This is the unembalmed body of St. Bernadette Soubirous, she died in 1879, her body was exhumed thirty years later and has been on permanent display since 1925 (These pictures were taken in 1997).
Here is her rusted Rosary which was buried with her.
So, please explain how any of this has occurred.
Wax.
Why didn't you mention that you are actually looking at a wax mask, not real skin?
In 1925, the church exhumed the body for a third time. They took relics, which were sent to Rome. A precise imprint of the face was molded so that the firm of Pierre Imans in Paris could make a light wax mask based on the imprints and on some genuine photos. This was common practice for relics in France, as it was feared that although the body was mummified, the blackish tinge to the face and the sunken eyes and nose would make an unpleasant impression on the public. Imprints of the hands were also taken for the presentation of the body. The remains were then placed in a gold and glass reliquary in the Chapel of Saint Bernadette at the motherhouse in Nevers. The site is visited by many pilgrims and the body of Saint Bernadette to this day remains incorruptible despite being nearly one hundred and fifty years old.
Not so fast.
Those pictures do NOT depict Bernadette today.
Apparently, the real corpse has blackened skin, dead eyes and nose, and dead hands.
A mask has been placed on it created from imprints and photos.
The body is mummified. As with all of us, she awaits the new body that will be granted all those who die in the Lord.
Well, first you get a couple of shovels, you dig a six foot deep hole around the grave...
Incidentally, what's with displaying corpses?