Used with permission. Excerpt from the book, 50 Famous Exorcisms by Robert J Dornan
In the quiet, rolling hills of the French countryside, in a small town called Vervins, a tale of demonic possession unfolded that would echo across centuries. It was the year 1565, during an era when the lines between the earthly and the supernatural were often blurred. The Roman Catholic Church held firm in its power, and belief in demonic forces was widespread. It was in this environment of fervent religious conviction that a young woman named Nicola Aubrey became the center of one of the most harrowing and well-documented cases of possession in history and it is why Nicola is chapter number one.
Nicola Aubrey, the daughter of a devout Catholic family, was said to be possessed by multiple demons, twenty-nine to be precise. Her exorcism spanned several months, drawing crowds from nearby villages and even the attention of royalty. This chilling tale not only speaks to the power of faith but also to the terror that gripped the hearts of those who witnessed the struggle for Nicola’s soul.
Nicola was, by all accounts, an ordinary young woman before the onset of her possession. She lived with her family in Vervins, a small town in northeastern France. There was no warning, no gradual descent into madness. The first signs of trouble came suddenly. Nicola began to experience violent fits, her body convulsing as if unseen hands were manipulating her limbs. Her family, at first alarmed but hoping for a natural explanation, sought the help of local physicians.
It soon became clear that Nicola’s condition was far beyond the realm of medicine. Her fits escalated into something far more terrifying. She spoke in languages she had never learned, cursed her family and God with blasphemies that were beyond her usual gentle nature. Nicola’s voice deepened unnaturally, and she often shrieked, her eyes rolling back into her head as she claimed to be under the control of infernal spirits. Objects in her room would inexplicably move, and an oppressive sense of dread began to permeate the Aubrey household.
Desperate and afraid, the Aubrey family turned to the Church. The local clergy were initially skeptical, but after witnessing Nicola’s violent episodes and the strange occurrences that followed her, they concluded that something supernatural was at play. Nicola was possessed, they believed, by not just one demon, but an army of them.
The case was so severe that the local priest felt ill-equipped to handle the situation alone. Word quickly spread about Nicola Aubrey’s possession, and soon, a prominent exorcist, Father Louis de Blécourt, was summoned. Known for his spiritual strength and unwavering faith, Father de Blécourt took on the challenge with great solemnity. It was said that even as he approached Nicola for the first time, the air in the room grew cold, and her violent thrashing intensified.
The first exorcism ritual took place in Vervins, in front of the local clergy and members of the community. Father de Blécourt stood over the trembling girl, his hands gripping a crucifix tightly as he invoked the name of God to drive out the demonic entities. Nicola’s body contorted unnaturally; her face twisted in agony as she screamed profanities at the priest. Witnesses claimed that her voice shifted between the deep, guttural growl of a demon and the shrill scream of a tormented soul.
The demons were relentless. Over the course of several exorcisms, Father de Blécourt came to understand that Nicola was possessed by a hierarchy of demons, each more malevolent than the last. Among them were Beelzebub, known as the Prince of Demons, Leviathan, the serpent from the sea, and even Lucifer himself, according to accounts. These demons spoke through Nicola, mocking the priest and his efforts, claiming her soul as their own.
Despite the overwhelming presence of these dark forces, Father de Blécourt did not falter. With each session, he recited prayers, read from the Scriptures, and used holy water to cleanse Nicola’s tormented body. The demons, enraged, would cause her to thrash violently, often to the point where several men were required to hold her down. She would spit, bite, and curse, her body a battlefield between heaven and hell.
As the exorcisms continued, it became clear that a greater force was needed to free Nicola from the clutches of the demonic horde. Father de Blécourt decided to move her to the nearby city of Laon, where the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Laon, a sacred site, could provide the spiritual strength necessary for the final confrontation.
On January 8, 1566, Nicola Aubrey was brought to the cathedral, her frail body restrained but her spirit still under the control of the demons. A large crowd gathered, many drawn by curiosity, others by fear. The cathedral’s towering spires cast long shadows as Father de Blécourt prepared for what would be the ultimate battle for Nicola’s soul.
The exorcism began with solemnity, the air thick with anticipation. As Father de Blécourt began his prayers, Nicola’s body stiffened. Her eyes, once a soft brown, turned black, and her voice became a chilling growl. The demons within her raged, each one fighting against the divine forces summoned by the priest. The clash of these unseen forces was palpable; those in attendance described a sense of foreboding, as if the very ground beneath them trembled with the weight of the battle.
As Father de Blécourt raised the crucifix and invoked the name of the Virgin Mary, Nicola let out an ear-splitting scream that seemed to shake the cathedral walls. She convulsed violently, and for a moment, it appeared as though the demons had won. But then, in a moment of divine clarity, Nicola’s body fell still, and a calm washed over her. Her eyes returned to their natural color, and she whispered faintly, “They are gone.”
The exorcism of Nicola Aubrey was deemed a success, and she was finally freed from the demonic possession that had tormented her for months. The case became a symbol of the Church’s power over evil and was recorded in great detail, ensuring that the tale would be passed down through generations.
For Nicola, the road to recovery was long. Her body had been ravaged by the possession, and it took time for her to regain her strength. She lived the rest of her life in relative obscurity, her story surviving as a testament to both the horrors of demonic possession and the unwavering faith of those who fought to save her soul.
All Robert J Dornan books can be found on every major platform and in thousands of libraries. Many are also available in French, Spanish, German, and Tagalog
Robert J Dornan Book Platform – PhilippineOne
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