“She looks so beautiful - just as if she is asleep!”
Posted by Terry Nelson on Apr 27th, 2008
The Incorruptibles.
April 27 is the feast of St. Zita, a holy domestic servant from Lucca, Italy who died in 1272. Her body is said to be uncorrupted - others say mummified. Sometimes the incorruptibles look kind of scary, as in the photo of St.Zita’s remains shown above. St Clare of Assisi and St. Catherine of Bologna are two others that come to mind - those who do not make very beautiful corpses that is. In-corrupt doesn’t always mean pretty.
[Photo: Source]
April 27th, 2008 at 4:18 am
Speaking of the whole strangeness of the incorruptibles, I found this humorous post, Biting Off of the Toe of St Francis Xavier (which refers to my old blog):
http://remainsofthedesi.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/biting-off- the-toe-of-st-xavier/
April 27th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Thank you for this picture Terry.
What a saint! What a gorgeous little soul!
When I see her gruesome body all I think about is the glory of her soul…..the Gospel turns the world upside down.
April 27th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Susan - I more or less did this for Jeffrey who is not exactly a fan of uncorrupt bodies. I have many relics, so these things do not trouble me at all.
Thanks Georgette - that was fun.
April 27th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Let’s face it, no one looks their best when dead. It’s just a matter of degree how badly you look. Which is why I told my husband I want a closed casket, if I go first.
I’m not a big fan of uncorrupt bodies either. Far better to remember them for their lives than how they look in death.
April 27th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Melody - you are a wise and well balanced woman.
I have to say however I am impressed with uncorrupt bodies - although poor St Zita resembles a dancer from Michael Jackson’s Thriller video.
April 27th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Actually, I have a great deal of respect for genuine incorruptibles, especially St. Bernadette, before they covered her in wax. I just think it’s a bad idea to keep it up after they start to go off, ot to avoid mentioning wax masks.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:21 am
The dead, incorrupt or corrupt are great reminders to us that one day, we too will be served up for worms.
Momento Mori
April 30th, 2008 at 7:15 am
I want an open casket. They can “say it” to my face! LOL