"Saint Teresa’s 440-Year Miracle Corpse Unveiled After Century-Long Hiatus"
This title condenses key details: the saint’s miraculously preserved body, its 440-year
Saint Teresa of Ávila’s Exhumation Reveals Remarkable Preservation
The body of Saint Teresa of Ávila, a 16th-century mystic and Catholic saint, was exhumed in August 2025, marking the first public display of her remains since 1914. The event, held at the Basilica of the Annunciation in Alba de Tormes, Spain, drew crowds of devotees and scholars intrigued by the saint’s astonishingly preserved body.
A Miracle of Preservation
Saint Teresa, who died in 1582 at age 67, was exhumed from her tomb in a Spanish church, revealing her body in a near-pristine state. Her face remained clearly visible, and her limbs showed no signs of decay, a phenomenon the Catholic Church describes as “incorrupt.” Experts, including General Postulator Marco Chiesa, noted the body’s condition defies typical decomposition processes, sparking both reverence and scientific curiosity.
Historical and Spiritual Significance
A key figure in Catholic mysticism, Saint Teresa reformed the Carmelite order and became the first woman declared a Doctor of the Church in 1970. Her writings on spiritual devotion and her founding of monasteries across Spain cemented her legacy. The 2025 exhumation aimed to study her remains for insights into her health and preservation, with researchers collecting DNA samples and conducting X-rays.
Guarded by Ten Keys
