The Aix-en-Provence Possession Case

By Crusader1307

 In a case eerily similar to the later ''Salem Witchcraft Trials'', The Aix-en-Provence Case may have been a case of possessions by Demons or, as many felt later a case of hysteria brought about by The Age (combined with a healthy dose of ''impropriety''). In 1607, Southern French Regional to The Aix Provence, Priest Farther Louis Gaufridi was ''well liked''. He served (as was traditional) as ''Confessor'' to a local Order of Ursuline Nuns as well as that to a Nobleman's daughter, one Madeleine Demandoix. It was said that perhaps The Nuns ''liked'' The Father ''too'' much, perhaps even harboring ''illicit desires''. The same may have been for the young Noblewoman, whereas Fr. Gaufridi was ''close'' to Her as well.

Demandoix presented herself to The Superior of The Ursuline Convent, claiming that Fr. Gaufridi had been ''intimate'' with Her (and had done ''unspeakable acts''). In order to properly investigate the Case, the girl was sent to a Sister Convent (1609) for save keeping. It was there that the girl began to exhibit ''strange actions'' to include ''speaking in a deep and unearthly voice, shaking and convulsing''. Other ''acts'' were claimed to have been witnessed. Priests attempted several Exorcisms on the girl. The girl exhibited signed of ''demonic infestation'' as well as a mysterious ''mark'' (blemish) she did not have before. The ''mark'' was said to have ''appeared before The Exorcist''. As this Case was developing, yet another girl (this time a Ursuline Sister) appeared. She too claimed that Fr. Guadfridi had been intimate with Her and had further ''cast spells'' on Her to make Her ''will not Her own''.

Father Guadfridi was arrested and detained by Church Authorities at this point. Both girls were resistant to the Rite of Exorcism, so ''harsher'' acts were take. The girls were taken to a Cave reputed to have been a residence of Mary Magdeline (of The Bible). The Cave was seen to be a ''Holy Place''. The planned exorcism commenced. However, both girls seemed to be ''acting and trying to outdo each other with presenting a much more grandiose ''spectacle''. The Inquisition of The Church began their investigation of Gaudfrini. They determined that The Ursuline Nuns were too ''close'' to their Priest and many thought that perhaps Gaudfrini may have been ''intimate'' with several. Gaudfridi of course denied this and the claims of the two ''possessed'' girls. He claimed it was they who were ''lusting for Him''. The Priest was even subjected to various religious relics in an attempt to establish if He too was possessed. Nothing happened in any case.

The Church Court then resorted to it's ''time honored'' method of interrogation torture. Fr. Gaudfrini was subjected to many such means to extract ''the truth''. At some point the pain got the better of Him and He ''confessed'' to all charges (Practicing Demonic Rites, Invoking Demons, Casting Demons into The Innocent, Corruption of other Religious and Unnatural Intimate Acts). Gaudfridi signed his written Confession and was convicted to be ''purged'' by fire (The Stake). This was later lessened to being executed by Strangulation first then burnt. The sentence was carried out in 1611. of the girls, The Noblewoman was released but kept under the scrutiny of The Inquisition. She would be tried several times in Her life for practicing Witchcraft. The final trial in 1652 resulted in Her being imprisoned for life. She died at the age of 77. The second girl (was banished from The Sisterhood). It is unclear of her end.