Thousands Gather to Witness Body of Miracle Nun, Exhumed After Four Years Without Decay


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Witnesses have been arriving in numbers to a Catholic nun’s resting place. Her body, retrieved from a Missouri grave after four years, shows astonishingly little decay since her burial in 2019.

Crowds of faithful Catholics have been captured in long queues in Gower, about 40 miles north of Kansas City, eager to witness the uncorrupted body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, who passed away at the age of 95. Some are considering this a miraculous indication of sainthood.

According to Ashlie Hand, a spokesperson with the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, the abbey previously received around 20 visitors daily but is now greeting approximately 1,000 visitors on a daily basis. This number is expected to surge over the holiday weekend.

 Thousands of Catholics flock to Missouri church to pray over body of

Visitors have the opportunity to behold Lancaster’s body and offer their prayers. The visiting hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. After May 29, visitors can continue seeing the nun but will not be allowed to touch her as her body will be encased in glass.

The church is conducting an investigation into the case as incorruptibility can potentially signify sainthood, although this has not been confirmed. Bishop James Johnston of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph emphasized the need ‘to protect the integrity of the mortal remains of Sister Wilhelmina to allow for a thorough investigation.’ The process of pursuing the cause for sainthood has not been initiated in this case.

Lancaster’s body was initially buried outside the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles Monastery and later relocated to a better tomb inside the chapel. At the time of her death, her body was not embalmed, and her casket was made of simple wood without an exterior layer. However, when the coffin was opened, her body was found to be perfectly preserved instead of expected bones.

‘Incorruptibility has been verified in the past, but it is very rare. There is a well-established process to pursue the cause for sainthood, but that has not been initiated in this case yet.’

‘You can’t Google, ‘What do you do with an incorrupt body?” she said, ‘so we started with the basics, just cleaning her with hot water, because clinging to her face was basically a mask of thick mold.’

‘Bishop Johnston invites all the Faithful to continue praying during this time of investigation for God’s will in the lives of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles; for all women religious; and all the baptized in our common vocation to holiness, with hope and trust in the Lord.’

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