Thousands of Catholics flock to church to pray over nun’s exhumed body and push for her sainthood

Large crowds of people are converging to behold the preserved body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, discovered in her grave in Missouri after being buried in 2019. Astonishingly, despite the passage of time, her remains exhibit no signs of decay.

This remarkable phenomenon has stirred the devotion of faithful Catholics who are hurrying to Gower, situated approximately 40 miles north of Kansas City, to witness this unblemished testament. Many consider it to be an extraordinary indication of her potential for sainthood.

Formerly accustomed to no more than 20 daily visitors, the abbey is now welcoming around 1,000 individuals each day, as reported by Ashlie Hand, a spokesperson representing the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

‘As of Tuesday, they were seeing about 1,000 visitors a day. I think now, it’s probably well above that. The expectation is the crowd will grow over the holiday weekend,’ Hand said to Fox4. 

According to Hand, there is a possibility that the monastery could receive as many as 20,000 visitors over the course of this weekend.

Online, photos taken at the scene are being widely shared, capturing the visitors delicately touching Sister Lancaster’s hands and face, both of which have been coated in wax. Adjacent to her body, adorned with flowers, a sign says ‘Please be gentle when touching sister’s body, especially her feet.’

Church officials have acknowledged the significance of Sister Lancaster’s condition and have initiated an investigation into her case, as incorruptibility is considered a potential indication of sainthood, although it is not a definitive criterion.

Bishop James Johnston of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph emphasized the importance of preserving the integrity of Sister Wilhelmina’s mortal remains to facilitate a comprehensive examination, as reported by Newsweek on May 22.

While the church has not officially declared the case to be miraculous, the bishop is actively establishing a meticulous process to comprehend the nature of Sister Wilhelmina’s preserved state, the statement asserted.

“Incorruptibility has been authenticated on previous occasions, although it remains exceedingly rare. A well-established procedure exists to pursue the cause for sainthood, yet it has not yet been initiated in this particular instance.”

Following her passing, Sister Lancaster’s body was laid to rest outside the premises of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles Monastery. However, a decision was made to transfer her remains to a more fitting resting place within the chapel.

During the time of her demise, Sister Lancaster’s body was not subjected to embalming procedures, and her casket consisted of plain wood devoid of any external covering. Hence, the workers expected to encounter skeletal remains when exhuming the grave. To their astonishment, they discovered her body preserved in an entirely intact state.

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