On May 18, the Sisters of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, a community founded by Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, a Benedictine nun who died in 2019, exhumed the coffin of the 95-year-old African-American woman from the cemetery on the grounds of the rural monastery in Gower, Missouri, USA, in order to transfer her remains to the be transferred to its final resting place, the chapel. However, they noticed that the body remained intact, even four years after the burial.
Local Ordinary Vann Johnston of the Kansas City-St. The Bishop of Joseph Diocese visited the convent on Monday to view Sister Wilhelmina's remains. Johnston, who had already discussed the situation with church authorities in Rome, issued a statement later that day saying a "thorough investigation" was needed to answer the "important questions" raised by the body's condition.
Jack Klein, owner of Hixson-Klein Funeral Home in Gower, Missouri, said he was present at Sister Wilhelmina's funeral. He recalled that
the body was not embalmed, and no measures were taken to preserve the nun's remains.
It was also reported that a corpse had recently been put on display for pilgrims to visit, and it was noted that it had no foul smell at all, as a decomposing body should.
The official evaluation is still pending and may even take years before an evaluation is made. Additionally, diocese spokeswoman Ashlie Hand said the diocese is not aware of any specific church guidelines on how such an investigation should be conducted.
Source: New York Post
According to the sisters' plan, Wilhelmina's body will be placed in a glass case so that pilgrims can see it, as several thousands have already arrived at the monastery. In this regard, Hand said that “The condition of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster's remains has understandably generated widespread interest and raised important questions. At the same time, it is important to protect the integrity of Sister Wilhelmina's remains to allow for a thorough investigation".
"I ask all believers to continue to pray for the will of God in the lives of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, during the investigation; for all female monks; and for all the baptized in our common vocation to holiness, with hope and trust in the Lord".
The video is a bit disturbing, you can watch it here.
Source: vasarnap.hu
Featured image: GettyImages
