John XXIII Incorrupt?

[aball1035]

I hear some people say it is, but Wikipedia (the ever reliable source!) says

“his body was moved from its original burial place in the grottoes below St Peter’s Basilica to the Altar of St. Jerome and displayed for the veneration of the faithful. At the time, the body was observed to be extremely well-preserved—a condition which the Church ascribes to embalming and the lack of air flow in his sealed triple coffin rather than to a miracle”

What have you all heard about it?

 

[Cristiano]

I hear some people say it is, but Wikipedia (the ever reliable source!) says

“his body was moved from its original burial place in the grottoes below St Peter’s Basilica to the Altar of St. Jerome and displayed for the veneration of the faithful. At the time, the body was observed to be extremely well-preserved—a condition which the Church ascribes to embalming and the lack of air flow in his sealed triple coffin rather than to a miracle”

What have you all heard about it?

I saw it recently and he looks great. It looks like he has a little bit of a smile on his face. It made me think that he was laughing at us because we do not have a clue of how great heaven is. I would not consider it a miracle since the body has been embalmed and really protected from external agents that promote decomposition.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I recall hearing at the time that it was a light embalming, whatever that is. While it did not seem enough to prevent all corruption, it is sufficient to cause significant doubt as to whether this could be considered incorruptibility.

The Church has a sufficiency of miracles; there is no need to promote an even slightly dubious one.

 

[aball1035]

Thank you both for your answers!

One more question: how do we know that the uncorrupted saints were never embalmed?

 

[debraran]

I think a lot has to do with how they were preserved. Look at mummy’s and how well after much longer time, they lasted. Light embalming last a little shorter time than full embalming (a cheaper option for some) but every body adapts to it differently.
Some saints are well preserved, but in cases, others, supposeduly just as holy, aren’t and some are half and half (for lack of a better term) so I don’t put too much stock in it.