A team of experts, despite their best efforts, were unable to determine the reason behind the lack of decomposition of a Missouri nun who passed away in 2019. Bishop James V. Johnston of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph made this announcement on Thursday. Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, the foundress of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, passed away on May 29, 2019, at the age of 95. Nearly four years later, on April 28, 2023, Lancaster’s body was exhumed to be reburied in a new altar that the nuns were building. It was discovered that despite not being embalmed and being buried in an unsealed wooden coffin, Lancaster’s body remained in a remarkably preserved condition. This unexpected discovery led to thousands of people visiting the small town of Gower, Missouri, in May 2023 to witness this apparent “modern-day miracle.”
In response to the discovery, Bishop Johnston commissioned a team of local medical experts to examine and evaluate Sister Wilhelmina’s body. The investigative team, led by a doctor of pathology along with two other medical doctors and a former Missouri county coroner, found that Lancaster’s body showed no signs of decomposition. In addition to examining her body, the team also looked into Lancaster’s clothing and the circumstances surrounding her burial and exhumation in 2019 and 2023. The team’s final report highlighted the highly atypical condition of Sister Wilhelmina’s body, noting the absence of decomposition despite environmental conditions and unembalmed burial practices.
It was noted that the lining of the casket had deteriorated completely, but Lancaster’s religious clothing remained intact. Soil tests revealed no unusual elements that could prevent the decomposition of an unembalmed body. In some religious traditions like Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, there have been cases of individuals not decomposing as expected after death, a phenomenon known as “incorruptibility.” However, Lancaster has not been officially designated as incorrupt due to the lack of an official protocol for such labeling within the Catholic Church.
While incorruptibility is not considered an indication of sainthood, and there are no current plans to begin a cause for Lancaster’s sainthood, Bishop Johnston hopes that Sister Wilhelmina’s story will continue to inspire love for God and the Virgin Mary. He emphasized that incorruptibility does not automatically confer sainthood status and that the Church typically waits at least five years after a person’s death to initiate the canonization process. Lancaster has only been deceased for just over five years.
The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, who Lancaster founded, posted a statement on their website reflecting on her life and legacy, particularly in light of the preservation of her body. They believe that her life, death, and the preservation of her remains all point to the glory of God and the promise of resurrection. Lancaster’s remains are now displayed in a glass case in the abbey’s church, where visitors can view them daily between 8:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
The enduring mystery of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster’s preserved body continues to captivate those who visit the abbey and hear her story. While science and experts have been unable to explain this phenomenon, it serves as a reminder of the spiritual mysteries that exist beyond our understanding. Lancaster’s legacy lives on, inspiring all who encounter her story to reflect on their faith and the miracles that may be hidden in the world around us.
