The Diocese of Ávila has confirmed that the body of St. Teresa of Ávila remains incorrupt nearly five centuries after her death — a remarkable testament to the enduring sanctity of one of the Church’s most beloved mystics and reformers.
According to Catholic News Agency (CNA), the tomb of St. Teresa was opened on Aug. 28, 2024, at the Carmelite Monastery of Alba de Tormes in Spain, where her remains rest. Father Marco Chiesa, the postulator general of the Discalced Carmelite Order, reported, “Today the tomb of St. Teresa was opened and we have verified that it is in the same condition as when it was last opened in 1914.”
A Sacred Examination of a Saint’s Legacy
The inspection, requested by Bishop Luis Retana of Salamanca and authorized by Pope Francis through the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, was part of a canonical recognition process of her relics. The opening took place with solemn care and reverence. Father Miguel Ángel González, Carmelite prior of Alba de Tormes and Salamanca, described how the faithful approached the event: “We did it singing the Te Deum with our hearts full of emotion.”
The process involved a tribunal composed of Carmelite and diocesan officials, along with scientific experts. Ten keys were required to open the tomb — three from Alba de Tormes, three from the Duke of Alba, three kept by the Carmelite general in Rome, and one held by the king of Spain. Inside, a silver coffin protected the incorrupt body of St. Teresa, along with her heart, an arm, and a hand — relics long venerated throughout Spain.
Father Chiesa noted that while the saint’s skin has naturally mummified, her features remain recognizable: “There is no color, there is no skin color, because the skin is mummified, but you can see it, especially the middle of the face. The expert doctors can see Teresa’s face almost clearly.”
Three Phases of Study and Veneration
CNA reported that the study unfolded in three stages. First came the opening and recognition phase, which concluded on August 31, 2024. A medical team led by Dr. José Antonio Ruiz de Alegría performed detailed photography, X-rays, and preservation cleaning of the reliquaries.
The second phase moved to laboratories in Italy for scientific analysis, while the third included recommendations for the continued preservation of the saint’s remains. Before the final sealing of the tomb, the faithful were permitted to venerate the relics once more.
Continuity of Wonder and Faith
This event echoes earlier recognitions of the saint’s incorrupt body in 1750 and 1914 — both of which confirmed that her remains had not decomposed. The recent study, according to CNA, was conducted in a manner similar to that used in 1991 for St. John of the Cross, her fellow Carmelite reformer.
Who Was St. Teresa of Ávila?
Born in 1515 in Ávila, Spain, St. Teresa — also known as St. Teresa of Jesus — was a mystic, writer, and founder of the Discalced Carmelites. Her reform of the Carmelite order, deep spiritual writings, and unwavering fidelity to the Church led her to become the first female Doctor of the Church.
A woman of profound prayer and courage, she is remembered for her famous saying: “Let nothing trouble you, let nothing frighten you. Everything passes, God does not change. Patience achieves everything. Whoever has God lacks for nothing. God alone is enough.”
For Catholics today, the incorrupt state of her body serves as a living witness to holiness that transcends centuries — a visible reminder that faith, like her words, endures beyond time.
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