During the Middle Ages, a French convent experienced an epidemic like no other – the nuns couldn’t stop acting like cats.. The behavior was so strange it caused an army to intervene. But it’s not the only time in history a plague like this has affected nuns – which makes many wonder if it’s the work of the devil himself.  

Listen to HAUNTED: The Loudon Possessions here, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

An illustration from the 17th century depicting witches and their so-called familiars.

An illustration from the 17th century depicting witches and their so-called familiars. Courtesy of New England Folklore.blogspot
Drawing of the possessed nuns at the convent of Saint-Ursule during the Loudun possessions.

Drawing of the possessed nuns at the convent of Saint-Ursule during the Loudun possessions. Courtesy of Mary Evans Picture Library
Image of Benjamin Guy Babington (left) and Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (right) who studied the Meowing Nuns.

Image of Benjamin Guy Babington (left) and Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (right) who studied the Meowing Nuns. Courtesy of Curious Archive and wikipedia
Babington’s translator note in Hecker’s ‘The Epidemics of the Middle Ages’ (1844), page 118.

Babington’s translator note in Hecker’s ‘The Epidemics of the Middle Ages’ (1844), page 118. Courtesy of Archive.org

Episode Source Material

BOOKS

ACADEMIC PAPERS

WEB/SOCIAL MEDIA/MESSAGE BOARDS