“The Mysterious Possessed Nun and the Cryptic Letter: Unveiling the Enigma”

Denis Bittencourt
3 min readJul 8, 2023

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In the world of unknown facts, there exist tales of nuns who became famous for their involvement in horror stories. While nuns are typically seen as devout and dedicated to God, some stories portray them as being closer to the devil than the creator. One such tale comes from Italy, where a nun gained notoriety for being possessed by malevolent entities. For almost four centuries, historians and linguists have tried to decipher the enigmatic letter she wrote in 1676. In 2017, a breakthrough was made, uncovering the secrets hidden within the letter. This article delves into the haunting story of Sister Maria Crocifissa della Concezione and the revelations found within her mysterious letter.

The Life of Sister Maria Crocifissa: Isabella Tomasi, later known as Sister Maria Crocifissa della Concezione, was born in Italy around 1745. Daughter of Prince Giulio Tomasi di Lampedusa, her family name carried significant weight due to their ancestral connection with the renowned writer Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, author of “The Leopard.” Details about Isabella’s childhood, such as her place of upbringing and education, remain unknown. At the age of 15, Isabella entered the convent of the Community of Paula and became a nun, taking on the name Maria Crocifissa.

The Troubled Nun: Throughout her 16 years in the convent, Sister Maria expressed her constant fear of demonic torment. She believed that Satan relentlessly tempted her to turn away from God and commit sins. Her experiences often left her and the other nuns bewildered and disturbed. Witnesses recalled instances where Sister Maria screamed in terror while approaching the altar, seemingly frightened by something invisible. On one occasion, she fainted, later confessing to hearing the voice of the devil whispering in her ear.

The Mysterious Letter: On August 11, 1676, Sister Maria was found writhing on the floor of her room. Her face was stained with what appeared to be black ink, and in one hand, she held a letter. Witnesses observed a peculiar trance-like state in the nun. When Maria returned to normal, she claimed to have been possessed by Satan. However, she had no recollection of writing the letter or its contents. The letter itself presented an extraordinary challenge, with a language that defied classification. Its script combined ancient Latin, Greek, Arabic, and unfamiliar symbols, earning it the name “Satan’s Calligraphy.”

The Long-Awaited Translation: For centuries, experts in linguistics, cryptography, and code-breaking attempted to decipher the cryptic letter to no avail. However, in 2017, a breakthrough occurred using an algorithm found in the depths of the Deep Web. Scientists from the Ludum Science Center in Catania, Italy, accessed a software used by military and governmental agencies for code-breaking purposes. With the software’s assistance, they recognized certain symbols and identified multiple languages embedded within the text. Finally, after nearly 400 years, approximately 70% of the letter’s content was translated.

The Sinister Revelations: The translated portion of the letter contained an unsettling message, suggesting that humans created God and that both God and Jesus were lifeless entities. Although the exact meaning of the word “Laìs” remains elusive, speculation points toward a connection with Greek mythology. It is important to note that this translation is an approximate interpretation, given that the original context remains ambiguous. Nonetheless, had anyone deciphered this message during Sister Maria’s time, they would have likely faced severe consequences, even execution for heresy.

Possible Explanations: Various theories attempt to explain the origins of the letter. Some suggest that Sister Maria may have devised an elaborate code to express her frustrations and rebellious thoughts, perhaps out of boredom within the convent. Others hypothesize that she may have suffered from severe psychological disorders, such as schizophrenia, which could have caused hallucinations and auditory delusions. Nevertheless, due to the lack of a definitive diagnosis, these theories remain speculative.

Conclusion: The letter written by Sister Maria Crocifissa della Concezione continues to fascinate and perplex scholars, historians, and religious authorities. Whether it was a genuine interaction with the demonic or an intricate ruse by a troubled nun, the letter’s translation provides a glimpse into a controversial and enigmatic chapter of history. Sister Maria’s story challenges our understanding of the spiritual realm and raises questions about the boundaries between religious devotion and psychological turmoil.

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