Four years after her death, the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster at a convent in Missouri, USA, showed no signs of decomposition, even though it was not embalmed.
Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster is the founder of the Benedictine Sisters of Our Lady of Ephesus Monastery in Gower, Missouri, about an hour's drive from Kansas City.
Her body was exhumed on May 18 and transferred to her final resting place in a monastery chapel, four years after her death.
Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, founder of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary at Our Lady of Ephesus Monastery in Gower, Missouri, USA. Photo: Catholic News Agency
But when the coffin was opened, Sister Lancaster's body was still intact and showed little sign of decomposition. She was never embalmed and was buried in a cracked wooden coffin.
"The cemetery staff said that under such conditions, Sister Lancaster would only have bones left because she was buried without embalming, in a simple wooden coffin," said a nun at the convent.
Excavators found a layer of mold on Sister Lancaster's body, likely caused by condensation in the cracked coffin, but only a very small portion of the body had decomposed.
In Catholicism, bodies that do not decompose are called "incorruptible." This is a sign of holiness and can later be used as evidence for canonization.
Some experts say it is not uncommon for bodies to remain in good condition for several years after death, even if they are not embalmed.
Sister Lancaster's body was exhumed and placed at the monastery on May 21. Photo: OSV News
"It typically takes about five years for a body to become skeletal. And that's without a coffin or any other type of preservation," explained Nicholas Passalacqua, an associate professor and expert in forensic anthropology at Western Carolina University. "So for a body buried in a coffin, I personally don't find it too surprising that it's still well preserved after four years."
Still, news of the exhumation quickly spread on social media, and hundreds of people flocked to Missouri to witness the phenomenon. Sister Lancaster’s body will be moved and encased in glass on May 29. Visitors will still be able to come and see her, according to the convent’s website.
Vu Hoang (According to Guardian )
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