The remarkably preserved body of St. Teresa of Avila, a 16th-century Catholic nun and saint, has been put on public display in Spain after being found ‘miraculously incorrupt’ last year. The body, which has remained in such condition since its first exhumation in 1914, was shown in Alba de Tormes during a ceremony of public veneration, drawing emotional reactions from worshippers.
St. Teresa of Jesus, also known as St. Teresa of Avila, was a Discalced Carmelite nun who lived from 1515 to 1582. The public display, which marks her first such showing since 1914, attracted a large audience of Catholics and scholars. Observers were moved to tears at the sight of the remains, which included parts of the saint’s face and foot, preserved remarkably well. The body was dressed in a nun’s habit, with her right foot still clearly visible and her face appearing almost intact.
Experts believe that the dry atmosphere of her tomb, which has remained relatively undisturbed for over 400 years, contributed to the preservation of her remains. The body was exhumed in 1914 and reburied with special care to protect it from decay. In September 2023, officials from the Diocese of Avila conducted an extensive examination of her remains, finding that she had remained largely unchanged since the 1914 exhumation.