Karoline Beller
Karoline Beller was born on 11 November 1830. Her father died before she was one year old and her mother remarried, leaving her to be raised by her grandfather, a former shepherd. On 28 March 1845, Karoline became ill (cramps) and while the physician could initially treat her, the condition deteriorated until, by the end of the month, she could no longer speak. From 2 May onwards, she no longer ate and on 16 and 17 May, the first traces of blood were visible on her face. On 18 May, there were traces on her hands and feet. The rumour spread in Lütgeneder and soon there were visitors even from outside the village. Thousands of people from all social classes came to see her, but after two weeks the public spectacle was stopped, although the discussions lasted for months. Newspaper articles and a small booklet were both the products and promotors of the continuous stream of visitors. An artist from Warburg was also invited to create a portrait of Karoline (1000 copies were produced in Kassel).
Newspaper articles document the failed attempts to transfer Karoline to Warburg for a physical examination. The physicians and authorities encountered vehement protest (among other reasons because Karoline was already under the medical supervision of State approved physicians). The originally spontaneous mobilization of the Catholic population soon became more organized, while at the beginning of June, two physicians travelled to Lütgeneder and began questioning her before undertaking an examination. Karoline’s hands and feet were ‘sealed’ (‘versiegelt’) and no new traces of stigmata were detected. One of the physicians, Pieper, pleaded for Karoline’s removal from the unhealthy religious atmosphere, in which she was surrounded by masses who wanted to see her. Before the order to transfer her (by gendarmes) could be executed, Karoline was allegedly healthy again. Nonetheless, on 6 June, Karoline was taken from Lütgeneder and images of her were confiscated. As the doctors could not find a medical explanation, Karoline was put in isolation in a hospital from 9 June, and on 19-20 June she confessed to everything they asked. On the same day, however, she wrote to her pastor and godmother that she had confessed under pressure. After 15 months, she was allowed to leave the hospital, but on the condition that she went to stay with her mother in Borgentreich and did not return to Lütgeneder.
Muhs, Rudolf, 1995. ‘Die Stigmata der Karoline Beller. Ein katholisches Frauenschicksal des Vormärz im Spannungsfeld von Volksreligiosität, Kirche, Staat und Medizin‘. In Irmtraud Götz von Olenhusen, ed., Wunderbare Erscheinungen: Frauen und katholische Frömmigkeit im 19. Und 20. Jahrhundert. Paderborn Schöningh, pp.83-130.
Jacobi, W., 1923. Die Stigmatisierten: Beiträge zur Psychologie der Mystik. Munich: Verlag von J.F. Bergmann, p.46.
Brück, Anton Theobald, 1884. ‘Die Stigmatisierten‘. Nord und Süd, 30, pp.67-87.