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Incorruptibles         

 

While the souls of some of the saints of the Catholic Church have long ago gone to heaven, their bodies are still here. Their bodies have not decayed. They have not been embalmed. This has been the basic definition of what is known as “ an incorruptible” in the Catholic Church.

The major difference between a mummy and an incorruptible is that an incorruptible has not been deliberately preserved. In the Middle Ages, when bodies were exhumed or otherwise come upon which were found to be remarkably intact, the phenomenon was attributed to heavenly intervention and the bodies would be put on display in churches. Such churches would of course become more famous than others and people would flock to see the incorruptible body.

The most famous incorruptible is Saint Bernadette. A shepherd girl from Lourdes, France, Bernadette Soubirous had 18 apparitions when a lady appeared to her. The lady finally identified herself as “The Immaculate Conception”. The lady instructed Bernadette to dig in a certain spot where a spring appeared. The spring at Lourdes became known for its healing powers. Uncomfortable with all the hoopla and publicity, Bernadette became a nun and joined the Sisters of Charity. While Bernadette used the waters to cure her asthma, she did not go to the spring when she contracted tuberculosis and died at her order’s motherhouse in Nevers, France at age 35 in 1879.

Bernadette’s body was exhumed on September 2, 1909, 30 years after her death in connection with the petition to declare her a saint. This exhumation took place in the presence of church officials, as well as two doctors. They found Bernadette’s body remarkably intact which greatly supported the petition to have her canonized. The nuns washed and reclothed the body and she was buried again in a new double casket.

Saint Bernadette's incorruptible body displayed in France. She passed away in 1879.

Saint Veronica Giuliani whom passed away in 1727.

Saint John Vianney, whom passed away in 1859.

 

Saint Vincent de Paul whom died in 1660.