Blumhardt and the Exorcism of Gottliebin Dittus – 1
This series tells the 19th Century story of Lutheran minister, Johannes Blumhardt, and the exorcism of Gottliebin Dittus, his paranormal encounters, and the following spiritual awakening in the area. Along the way, there are pieces of evidence which will challenge our thinking and cause us to stop, think, engage with Scripture, and consider whether what we know may not be so. The account of is recorded in much more detail by Zuendel (1999) in The Awakening, a highly recommended little book, which one can read through in about an hour. The various accounts read like a film plot akin to The Exorcist, and similarly show the power of good over evil.
The New Parish
Johannes Blumhardt, 33, was appointed in 1838 to serve as Lutheran pastor to two areas of Möttlingen and Haugstett, both at the northern end of the Black Forest. His predecessor commented on how the place was a sleepy area which greatly resisted any good news being preached, with his congregation often sleeping in the pews.
After three years, he was to have a spiritual encounter that would change not only his life, but the lives of those immediately affected, as well as the lives of those in the entire region…
It all began with one of his parishioners, Gottliebin Dittus, who was known as a God-fearing woman with a gift of being ‘especially alert in an inner way and receptive to deeper insights’, and who also appears to had a nervous disorder. Initially this would exhibit itself as random epileptic seizures, but as time passed, their peculiarities led her local doctor to believe there may be something more to them, possibly of a supernatural origin. Accounts suggest that at the time that she had been engaging in certain folk-magic practices which many believed to be responsible for her afflictions.
Having been the favourite parishioner of her previous parish minister, Gottliebin’s first experience of Blumhardt’s preaching was hardly positive – she felt the urge to scratch his eyes out! Yet, for some strange reason, she made a point of regularly attending the weekly Sunday service at one of the two churches. This in itself was no mean feat, involving a walk of several miles to get there, despite having different length legs. Her unpleasant attitude towards Blumhardt was openly shown at times, to the embarrassment of those around her.
The Beginning of Stranger Things
When the Dittus family moved home within the village, the first grace said at the kitchen table left Gottliebin falling unconscious at the words “Come, Lord Jesus and be our guest.” Weird things began to happen in the house: banging, shuffling, visions of small figures and lights, and Gottliebin felt sudden urges which contorted her body into strange positions.
The neighbours were beginning to detect that something was not right, but the family’s social status as poor orphans meant these concerns were ignored, even by Blumhardt when he heard of them. The strange occurrences continued to build up. Eventually, Gottliebin visited Blumhardt and confessed some of her past wrongful activities to him. Her confessions, however, were so vague that Blumhardt really couldn’t offer any helpful advice.
Over time, she would exhibit rather strange behaviour around him, which was not observed before or after each encounter with him. She refused to look him in the face, nor keep her hands together when Blumhardt tried praying with her, putting on an air of pride before him. At this point, Blumhardt intentionally kept his distance, feeling nothing he could offer would help her.
Thankfully, she was able to reveal her spooky experiences to her friend and physician, Dr Späth, who listened but found he too could offer no real help.
The Ghostly Apparition
Nearly two years later, tired at the banging noises which were now loud enough to affect the whole village, her relatives approached Blumhardt for help, telling him of the apparition she claimed to have seen at the end of her bed: a woman, holding a dead child in her arms, saying: ‘I just want to find rest’, and ‘Give me a paper, and I won’t come again.’
Fearing being sucked into spiritualistic practices, Blumhardt ordered that they should in no way attempt to communicate with it, and advised one of the sisters sleep in the same room as her. This proved too much for the sister, who, disturbed greatly by the thumping sounds, asked Gottliebin to investigate with her what might be causing them. Guided by a shaft of light, to a floorboard in the room, they discovered soot-smeared pieces of paper with some sort of writing on (illegible) and three crowns, one minted in 1828. From that point on there was no further activity in the Dittus household for two weeks.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Blumhardt wrote in a letter to his predecessor: ‘The spook business has come to an end’. He would later discover his assessment of the situation was very wide of the mark indeed!
Next Time – The increase in severity of paranormal activity surrounding poor Gottliebin and the Dittus household leads Blumhardt to the inevitability that an exorcism is required. Meanwhile, word gets around the area and the village experiences an influx of tourists longing to experience the paranormal happenings for themselves. Wanting to protect the family and village, Blumhardt decides to create an investigation team for an all night vigil and put an end to this. They get more than they bargain for!
Interesting reading Matt.
I wanted read partsx
2 to 6 but can’t seem to access.tgem
Are you releasing in instalments?
Thanks.
Parts 1-6 are being released one per day this week. Stay tuned :).