By: Arogbo-Ibe Voice Reporters
Hundreds of people have traveled to a small town in Missouri to see the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, a Catholic nun whose remains appear remarkably intact four years after her burial.
Sister Wilhelmina, founder of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, was exhumed in April as part of plans to establish a St. Joseph shrine, according to a statement from the monastery. The nuns, who expected only skeletal remains due to the absence of embalming and a simple wooden coffin, were astonished to find her body and religious habit seemingly well-preserved.
The monastery initially intended to keep the discovery private, but after an internal email was leaked, word spread rapidly, drawing visitors from across the country.
Local authorities and volunteers have been managing the influx of visitors to the town of approximately 1,800 residents. Pilgrims, some traveling from out of state, have been permitted to see and touch Lancaster’s body.
“It was pretty amazing,” said Samuel Dawson, a Catholic visitor from Kansas City. “It was very peaceful, just very reverent.”
However, the monastery has announced that starting Monday, Lancaster’s remains will be placed in a glass shrine inside the church. Visitors will still be able to view her body and collect soil from her grave, but they will no longer be allowed to touch her.
The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph has acknowledged the widespread interest in the nun’s remains while stressing the need for careful investigation.
“The condition of the remains of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster has understandably generated widespread interest and raised important questions,” the diocese said in a statement. “At the same time, it is important to protect the integrity of the mortal remains of Sister Wilhelmina to allow for a thorough investigation.”
While the phenomenon of incorruptibility has historically been linked to sainthood in Catholicism, the process for canonization has not yet been initiated. Church rules require a minimum of five years after death before such proceedings can begin.
Anthropologists suggest that the apparent lack of decomposition may not be as rare as many believe. Rebecca George, an anthropology instructor at Western Carolina University, explained that unembalmed bodies can naturally mummify under certain conditions.
“Mummification is common in cases like this, and bodies can stay preserved for many years,” George noted, adding that burial clothing and coffins contribute to preservation.
While the debate continues, Sister Wilhelmina’s remains will remain on display, drawing both pilgrims and curiosity seekers to the small Missouri town.
