Anneliese Michel was born September 21, 1952 in the community of Leiblfing in West Germany.
She lived with her three sisters and her parents Josef and Anna. The family were devout Roman Catholics who attended Mass twice a week.
Her father Josef had considered training as a priest and three of her aunts were nuns.
As a child her mother Anna, encouraged Anneliese and her sisters to atone for the sins of others. Anna, as she was known, led a normal life until the age of 16 when she suffered a severe epileptic fit.