The Incorruptibles

From TinWiki.org

Incorruptible Saint Bernadette

Incorruptibility is the property of a human body that does not decompose after death. Such a body is sometimes referred to as incorrupt, incorruptible, or as an incorruptible. Incorruptibility is seen as different from the good preservation of a body, or mummification. Incorruptible bodies are often said to have the Odour of Sanctity, where they exude a sweet aroma likened to flowers or herbs.

This type of preserved body started being discovered back in the early centuries after Christ. The causes for "incorruptibles" remaining free of decomposition have baffled scientists since their discovery. These bodies are discovered in many different environments, including environments that would cause rapid decomposition in corpses, preserved or not. They remain free of decay regardless of manner of burial, delay in burial, temperature, moisture, rough handling, frequent transference, having been covered in quicklime (a decaying agent), or proximity to other decaying corpses. They cannot be explained by science or reason.

The Catholic Church states that the body cannot be embalmed or mummified at death to be considered Incorrupt, which makes the phenomenon even more mysterious. In the Orthodox tradition, the bodies of incorrupt saints have been associated with miracles and healing, often emitting the scent of myrrh. Incorruptibility is neither necessary nor sufficient to demonstrate that the reposed individual is a saint.

1 Characteristics
2 Christianity
3 Other Cultures
4 Causes
5 Incorruptible Saints
6 See Also
7 Further Reading
8 External Links
9 Relevant discussion threads on AboveTopSecret.com

[edit]

Characteristics

Blessed Imelda

Incorruptibles have some, if not all, of the following characteristics:

Typically lifelike, with moist skin and flexible limbs
Contain a sweet smell or odor that can smell like roses or flowers for years after death
Are almost never embalmed or treated in any way (due to religious beliefs)
Remain free of decay, some for centuries, despite exposure to air, moisture, other decaying bodies, or decaying agents such as quicklime
Contain clear flowing oils, perspiration, and flowing blood for years after death
Partial incorruptible body parts or organs, such as heart, brain, and tongue

In most cases, incorruptibles are found to be devout Catholics, but some have been found in Orthodox Christianity, as well. Incorruptibility is not considered to be natural by religious standards, but supernatural or miraculous.

Miracles are associated with these remains and have been throughout history. These Incorruptibles are on display all over the world to this day, mainly in Europe, and nearly all bodies who have been identified and researched thoroughly have been canonized by the Catholic Church as Saints due to their publicly devout Catholic life.

Some Incorruptibles that have been discovered and placed on display have had make up or wax added to them to improve their appearance. This is due to the fact that some bodies, while still incorrupt, may not appear as beautiful as others, or may only be partially incorrupt while others are fully incorrupt. The majority of incorrupt bodies remain incorrupt after being put on display, regardless of whether they have been made up or not.

[edit]

Christianity

Although incorruptibility is not required, Catholic and Orthodox Christian cultures generally see it as a sign that the individual is a saint. The Roman Catholic Church does not deem a body incorruptible if is has undergone embalming or other means of preservation. Incorruptible saints remain flexible with moist skin, as if asleep.

Orthodox Christianity still views incorruptibility as an important element in the canonization process. They distinguish between naturally occurring mummification of a corpse and "supernatural incorruptibility".

[edit]

Other Cultures

Other cultures outside of Christianity have their own form of incorrupt dead.

Indian Yogis believe in the incorruptibility of their leader, Paramahansa Yogananda, even though he was embalmed. They cite the lack of mold growing in his pores after his death.

Islamic scholars believe that the bodies of their Prophets are incorruptible due to the teachings of Muhammad.

In Buddhism, sokushinbutsu is a process that consisted of a regimen for self-mummification over nearly a decade. This differs from Christian understanding in that it was willingly sought and worked for, as opposed to being a sign from God to identify a saint.

In other cultures, a perfectly preserved, incorrupt body is a sign that the corpse is a vampire.

[edit]

Causes

Causes are disputed, but there are two main positions:

Spiritual

Spiritual causes reflect a belief in the pious nature of the life of the individual somehow prevented decomposition by permeating the flesh. It also encompasses the belief that decomposition was prevented by the intervention of a deity so that the body may be/will be resurrected at a later time.

Physical or Environmental

Physical causes reflect the belief that the corpse was subjected to natural conditions that caused decomposition to significantly slow, such as saponification (basically, the fat of a corpse turning into a waxy substance known as "grave wax"), burial in cool, dry ground, and burial in alkaline soil. It is also suggested that bodies lacking muscle and body fat resist decomposition.

[edit]

Incorruptible Saints

Incorruptible Saint Catherine of Bologna

The Catholic Church claims to have over 250 known corruptibles, while Orthodox Christianity claims 20 incorruptible saints. Some of the more famous (and pictured):

Saint Bernadette Soubirous

Saint Bernadette was the original visionary at Lourdes, France and died in 1879. Her body was exhumed in 1909 and again in 1919, both times found to be completely incorrupt and odor free. Her body is on display at the Chapel of St. Bernadette in Never, France.

Saint Catherine of Bologna

Saint Catherine died in 1463, is incorrupt, and has been on display in an upright, sitting position for over 500 years. Her skin has been darkened by the constant lighting of candles.

Blessed Imelda Lambertini

Blessed Imelda died as a young girl in 1333. She was later found incorrupt and beatified in 1826. Her body is on display in the Church of San Sigismondo in Bologna, Italy.

Saint Cecilia

Saint Cecilia died in 177 and was discovered incorrupt in 1599. She is known as the first saint to be incorrupt. A statue was created during the exhumation of her body in 1599; the position reflects her actual body and is believed to be position in which she died. The statue is on display in the Basilica of St. Cecilia in Rome.

St. Cecilia Statue

Incorrupt Popes

The Vatican has no official policy on embalming, so many Popes have chosen not to be embalmed, most recently John Paul II. Some Popes have not been embalmed and have shown signs of Incorruptibility. Pope Pius IX, known as Pio Nono to Romans, was one of the longest lived Popes, died in 1878 and was buried in the crypt of San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura. He was exhumed 122 years after his death in 2000 and found to be in excellent condition, still smiling.

Pope and Saint Pius X forbade any embalming or preservation of his body when he died in 1914. 30 years later, he was exhumed and found to be still flexible. Today Pope Saint Pius X rests under the Chapel of the Presentation in St. Peter's Basilica.

Pope John XXIII is also on display at St. Peter's Basilica, but he is not incorrupt; his excellent preservation is due to embalming.

[edit]