Mother Teresa not to be exhumed

The Times of India ^

[narses]

KOLKATA: Deviating from another tradition of the Roman Catholic church, the Vatican has decided to do away with the process of exhumation of the body of Mother Teresa which it normally does with candidates for beatification and subsequent sainthood.

‘‘Usually, exhumation of the body is done before the ceremony of beatification which is a step to subsequent sainthood. But in Mother’s case, this is not being done,’’ church sources said here.

According to Canon law expert, Fr A C Jose, exhumation of the body is done to establish the identity of the candidate and also to ascertain the condition of the candidate’s mortal remains. ‘‘If there is no evidence of corruption of the body, as recorded in a number of cases, then it certainly adds to the cause of the candidate’s sainthood,’’ he said.

[narses]

Ping.

[drstevej]

Help me not conclude that this is weird stuff.

[narses]

Relics are an important part of Christian life. As is incorruptability. Saints are those who we are certain are in heaven.

The justification of Catholic practice, which is indirectly suggested here by the reference to the bodies of the saints as formerly temples of the Holy Ghost and as destined hereafter to be eternally glorified, is further developed in the authoritative "Roman Catechism" drawn up at the instance of the same council. Recalling the marvels witnessed at the tombs of the martyrs, where "the blind and cripples are restored to health, the dead recalled to life, and *devils?* expelled from the bodies of men" the Catechism points out that these are facts which "St. Ambrose and St. Augustine, most unexceptionable witnesses, declare in their writings that they have not merely heard and read about, as many did but have seen with their own eyes ', (Ambrose Epist. xxii, nn. 2 and 17, Augustine, Serm. cclxxxvi, c.v.; "De Civ. Dei", xxii, S, "Confess.", ix). And from thence, turning to Scriptural analogies, the compilers further argue: "If the clothes, the kerchiefs (Acts, .xix, 12), if the shadow of the saints (Acts, v, 15), before they departed from this life, banished diseases and restored strength, who will have the hardihood to deny that God wonderfully works the same by the sacred ashes, the bones, and other relics of the saints ?

From http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12734a.htm

See also http://members.aol.com/ccmail/incorruptbodies.html

[sinkspur]

Help me not conclude that this is weird stuff.

Incorruptibility has, traditionally, been a factor in the beatification process.

Deterioration of the body will not, in and of itself, disqualify canonization.

However, in the case of Thomas a' Kempis, a 19th century spiritual writer, exhumation revealed that a' Kempis had likely been buried alive, as the inside of the top of his casket indicated signs of furious scraping, and his fingernails were worn away.

Since the Church could not be sure he had not despaired in his last moments, he was never beatified.

[narses]

Try not to forget that, assuming a miracle, you could be Pope, Martyr and Saint yourself. Your tibula would then become a first class relic.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

I remember reading when Mother Theresa was buried on the grounds of the convent that a small, removeable window type piece was built into the burial tomb. That way, they would be able to monitor the condition of the body without exhuming it.

I believe they checked within a few months of her death and the implication I got was that she is not incorrupt.

[narses]

I have serious qualms about the speed of this effort. It is not normal.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

There is a Catholic book out called "The Incorruptibles", detailing all the saints whose bodies have not deteriorated in death. I have not read it so I can't give it a thumbs up or a thumbs down but it's on my future reading list. Has anyone read it?

Steve, you could be the first and give us a critique ;-)

[Gamecock]

***Try not to forget that, assuming a miracle, you could be Pope, Martyr and Saint yourself. Your tibula would then become a first class relic.***

Not to mention your much discussed prostate!

[drstevej]

In 1974 I visited the mummy room in the Cairo Museum. You can still see the facial features of some of those dudes. Some who are as Moses.

Equating decomposition or the absence thereof with spirituality is weird IMO. A few hundred years from now if they dig up Hillary's miserable corpse and it looks no worse than now, I think "saint" would be a stretch!

Woah, remember the mummy that Bill Clinton thought looked pretty good? He must have an eye for saints!

[drstevej]

An incorruptable prostate! Let angels prostrate fall.

[narses]

Incorruptiability is but one test of sanctity.

[Gamecock]

[drstevej]

***Incorruptiability is but one test of sanctity.***

I have a hard time grasping how it can be. How about just going with the fruit of the Spirit?

[sinkspur]

I have serious qualms about the speed of this effort. It is not normal.

She's already had one miracle attributed to her.

Besides, do you doubt that she's a saint? In the early Church, saints were proclaimed by the acclamation of the Community.

IOW, if the believers felt that someone was a saint, they were canonized a saint.

[sinkspur]

How about just going with the fruit of the Spirit?

That is far more influential than incorruptibility.

But the guys who work in the Congregation for the Causes of Saints have got to have SOMETHING to occupy their time!

[bonfire]

Is this for real?

[CARepubGal]

An incorruptable Prostate. That would be interesting. ;-)

[drstevej]

***But the guys who work in the Congregation for the Causes of Saints have got to have SOMETHING to occupy their time!***

Here is my candidate to head the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.