April 25: The Exorcist

Welcome to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Today is April 25th, and our story is The Exorcist. In 1949, Georgetown University was abuzz with rumors. A local priest had attempted an exorcism at the university hospital, and all had not gone well. William Peter Blatty, then a student at Georgetown, never forgot those rumors, and 20 years later, turned them into the best-selling novel, The Exorcist. While the country raved about The Exorcist, however, one person remained silent, the priest who conducted the exorcism upon which the book was based.

That priest was Father William S. Bodern, S.J. In 1949, Bowdoin was teaching at St. Louis University in St. Louis when one of his fellow priests asked him to evaluate a thirteen-year-old boy who showed signs of demonic possession. The boy, Roland Doe, had attempted to contact a deceased aunt through a Ouija board. After that, unexplainable events began occurring in Doe's home. Then, the boy himself began to change. His parents took him to their Lutheran pastor. The pastor attempted an exorcism. When that didn't work, he suggested they call the Catholics.

One priest tried, but was injured in the process. That's when Bowdoin entered the picture. Over the course of three weeks, Bodern and two assistants witnessed beds levitating, holy water sizzling, and strange writing mysteriously appearing and disappearing on the boy's body. At times, the boy spoke in unknown tongues. He called himself Legion.

At long last, after three weeks of prayer and fasting, the rite concluded. There was a flash of light, a loud boom, and all signs of the demon disappeared. Nine priests and thirty-nine others witnessed the events. Years later, when Blatty came looking for help with his book, Bowdoin politely declined. He had vowed to remain silent about the exorcism. He may have regretted that vow, though, by 1973, when he saw the movie. Incensed by the inaccuracies, Bowdoin produced such a voluble stream of criticism during the film that the theater almost asked him to leave.

Bowdoin passed away ten years later, on April 25, 1983. This narrative challenges us to trust in God's power over darkness and to approach life's spiritual battles with prayerful seriousness, grounded in obedience and discernment. True courage is quiet and faithful, facing what is unseen while acting with integrity and reverence without seeking recognition.

Commit to a period of prayer this week, asking God for courage to confront spiritual or moral challenges in your life. Thank you for listening to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Join us tomorrow, April 26th, for another story of faith and courage in America.