Thousands flock to see barely decomposed body of exhumed nun

2023-05-30 23:12:55

CHRISTIANNEWS.COM.- A Missouri nun, who died in 2019, has become a focal point for some faithful, after her body was recently exhumed and her remains are reportedly almost intact.

Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, who died at age 95, was exhumed last month, nearly four years after she passed away on May 29, 2019. Her body was placed inside a glass shrine Monday, according to CBS. News .

initial exhumation

The report has sent thousands of people to see his body for themselves at the Benedictine Chapel of Mary, Queen of Apostles in Gower, Missouri, as he pointed CBS .

With so much information about the Lancaster spread, the nuns posted an explanation on their website to “clarify” some of the facts, including why the initial exhumation took place.

“Our Abbey had been planning the addition of a St. Joseph Shrine within the oratory for quite some time, including the reburial of the remains of our beloved founder, Sister Wilhelmina,” says the explanation.

“Last month, in preparation for the construction of the shrine, we exhumed her, after being told to expect bones in the highly moist Missouri clay, as she was buried in a simple wooden coffin without any embalming whatsoever four years ago. ”.

Does God work in mysterious ways?

The nuns said they intended to carry out all these acts in “privacy”, although “the discovery of what appeared to be an intact body and a perfectly preserved religious habit created an unexpected twist” in their plans. It turns out that a private email sent about the matter was made public.

With the news spreading quickly, the nuns’ previously secret find was made public. “God works in mysterious ways and we accept his new plan for us.” they wrote the nuns.

The typically quiet religious women said their lives have been surprisingly monumentally impacted by the hordes of people who flock to the small town. They thanked the volunteers and members of the local police for helping to maintain order amidst the chaos.

The nuns said they will allow it to develop the process to study what’s happening to Lancaster’s body. Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr., of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph also issued a statement on May 26 in which he noted that the “widespread interest” in the case is understandable and that important questions have been raised.

Johnston said: “Visitors should not touch or venerate his body, or treat it as relics.” He also encouraged prayer throughout the research process as interest continues to spread.

The faithful who flock to see the nun’s remains have certainly been wowed. Rita Cospelich of Blue Springs, Missouri, told WDAF-TV that she felt the Lord during her visit.

“I felt that the presence of God was there as soon as I entered the monastery. It is a true miracle. I really think so.” said. “God works in strange ways with miracles.”

Lack of decomposition as a sign of a miracle

Dr. Rebecca George, professor of anthropology at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, qualified the state of the body as “typical” in light of the coffin and the clothing the nun wore during the burial.

“When there’s decreased oxygen flow, like in a coffin, and in a colder climate, like the clay that the coffin was in, it could absolutely slow down decomposition,” he told CBS. News .

“The public rarely sees a human body in this stage of decomposition, so this is likely contributing to the interest we’re seeing.”

Dr. Nicholas Passalacqua, associate professor and director of forensic anthropology at Western Carolina University, agreed and pointed out that generally It takes five years for a body to decompose into a skeleton.

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