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Fox News
27-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
Rare glimpse: 440-year-old remains of Saint Teresa draw 100,000 pilgrims to Spain
Catholics made a pilgrimage to a town in Spain to see the more than 440-year-old body of Saint Teresa of Avila. The faith-filled journey took believers to Alba de Tormes, where the Spanish saint is buried, to see her remains. The Catholic Church displayed Teresa for the first time in over 110 years. According to the Associated Press, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, the prior of the Discalced Carmelites of Salamanca, said that 100,000 people visited the saint over two weeks. Visitors from around the world made the trip to see this rare occurrence. Guiomar Sánchez, who traveled from Madrid with her two daughters on Sunday, told the Associated Press that "It gave me a feeling of fulfillment, of joy, and of sadness." A group of nuns from India had to wipe away tears as they stood by the side of the casket looking at the saint. Pope Leo XIV himself took a trip to Teresa's hometown of Avilia, which is an hour's drive from Alba de Tormes. The casket of the patron saint of headache sufferers is about four feet long. What visitors see is Teresa's skull dressed in a habit with vestments covering the rest of the body. Teresa's heart is kept in a jar in another part of the church while her fingers, jaw, hand are kept in other churches as relics across Europe. Teresa was born Teresa Ali Fatim Corella Sanchez de Capeda y Ahumada in Avila in 1515. She was sent to a convent at the age of 16 by her father and eventually founded the Discalced Carmelites. She passed away in 1582 at the age of 67. She was canonized in1622 and made a Doctor of the Church in 1970 and is one of two women ever to receive the title. Once the casket was resealed, it was carried through the streets with visitors following the procession. It is currently unclear how long, or if ever again, the saint's remains will be put on display for believers to see. The Associated Press contributed to this article.
26-05-2025
- General
Tens of thousands flock to see a Spanish saint's remains more than 440 years after her death
ALBA DE TORMES, Spain -- They lined up to see her, silent and wonderstruck: Inside an open silver coffin was Saint Teresa of Ávila, more than 440 years after her death. Catholic worshippers have been flocking to Alba de Tormes, a town ringed by rolling pastures in western Spain where the remains of the Spanish saint, mystic and 16th-century religious reformer were on display this month. 'It gave me a feeling of fulfillment, of joy, and of sadness,' said Guiomar Sánchez, who traveled from Madrid with her two daughters on Sunday, the last full day of the exhibit. Inspired by her mother's belief in the Carmelite nun, Sánchez praised the mystic's writings as being ahead of her time. Sánchez said she also came in part to honor her mother. 'Seeing her was an inexplicable experience,' Sánchez added. On Monday morning, the coffin of the saint who died in 1582 was resealed and carried through the town streets, with pilgrims following the procession. It is unclear how many years — or decades — will pass before the church once again makes St. Teresa's remains visible to the public. Teresa was last displayed in 1914, when devotees had a single day to see the saint. This time, the display drew almost 100,000 visitors over two weeks, said Miguel Ángel González, the prior of the Discalced Carmelites of Salamanca. The coffin that holds the saint's remains is barely 1.3 meters (4 feet) long. What is visible is a skull dressed in a habit with vestments covering other parts of the body, not all of which is intact. The saint's heart is kept in another part of the church, officials said. Other body parts are kept as relics — fingers, a hand and a jaw — in churches across Europe. Teresa is a towering figure from Spain's Golden Age and 16th-century Counter-Reformation. Her explorations of the inner life and meditations on her relationship with God were controversial, yet they have been held up over the centuries as a 'profound treatise on spirituality," said José Calvo, a professor of theology at the Pontifical University of Salamanca who specializes in Medieval history. Many have worshipped her. Former Spanish dictator Gen. Francisco Franco is believed to have kept a relic of the saint's hand next to his bed. Last September, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV visited the saint's birthplace in Avila, an hour's drive from Alba de Tormes. Teresa's remains have also spawned memes online about the macabre nature of crowding around her centuries-old skull. In Alba de Tormes, church officials and experts downplayed such reactions, saying the display was nothing out of the ordinary for how Catholics have revered their saints for centuries. 'It was just something people always did when they thought somebody might be a saint,' said Cathleen Medwick, who wrote the book 'Teresa of Avila, The Progress of a Soul.' 'And the fact that her body hadn't decayed very much was also considered a sign of her sanctity," Medwick added. Some worshippers this month were visibly moved. On Sunday, a group of nuns from India wiped away tears as they stood by the side of the coffin and looked at the saint's remains behind a glass case. Gregoria Martín López, 75, climbed to an elevated part of the church behind the altar, hoping to get a better view from above of the diminutive saint's skull. 'The saint for me is a thing of great strength. If they close her, I can say that I saw her,' Martín said and with tears in her eyes, blew a kiss down to Teresa's relic as organ music filled the space.
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Nearly 1,00,000 flock to see Spanish saint's remains 440 years after her death
Nearly 1,00,000 people travelled to the town of Alba de Tormes in western Spain this month to see the remains of Saint Teresa of Ávila, on rare display more than 440 years after her death. Inside a small silver casket, about 4.2 feet long, visitors saw her skull dressed in religious clothing. Other parts of her body are missing and are kept as relics in churches across Europe. Her heart is stored in another part of the same church. 'It gave me a feeling of fulfilment, of joy, and of sadness,' said Guiomar Sánchez, who came from Madrid with her daughters on Sunday, the last full day of the exhibition. She said her mother believed deeply in Saint Teresa and admired her writings. 'Seeing her was an inexplicable experience,' she told the Associated Press (AP). On Monday morning, church officials closed the casket and led a procession through the town. Pilgrims followed as the remains were carried through the streets. It is not known when the remains will be shown again. The last public display was in 1914, and it lasted for one day. Miguel Ángel González, head of the Discalced Carmelites in Salamanca, said around 1,00,000 people came to view the saint over two weeks. The event drew nuns, families, and many others from around the world. Some visitors were seen crying in front of the relics. One group of nuns from India wiped away tears while standing by the casket. Gregoria Martín López, 75, climbed to an upper part of the church to get a better view. 'The saint for me is a thing of great strength. If they close her, I can say that I saw her,' she said. As organ music played, she blew a kiss toward the relic. Saint Teresa, who died in 1582, is known for her spiritual writings and her role in reforming the Carmelite religious order. José Calvo, a theology professor at the Pontifical University of Salamanca, told AP that her reflections on her relationship with God were once considered controversial but are now seen as 'a deep exploration of spiritual life.' Teresa is an important figure from Spain's religious history. Former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco was said to have kept one of her hands beside his bed. Last year, Pope Leo XIV visited her birthplace in Ávila, about an hour away from Alba de Tormes. Her remains have even become the subject of internet memes, often focusing on the fact that parts of her body are kept in different places. But church leaders said the public display is a traditional way of showing respect to saints. 'This was just something people always did when they thought someone might be a saint,' said Cathleen Medwick, author of Teresa of Avila: The Progress of a Soul. 'And the fact that her body hadn't decayed very much was also considered a sign of her sanctity,' she said. Saint Teresa's influence continues, centuries after her death, through her writings and the devotion of many followers who still come to see her.
The Independent
26-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Tens of thousands flock to see a Spanish saint's remains more than 440 years after her death
They lined up to see her, silent and wonderstruck: Inside an open silver coffin was Saint Teresa of Ávila, more than 440 years after her death. Catholic worshippers have been flocking to Alba de Tormes, a town ringed by rolling pastures in western Spain where the remains of the Spanish saint, mystic and 16th-century religious reformer were on display this month. 'It gave me a feeling of fulfillment, of joy, and of sadness,' said Guiomar Sánchez, who traveled from Madrid with her two daughters on Sunday, the last full day of the exhibit. Inspired by her mother's belief in the Carmelite nun, Sánchez praised the mystic's writings as being ahead of her time. Sánchez said she also came in part to honor her mother. 'Seeing her was an inexplicable experience,' Sánchez added. On Monday morning, the coffin of the saint who died in 1582 was resealed and carried through the town streets, with pilgrims following the procession. It is unclear how many years — or decades — will pass before the church once again makes St. Teresa's remains visible to the public. Teresa was last displayed in 1914, when devotees had a single day to see the saint. This time, the display drew almost 100,000 visitors over two weeks, said Miguel Ángel González, the prior of the Discalced Carmelites of Salamanca. The coffin that holds the saint's remains is barely 1.3 meters (4 feet) long. What is visible is a skull dressed in a habit with vestments covering other parts of the body, not all of which is intact. The saint's heart is kept in another part of the church, officials said. Other body parts are kept as relics — fingers, a hand and a jaw — in churches across Europe. Teresa is a towering figure from Spain's Golden Age and 16th-century Counter-Reformation. Her explorations of the inner life and meditations on her relationship with God were controversial, yet they have been held up over the centuries as a 'profound treatise on spirituality," said José Calvo, a professor of theology at the Pontifical University of Salamanca who specializes in Medieval history. Many have worshipped her. Former Spanish dictator Gen. Francisco Franco is believed to have kept a relic of the saint's hand next to his bed. Last September, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV visited the saint's birthplace in Avila, an hour's drive from Alba de Tormes. Teresa's remains have also spawned memes online about the macabre nature of crowding around her centuries-old skull. In Alba de Tormes, church officials and experts downplayed such reactions, saying the display was nothing out of the ordinary for how Catholics have revered their saints for centuries. 'It was just something people always did when they thought somebody might be a saint,' said Cathleen Medwick, who wrote the book 'Teresa of Avila, The Progress of a Soul.' 'And the fact that her body hadn't decayed very much was also considered a sign of her sanctity," Medwick added. Some worshippers this month were visibly moved. On Sunday, a group of nuns from India wiped away tears as they stood by the side of the coffin and looked at the saint's remains behind a glass case. Gregoria Martín López, 75, climbed to an elevated part of the church behind the altar, hoping to get a better view from above of the diminutive saint's skull. 'The saint for me is a thing of great strength. If they close her, I can say that I saw her,' Martín said and with tears in her eyes, blew a kiss down to Teresa's relic as organ music filled the space. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
The Sun
13-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Preserved 440-year-old ‘miracle' corpse of Catholic nun Saint Teresa entombed in glass coffin unveiled to crowds
THE STAGGERINGLY well preserved corpse of a 16th century Catholic saint stunned onlookers when it was unveiled to the public. Many faithful Catholics were overwhelmed when the saw the body of St. Teresa of Jesus in Spain over the weekend. 3 3 3 The Discalced Carmelite nun's body was public for the first time since 1914 at the Basilica Annunciation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Spain's Salamanca province on Sunday. While visibly skeletal at a glance, parts of the corpse are said to be remarkably well preserved. It came as part of a ceremony of public veneration - which has only taken place three times since the saint's death in 1582, according to The other two ceremonies were many centuries apart - in 1760 and 1914 - making this a once-in-a-lifetime chance for the faithful to pay their respects this way. Several visitors at the Basilica were visibly emotional at the sight of the centuries-old body. One worshipper present was pictured with her hand over her mouth upon catching a glimpse of the saint. Another seemed to be on the verge of tears, while many others were seen praying before St. Teresa's corpse. Discalced Carmelite nuns, monks and priests had opened her coffin so that relics of her heart, hand and arm could be studied. They compared the state of the body to a photo of the same remains from 1914. "The uncovered parts, which are the face and foot, are the same as those they were in 1914," Father Marco Chiesa said. "There is no colour, there is no skin colour, because the skin is mummified, but it is seen, especially in the middle of the face." Who was Saint Teresa of Jesus? Born in 1515, St. Teresa of Jesus was a leading Spanish nun and mystic in the Catholic Church. Also known as St. Teresa of Ávila, she was known as a leading reformer of the Carmelite Orders of monks and nuns. She was the first woman to be granted the honour of Doctor of the Church - marking her out as a significant contributor to Catholic teachings. Despite health problems throughout her life, she became a key spiritual leader during the Counter Reformation - one of the most turbulent episodes of the Church's history. She died in October 1582 and was declared a saint 40 years later in 1622. Researchers have marvelled at the body's incredible state of preservation. The 53-page preliminary report released in March outlined the staggering condition of the corpse, Spanish news outlet Salamanca RTV Al Dia has reported. Professor Luigi Capasso, leader of a team of Italian anthropologists, said: "The right foot, left hand, heart, and left arm are perfectly preserved, with intact skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscles in place, and no signs of degradation." The preservation of her body is likely down to dry environmental factors in the tomb - and no artificial mummification was involved - according to the team. "It's a truly unique natural phenomenon," Professor Capasso added. Saint Teresa of Jesus died aged 67 in 1582 and was canonised - meaning made a saint - by Pope Gregory XV in 1622. Her's is not the only body of a revered Catholic figure to have drawn flocks of the faithful to pay respects. Devotees came this spring to the Sanctuary of the Spoliation in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi to catch a glimpse of the late Carlo Acutis. Carlo was a Catholic teenager known as "God's influencer", who has since been beatified - meaning he is on the path to sainthood.
