Bishop James Johnston of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph announced on August 22, 2024 that the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, OSB displayed no signs of decomposition nearly four years after her death.
The nun, who passed away in May 2019, was found preserved during her exhumation in April 2023, despite being buried in an unsealed wooden casket.
A team of medical experts led by a pathologist was commissioned by the diocese to evaluate the condition of Sister Wilhelmina’s remains. According to the final report, “the condition of her body is highly atypical for the interval of nearly four years since her death,” especially considering the environmental conditions.
The examination revealed that Sister Wilhelmina’s habit and clothing also showed no signs of breakdown. The investigation included interviews with eyewitnesses to the burial and exhumation, as well as tests on the soil surrounding the grave. The medical team found “no unusual elements” in the soil that could explain the preservation of her remains, according to Bishop Johnston.
While Sister Wilhelmina’s condition has sparked significant interest, the diocese said that “the Catholic Church does not have an official protocol for determining if a deceased person’s body is incorrupt,” and incorruptibility alone is not considered an indication of sainthood.
Photo credit: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
