Latest news with #PontificalUniversityofSalamanca
Nahar Net
27-05-2025
- General
- Nahar Net
Tens of thousands flock to see remains of Spanish saint who died in 1582
by Naharnet Newsdesk 27 May 2025, 15:17 They lined up to see her, silent and wonderstruck: Inside an open silver casket 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 casket 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 casket 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 — fingers, a hand and a jaw — are kept as relics 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 venerated 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 casket 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.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
This saint died 440 years ago. Now, thousands are lining up in Spain to see her body
Saint Teresa of Avila died over 440 years but Catholic worshippers still line up to see her remains kept inside an open silver casket. The remains of the 16th-century religious reformers and Spanish mystic have been kept in the town of Alba de Tormes. '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 casket 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 casket 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 — fingers, a hand and a jaw — are kept as relics 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 casket 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.
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.
New York Post
26-05-2025
- General
- New York Post
Catholics flock to Spain to see remains of saint — 440 years after she died
ALBA DE TORMES, Spain — They lined up to see her, silent and wonderstruck: Inside an open silver casket 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. 3 The remains of Saint Teresa of Ávila, the Spanish saint, mystic, and 16th-century religious reformer, are displayed at a church in Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, northwestern Spain, on Sunday, May 11, 2025. AP 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 casket 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 casket 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 — fingers, a hand and a jaw — are kept as relics in churches across Europe. 3 Catholic worshippers line up to view the remains of Saint Teresa of Ávila, the Spanish saint, mystic, and 16th-century religious reformer, displayed at a church in Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, northwestern Spain, on Sunday, May 11, 2025. AP 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. 3 The remains of Saint Teresa of Ávila, the Spanish saint, mystic, and 16th-century religious reformer, are displayed at a church in Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, northwestern Spain, on Sunday, May 11, 2025. AP 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 casket 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.
