The exhumed body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, the African American foundress of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, has been found to be “incorrupt” four years after her burial in Gower, Missouri. The discovery has attracted Catholic faithfuls from across the US who are making a pilgrimage to see the body, which is expected to be encased in glass for long-term viewing. The term “incorrupt” signals a possible path to sainthood in the Catholic Church. The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office has warned residents to expect a significant increase in traffic due to the influx of visitors.
Residents of Gower, Missouri, are being warned to expect a significant increase in traffic as hundreds of Catholic faithfuls from across the country travel to witness what they describe as a miracle. The Benedictine monastery recently exhumed the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, the African American foundress of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, four years after her burial. The sisters had plans to move her body to a final resting place inside their monastery chapel but were surprised to find no real signs of decay after four years. In the words of the sisters, it is “incorrupt,” which signals a possible path to sainthood and has made national headlines, bringing people in from across the country.
As reported in the sisters, after Sister Wilhelmina’s death, she was buried but not embalmed. They expected to find bones in her cracked wooden coffin, but instead found her body to be in a state of preservation that defies natural decay. Even her habit, which was made of cheap material, looked good to the sisters. All they did was wash away a thin layer of mold and do some wax coating on the body’s face and hands. The sisters plan to encase Sister Wilhelmina in glass for long-term viewing.
The news of Sister Wilhelmina’s exhumed body has brought people in from across the country, with license plates from Arkansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and even Pennsylvania showing how far people were driving to visit. On Tuesday, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office warned residents they might see a significant increase in traffic as people travel to Gower to see the body.
The word “incorrupt” lends special meaning to Catholics as it signals a possible path to sainthood. In Catholicism, incorruptibility is the inability of a body to decompose after death. It is believed that incorruptibility is a sign of the person’s holiness and purity and is considered a miracle. The Catholic Church has recognized many saints who have been incorrupt, including Saint Bernadette Soubirous and Saint Catherine Labouré.
Sister Wilhelmina’s incorrupt body has amazed and inspired many Catholics who see it as a sign of God’s grace and mercy. The pilgrimage to Gower, Missouri, to witness the miracle of her body has become a spiritual journey for many, a way to deepen their faith and connect with the divine. For the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, it is a testament to the life and legacy of their foundress, a woman of great faith and devotion who continues to inspire and guide them.
The exhumation of Sister Wilhelmina’s body and the discovery of her incorrupt state has sparked a renewed interest in the lives of saints and the possibility of miracles. It is a reminder that even in death, the power of faith and the love of God can transform and inspire us.
To put a stop to, the exhumation of Sister Wilhelmina’s body and the discovery of her incorrupt state has amazed and inspired many Catholics, bringing people in from across the country to witness the miracle. The word “incorrupt” lends special meaning to Catholics as it signals a possible path to sainthood. Sister Wilhelmina’s incorrupt body is a testament to her life and legacy, a woman of great faith and devotion who continues to inspire and guide the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of the Apostles. It is a reminder that even in death, the power of faith and the love of God can transform and inspire us.
