The body of a medieval Catholic saint was recently exhumed, leaving archaeologists and experts baffled by the condition of the body, according to a translated press release.
On August 28, the Diocese of Ávila announced that the tomb of Saint Teresa of Ávila (also known as Saint Teresa of Jesus) had been opened for the first time since 1914. Saint Teresa was a Carmelite nun without shoes and a major religious reformer during the Counter-Reformation who significantly reformed the Carmelite orders for men and women. She died in 1582.
The tomb was reopened for the first time in 110 years by a group of St. Teresa's Footloose Carmelite nuns, priests and monks, in order to examine the saint's body, particularly her heart, hands and arms.
“The process of obtaining the silver cube [contains] “The body of Saint Teresa is very complex,” he explained. “First, the marble slab in the tomb had to be removed. Then, in the room set up for the study of the important remains of the Saint – and with the participation of only the scientific medical team and members of the ecclesiastical court – the silver tomb was opened.” But Father Miguel Ángel González assured that the expedition was completed “with seriousness and solemnity” and “with hearts full of emotion.”
When researchers opened St. Teresa’s ashes, they were astonished to discover that her body had barely aged since it was last assessed in 1914. They used photographs taken at the time. “The exposed parts, which are the face and the feet, are the same as in 1914,” Father Marco Chiesa noted. “There is no color, no skin color, because the skin is mummified,” he explained. “But it is visible, especially in the middle of the face. The specialist doctors see Teresa’s face almost clearly,” Chieso added.
The examination of Saint Teresa’s body also revealed some of the medical conditions she suffered from. “We know that the last few years were difficult for her to walk because of the pain that she described,” Chiesa said. “Sometimes when you look at a body, you discover more than the person had. [spoken about]. Analysis of the foot [relic] “We saw the presence of calcareous thorns in Rome which made walking almost impossible.”
But Chiesa added: “He walked.” [to] Alba de Tormes died and then died, but her desire was to continue and move forward despite her physical imperfections.”
Although the analysis of Saint Teresa de Ávila's body is still in its early stages, experts say the process “[knowing] better saint, his offerings, [and] Information will be provided about the “last years of his life” and tactics for preserving other remains will be discussed.