Brigid’s torments. The spiritual itinerary of a demoniac (1599-1601)

Abstract

Among the reports of miracles attributed to the intercession of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza (Spain), the story of Brígida Pérez is particularly notable. She had spent three years on pilgrimage to different holy sites seeking a remedy for her ailments. By her own avowal, Brígida had been possessed by three demons and was continually tormented by fifty-four others that had assumed the form of large flies. Although the surviving account of her story is brief, its fascinating wealth of detail makes it an exceptional source when it comes to analysing Early Modern Catholic beliefs about demonic posession, its relationship with witchcraft, and the supposed miracle of exorcism.