The tomb of medieval Catholic saint St. Teresa of Jesus was recently opened for research, stunning those who found her body in remarkable condition. The Diocese of Avila in Spain announced the opening of her tomb, which had not been disturbed since 1914. St. Teresa, also known as St. Teresa of Avila, was a Discalced Carmelite nun who died in 1582, and her body has reportedly remained incorrupt since then. A group of Discalced Carmelite nuns, monks, and priests opened the tomb to study relics of St. Teresa’s heart, hand, and arm with solemnity and emotion.
The process to reach the silver urn containing St. Teresa’s body was complex, involving the removal of a marble slab before the tomb was opened in the presence of a scientific medical team and members of the ecclesiastical court. Fr. Marco Chiesa noted that the remains of the saint had been preserved remarkably well, with the uncovered parts, such as the face and foot, appearing the same as they did in 1914. Despite the mummified skin lacking color, experts were able to see Teresa’s face clearly, providing insight into her health conditions prior to her death.
Researchers studying St. Teresa’s body have gained a better understanding of the health issues she suffered from in her final years, including calcareous spines that made walking almost impossible. Despite her physical struggles, St. Teresa continued onward, eventually walking to Alba de Tormes where she passed away. Fr. Chiesa believes that the ongoing analysis of Teresa’s corpse will provide valuable data and recommendations for preserving relics, even though the project is still in its early stages.
The study of St. Teresa of Jesus’s body has provided researchers with insight into her physical condition and the challenges she faced in her final years. The project has also shed light on the preservation of relics, offering the opportunity to learn how to better maintain such artifacts for the future. Fr. Chiesa anticipates that further analysis will yield valuable information about the saint and offer recommendations for conservation efforts, advancing the knowledge of relic preservation in the process.
