MENU
  • Loading ...
  • Loading ...

Accommodation Great Ocean Road

Latest News Accommodation Great Ocean Road

Are you looking for a holiday? Get special deals.

 

Corpse of 16th-century Catholic saint found 'perfectly preserved' goes on display, astonishing worshippers

14 May 2025 By foxnews

Corpse of 16th-century Catholic saint found 'perfectly preserved' goes on display, astonishing worshippers

WARNING: This article contains graphic images. Reader discretion is advised.

The well-preserved body of an early modern saint was put on display in Spain on Sunday, months after she was discovered "miraculously incorrupt" last year.

St. Teresa of Jesus, also called St. Teresa of Avila, was a Discalced Carmelite nun who was born in 1515 and died in 1582. This weekend, her body was put on public display in Alba de Tormes, Spain, for the first time since 1914.

Pictures show Catholics visibly taken aback by the display, which was part of the opening ceremony of public veneration, on Sunday. 

DOZENS OF ANCIENT SKELETONS FOUND IN HEART OF BUSTLING CITY: 'HARD TO IMAGINE'

Observers were seen covering their mouths, crying and praying at the sight of the Spanish saint.

The body of St. Teresa was dressed in a nun's habit during the showing. Though the remains appeared mostly skeletal, certain areas appeared extremely well-preserved, including her foot.

In September, officials from the Diocese of Avila opened St. Teresa's tomb and reported that she appeared exactly the same as when her tomb was first exhumed in 1914.

"The uncovered parts, which are the face and foot, are the same as they were in 1914," Fr. Marco Chiesa said at the time. 

EXPERTS SHOCKED BY ANCIENT KING ARTHUR MANUSCRIPT FOUND TUCKED INSIDE BOOK: 'SURVIVED THE CENTURIES'

"There is no color, there is no skin color, because the skin is mummified, but it is seen, especially in the middle of the face."

He added, "[It] looks good. Expert doctors see Teresa's face almost clearly."

Researchers were also able to uncover insight into the female saint's medical history, as she had suffered from chronic pain that eventually rendered her immobile. 

Chiesa found calcareous spines, or heel spurs, that "made walking almost impossible" for St. Teresa.

For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle

The Catholic official said, "Sometimes, looking at a body, you discover more than the person had [spoken about]."

He added, "She walked [to] Alba de Tormes and then died, but her desire was to continue and move forward, despite the physical defects."

In March, Spanish newspaper Salamanca RTV Al Dia reported that the Discalced Carmelites received a 53-page preliminary analysis of the saint's condition, which a professor described as "perfectly preserved."

"The right foot, left hand, heart and left arm are perfectly preserved, with intact skin, subcutaneous tissues and muscles in place and no signs of degradation," Italian anthropology professor Luigi Capasso said to the outlet.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Preserved strands of brown hair were also reported by officials, though they appeared to be covered by the nun's headdress on Sunday. 

The saint also still retains one right eyelid and a dark iris, along with nasal tissue, according to Salamanca RTV Al Dia.

Officials believe that St. Teresa remained in such extraordinary condition due to the dry atmosphere of her tomb. 

Excessive moisture typically accelerates the decomposing process, and Capasso reported that he had taken care to "block any future degradation, mechanical or biological."

"This preservation, more than 400 years after her death, transmits a serenity that reflects how she faced her departure," the professor said. 

"It is a truly unique natural phenomenon."

More News

Booking.com
Brain implant enables ALS patient to communicate using AI
Brain implant enables ALS patient to communicate using AI
Fox News AI Newsletter: Scammers can exploit your data from just 1 ChatGPT search
Fox News AI Newsletter: Scammers can exploit your data from just 1 ChatGPT search
Massive data breach exposes 184 million passwords and logins
Massive data breach exposes 184 million passwords and logins
Beach days benefit mental health and well-being as visits provide 'sea therapy'
Beach days benefit mental health and well-being as visits provide 'sea therapy'
Woman makes 'miracle' discovery in debris 7 months after surviving Hurricane Helene with boyfriend
Woman makes 'miracle' discovery in debris 7 months after surviving Hurricane Helene with boyfriend
Behar says Dem effort to reclaim men is a 'waste of money,' suggests 'teaching them to not be such sexists'
Behar says Dem effort to reclaim men is a 'waste of money,' suggests 'teaching them to not be such sexists'
Former LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne in tears over stalking fears: 'I don't know what to do'
Former LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne in tears over stalking fears: 'I don't know what to do'
'Desperate Housewives' star Valerie Mahaffey dead at 71
'Desperate Housewives' star Valerie Mahaffey dead at 71
Fox News Entertainment Newsletter: Trump pardons Todd, Julie Chrisley, Hugh Jackman's ex-wife speaks out
Fox News Entertainment Newsletter: Trump pardons Todd, Julie Chrisley, Hugh Jackman's ex-wife speaks out
Who is Julius Malema, the South African politician behind 'kill the farmer' chant?
Who is Julius Malema, the South African politician behind 'kill the farmer' chant?
Woody Harrelson and Bill Maher's cannabis shop hit in overnight burglary
Woody Harrelson and Bill Maher's cannabis shop hit in overnight burglary
Tinder's new head pushes company to move away from 'hookup' reputation and rebrand for Gen Z users
Tinder's new head pushes company to move away from 'hookup' reputation and rebrand for Gen Z users
Dodgers beat Yankees in World Series rematch with comeback win powered by Shohei Ohtani's two homers
Dodgers beat Yankees in World Series rematch with comeback win powered by Shohei Ohtani's two homers
Trump-backed candidate seeks to win Polish presidency in vital European election
Trump-backed candidate seeks to win Polish presidency in vital European election
Iran condemns Austria over report on advanced nuclear weapons program
Iran condemns Austria over report on advanced nuclear weapons program
College basketball player shot and killed at Texas pool party, one teen faces murder charge
College basketball player shot and killed at Texas pool party, one teen faces murder charge
Democratic rep calls on party to tolerate dissenting ideas on controversial issues
Democratic rep calls on party to tolerate dissenting ideas on controversial issues
Scottie Scheffler breaks out in laughter after Peyton Manning's errant tee shot reportedly hits house
Scottie Scheffler breaks out in laughter after Peyton Manning's errant tee shot reportedly hits house
Navy veteran's $500M defamation lawsuit against Associated Press advances with first hearing
Navy veteran's $500M defamation lawsuit against Associated Press advances with first hearing
Chrisley family going through 'big adjustment' after Todd, Julie released from prison
Chrisley family going through 'big adjustment' after Todd, Julie released from prison
Latest News

copyright © 2025 Accommodation Great Ocean Road.   All rights reserved.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z