Thousands of people have been traveling to a small town in Missouri to see Sister Wilhemina Lancaster, a Catholic nun who passed away in 2019. The reason for their visit? Her body has shown very little decay despite being buried for four years.
Sister Wilhemina, a member of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles Monastery, died at the age of 95 on May 29, 2019. Recently, the sisters at the monastery decided to move her body into their chapel. They expected to find only bones, as is usual after several years. But when they opened her wooden casket, they were shocked—her body was still nearly intact.
The discovery was even more surprising because Sister Wilhemina was not embalmed, and her casket had a crack that allowed moisture and mold to form. However, beyond a layer of mold, her body had not decomposed as expected.
Mother Cecilia, the abbess of the monastery, was the first to notice something unusual. “I saw a full, intact foot and thought, ‘Did I really just see that?’” she said. The sisters gathered around, unable to believe what they were seeing.
In Catholic tradition, some individuals are called “incorruptible saints” because their bodies do not decay like others. It is believed to be a sign of holiness and a special connection to Christ. There are hundreds of documented cases, and over 100 of these individuals have been recognized by the church.
The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph acknowledged the public interest in Sister Wilhemina’s case. “It is important to protect her remains so a proper investigation can be done,” they said in a statement.
Not only was her body intact, but her clothing and belongings were also well-preserved. The nuns noted that while the coffin lining had completely deteriorated, her veil and habit remained untouched.
To protect her remains, the sisters carefully cleaned her face and made a wax mask for her face and hands.
Since the discovery, thousands of visitors have traveled to Missouri to see her. Over Memorial Day weekend, officials expected 10,000 to 15,000 visitors daily. After being displayed for several days, her body was placed in a glass case near the chapel’s altar.