clara Germana Cele's possession:
Physical Strength Beyond Human Capability: Clara exhibited violent outbursts and demonstrated strength far beyond what a young girl of her size and stature should have been capable of, overpowering multiple adults during her episodes.
Speaking Unfamiliar Languages: Clara reportedly spoke in languages she had never learned, including Latin and German, languages unknown to her before the possession.
Levitation and Unnatural Movements: During moments of extreme possession, Clara was said to levitate above her bed, and her movements became erratic and animalistic.
Disruptions to Religious Artifacts: The presence of religious symbols, such as crucifixes and holy water, caused Clara immense pain and violent reactions. She allegedly screamed and recoiled when near these objects.
Manifestation of Multiple Voices: Clara was said to speak in multiple voices at once, sometimes in a deep, guttural tone that was clearly not her own.
Investigation Overview
The case was initially brought to the attention of local clergy, who tried to determine the cause of Clara's sudden behavioral change. Upon determining that Clara was indeed the victim of demonic possession, the church began exorcism rituals to expel the malevolent force.
Initial Exorcism Attempts: Several priests attempted to perform rites of exorcism on Clara, but the demon resisted with terrifying force. The rituals, which included prayers and the use of holy water, were unsuccessful in calming Clara or breaking the possession.
Intensification of Possession: The possession seemed to intensify over time. Clara's physical appearance became distorted, and her eyes would reportedly change color, becoming a deep, unnatural shade.
Final Exorcism: After a series of prolonged and violent episodes, a final exorcism was performed in 1906. During this ritual, Clara's body reportedly convulsed violently, and she screamed in multiple voices. After several days, the demonic presence finally appeared to depart, and Clara regained control of her body and mind.
Documented Phenomena
Physical Marks: Witnesses noted the presence of strange marks on Clara's body, which they believed were signs of the demonic presence.
Electromagnetic Disturbances: Electrical equipment in the vicinity malfunctioned during periods of heightened possession.
Psychological Changes: Clara's behavior before the possession was described as calm and devout, which made her sudden transformation even more alarming to those who knew her.
Religious Reactions: Clara's violent reactions to religious symbols, including the inability to touch a cross or rosary without reacting violently, were central to the belief that she was possessed.
Press Coverage and Public Reaction
The case quickly became one of the most talked-about supernatural events in the region, with both the local and international press covering it extensively. The dramatic nature of the possession, coupled with the involvement of the church, fueled sensational stories and discussions about the existence of demonic forces.
Some observers, particularly skeptics, proposed alternative explanations, such as mental illness or hysteria, but the testimonies of the priests and witnesses remained firm in their belief that the events were caused by a demonic entity. The exorcism rituals and their successful expulsion of the demon were hailed as a victory for the church.
Case Status
After the successful expulsion of the demonic entity in 1906, Clara Germana Cele was reportedly restored to her normal life. There are no further reports of similar events occurring in her life. The case remains one of the most documented and publicized possessions of the early 20th century.
The Story
Clara Germana Cele's story is a chilling tale that echoes the darkest corners of supernatural lore. It begins in 1906, in the quiet town of Natal, South Africa, where Clara, a 16-year-old girl from a devout Catholic family, was known for her piety and gentle demeanor. She was a student at a local convent school and was respected by her peers and the nuns for her religious devotion. She would often be found in the chapel, praying earnestly, and she was considered a model of faith. Yet, what transpired within the walls of the convent school would become the stuff of terrifying legend.
It all started on an ordinary day when Clara, who had always been obedient and calm, began acting strangely. At first, it was a minor incident. She began to show signs of agitation, and the nuns noticed a noticeable change in her behavior. She started to grow restless during prayers, a time when she had previously been utterly composed. But these subtle signs of disturbance quickly spiraled into something far more sinister.
One evening, as Clara sat in her dormitory, something broke inside her. With no clear trigger, her behavior became violent and erratic. She suddenly shouted in an unintelligible language, her voice deepening to an unnerving guttural tone. Her eyes, once kind and gentle, seemed to burn with an unnatural fire. The nuns, alarmed, attempted to calm her, but Clara’s strength was overpowering. In a fit of rage, she threw one of the larger nuns across the room, a feat that no one could believe possible from the slender, seemingly fragile girl.
The next day, Clara was found locked in her room, a scene that shocked the entire convent. The walls and furniture were smashed and overturned, as though a violent storm had passed through. But it wasn’t just the destruction that caused terror—it was Clara’s appearance. Her face was twisted in an unnatural grimace, and her eyes, once vibrant and full of life, were now dull and clouded, as if someone or something had taken control of her very soul.
The nuns called upon the priests at the local church, who arrived to investigate the alarming behavior. What they encountered was far more than they had bargained for. Clara spoke in multiple voices at once, some high-pitched and others low and guttural, and these voices seemed to come from all around her, not from her mouth alone. When she looked at the priests, it wasn’t Clara’s face they saw—what appeared in her eyes was something dark, twisted, and alien. At times, she would speak in languages no one knew, including Latin and German—languages she had never learned. The priests, shocked and horrified, recognized these signs as symptoms of demonic possession.
As the days passed, Clara’s condition worsened. The priests, convinced that the girl was possessed by a powerful demon, began the arduous process of preparing for an exorcism. But the force they were about to contend with was unlike any they had encountered before. Every prayer, every attempt to calm Clara with holy water was met with violent resistance. At one point, the demon inside Clara manifested so violently that her body levitated above the floor, contorting in ways that no human body should be able to.
The possessed Clara also displayed feats of supernatural strength. On several occasions, multiple grown men were required to restrain her, but she would effortlessly overpower them, her hands locked around their throats with unnatural strength. The possessed girl would laugh maniacally, her voice a mixture of various languages, all the while spitting curses and blasphemies.
Things escalated further when the nuns and priests noticed strange marks appearing on Clara’s body—deep scratches, welts, and even burns—none of which could be explained by any natural cause. They would appear after she had outbursts of rage, and when they examined them closely, they appeared to form symbols—ancient, unholy symbols that were foreign to any of the clergy present. To make matters worse, the air around Clara grew cold, and the stench of sulfur filled the room—classic signs of demonic influence.
Perhaps the most horrifying aspect of the possession was Clara’s reaction to religious artifacts. Holy water, crucifixes, and rosaries—objects that she had once cherished—now caused her immense pain. At one point, when a priest attempted to place a crucifix near Clara’s face, she screamed in agony, her skin blistering where it came in contact with the sacred symbol. The very presence of the cross caused Clara to recoil, her body writhing in discomfort, as if an invisible force was fighting against its touch. The priests understood that they were not dealing with a mere spiritual disturbance, but with a demon of unimaginable power.
For weeks, the priests attempted various exorcism rituals, but none seemed to have any lasting effect. Clara’s body would go limp, her eyes would clear for a brief moment, and for an instant, it seemed as though the demon had been driven out—but within hours, the possession would return with even greater intensity. The demon would taunt the priests, revealing secrets about their lives, mocking their attempts at salvation, and even threatening the lives of those who dared to intervene. One priest, after performing a particularly aggressive ritual, was reported to have been thrown against a wall by an invisible force, leaving him unconscious for several hours.
It wasn’t until the final exorcism ritual, held in the dead of night, that the demon finally appeared to be driven out. As the priests chanted louder, Clara’s body began to convulse violently. Her voice became a cacophony of screams and curses, and it seemed as though the very foundation of the convent was shaking. The priests, desperate and exhausted, pushed through the chants with all their strength, their words trembling but unwavering.
In one final, desperate act, Clara’s body lifted from the ground, suspended in mid-air. The voices in the room grew louder, and the temperature plummeted to a freezing chill. Then, with a violent, soul-shaking shriek, Clara’s body fell back to the ground. Silence descended.
For the first time in weeks, Clara's body remained still, her breathing calm, her eyes clear. The demon had been expelled. She awoke, disoriented but free of the malevolent presence that had held her captive. The marks on her body disappeared, and the unnatural cold lifted from the room. But Clara had changed. Though she had been restored to herself physically, the experience left a profound mark on her. She would never speak of the horrors she had endured, but the trauma lingered in her eyes.
The possession of Clara Germana Cele became one of the most famous exorcism cases in history. For many, it served as a terrifying reminder of the power of the dark forces that lie beyond human understanding. Clara went on to live a quiet life after the exorcism, though she was forever haunted by what she had experienced. The case became the subject of extensive study within the church, and though many doubted the veracity of the accounts, those who had witnessed the events were forever changed.
The legend of Clara Germana Cele, the girl who had been possessed by a demon so powerful that it could not be easily cast out, remains one of the most disturbing and chilling cases of demonic possession ever recorded. And though the demon was expelled, the questions it raised about the true nature of evil—about the forces that lie beyond the realm of human understanding—continue to haunt those who dare to contemplate them.