Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster’s body was recovered from her Gower, Missouri grave without any signs of decay despite being buried since May 2019.
Lancaster’s body was being moved to a chapel inside of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles Monastery when it was viewed to be preserved.
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Her body wasn’t embalmed, which would’ve prevented it from decaying.
Faithful Catholics are rushing to a Missouri church after a late nun’s body was exhumed four years after her death with no signs of decay, as some call for her to be made a saint.
Hundreds are making the pilgrimage to Gower – about 39 miles north of Kansas City – to witness the unblemished body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, who died in May 2019 at the age of 95.
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Lancaster’s body was buried outside of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles Monastery, and was recently dug up to be placed in a better tomb inside the chapel.
At the time of Lancaster’s death, the nun wasn’t embalmed and workers expected to uncover bones from her body but instead found it perfectly intact. When a body is embalmed, it prevents human remains from decaying.
The phenomenon is being referred to as ‘a miracle in Missouri’ with people rushing to view the body that will be on display until May 29.
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Mother Cecilia, head of the monastery, recalled the moment she first saw Lancaster’s body.
A crack in the coffin led to a layer of mold forming over the nun’s body. But as the abbess took a closer look, she was shocked to see a body part fully intact.
‘I thought I saw a completely full, intact foot and I said, “I didn’t just see that,”‘ she said, according to the Catholic News Agency.
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The abbess took a closer look and ‘cheered’ as she confirmed the sighting, ‘I see her foot!’]
As mold was removed from Lancaster’s body, the crown and flowers she buried with along with her rosary and crucifix, remained nearly untouched, according to the news agency.
Mother Cecilia referred to the miracle as ‘hope’ and referred to the late nun as having strong faith and trust.
Several people have called to canonize Lancaster as a saint since her body appeared to be incorruptible after four years underground.
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The Catholic Church believes a preserved body after death is a sign of holiness. But, an incorruptible body doesn’t always qualify a person for sainthood.
Rather, it is ‘appreciated’ by the church as a miracle that is unable to be understood outside of ‘Divine intervention,’ according to RomanCatholicSaints.com.
According to the church, there is a list of saints around the world whose bodies remain intact after hundreds of years.
Mary Lou Enna, 85, was one of the many visitors traveling to witness the miracle.
‘It was beautiful,’ the Kansas City resident told the news outlet. ‘At first, it was just a little unreal. But then as I just gazed at her, tears started coming and I just knew it was for real and very, very meaningful.’
‘It was miraculous to see her body in perfect condition after her body was in a grave for close to four years,’ Enna, 61, added.
Tanya and Joe Schultz travelled eight hours from Kentucky to see the body with their children.
Referring to it as a ‘great miracle,’ Tanya got close enough to Lancaster’s body to touch her rosary and scapular.
‘It’s believable and unbelievable at the same time,’ she said.
