Protestant views on incorruptible saints?

[Godisgreat23]

I’ve always wondered what protestants have thought about incorruptibility and what are their thoughts?

Kindly share your perspectives.

 

[Godisgreat23]

140 views and no reply anyone going to initiate the conversation lol

 

[jrtrent]

140 views and no reply anyone going to initiate the conversation lol

I can only state ignorance of the topic. I had to do a web search to find out what incorruptibility as applied to saints meant, so it isn’t something that comes up too frequently in the Protestant churches I’ve attended. When you said, “I’ve always wondered what protestants have thought about incorruptibility and what are their thoughts,” my perspective is that I haven’t thought about it at all. I wonder how many other Protestants are in the same position.

 

[Attejohannes]

I can only state ignorance of the topic. I had to do a web search to find out what incorruptibility as applied to saints meant, so it isn’t something that comes up too frequently in the Protestant churches I’ve attended. When you said, “I’ve always wondered what protestants have thought about incorruptibility and what are their thoughts,” my perspective is that I haven’t thought about it at all. I wonder how many other Protestants are in the same position.

I agree, we do not think much about it and certainly do not think the incorruptibility to be a special sign of sanctity or holy life. Every now and then, when crypts of old churches have been repaired or opened for some other purpose, some hundreds of years old corpses in surprisingly well preserved condition pop up. They are usually reverently reburied.

 

[Godisgreat23]

I can only state ignorance of the topic. I had to do a web search to find out what incorruptibility as applied to saints meant, so it isn’t something that comes up too frequently in the Protestant churches I’ve attended. When you said, “I’ve always wondered what protestants have thought about incorruptibility and what are their thoughts,” my perspective is that I haven’t thought about it at all. I wonder how many other Protestants are in the same position.

I’m sorry I should have explained it in detail. By incorruptability I meant that the body has remained incorrupt and gone against the normal laws of decomposition. Here are some vids

youtube.com/watch?v=bSaiQGVatZE

youtube.com/watch?v=FgW_JjCxuWA

There are numerous saints in the catholic church and also lots present in the orthodox church.

 

[Godisgreat23]

I agree, we do not think much about it and certainly do not think the incorruptibility to be a special sign of sanctity or holy life. Every now and then, when crypts of old churches have been repaired or opened for some other purpose, some hundreds of years old corpses in surprisingly well preserved condition pop up. They are usually reverently reburied.

What about St. Francis Xavier. They used Limestone all over his body and apparently that speeds up the process of decomposition. The body has remained incorrupt over 500 years.

francisxaviers.com/sainthistory.html

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Xavier

In 1554—the little toe on the right foot was bitten off by a Portuguese lady named Dona Isabel de Carom, “as she was anxious to have a relic of the Saint.” It gushed blood, as if from a living body.

Don’t you think the only way it could have survived so long is because of divine intervention a living miracle?

 

[GEddie]

I cannot speak for “Protestants” as a class.

However, as has been said, many have not heard of incorruption; and of those who have, some will explain it away as “the chemistry of the soil and the body” or something natural-sounding like that.

ICXC NIKA

 

[GEddie]

What about St. Francis Xavier. They used Limestone all over his body and apparently that speeds up the process of decomposition. The body has remained incorrupt over 500 years.

francisxaviers.com/sainthistory.html

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Xavier

In 1554—the little toe on the right foot was bitten off by a Portuguese lady named Dona Isabel de Carom, “as she was anxious to have a relic of the Saint.” It gushed blood, as if from a living body.

Don’t you think the only way it could have survived so long is because of divine intervention a living miracle?

Actually, while lime (not limestone) has been used in the past to try to consume bodies, it has been found in some instances, to preserve them by absorbing moisture.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Godisgreat23]

Actually, while lime (not limestone) has been used in the past to try to consume bodies, it has been found in some instances, to preserve them by absorbing moisture.

ICXC NIKA

Ahh my bad the link says Lime I added the stone. Sorry about that.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3ALime_(material

 

[Attejohannes]

What about St. Francis Xavier. They used Limestone all over his body and apparently that speeds up the process of decomposition. The body has remained incorrupt over 500 years.

francisxaviers.com/sainthistory.html

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Xavier

In 1554—the little toe on the right foot was bitten off by a Portuguese lady named Dona Isabel de Carom, “as she was anxious to have a relic of the Saint.” It gushed blood, as if from a living body.

Don’t you think the only way it could have survived so long is because of divine intervention a living miracle?

Indeed, I am not competent to say. The tradition of relics is so foreign to Protestantism that we do not have any doctrinal stand on them, and they are one of the external aspects of Catholicism that to us is difficult to comprehend.

Anyway, from the Lutheran standpoint, while the graves and the sacred memory of departed saints (“saint” used now in the Pauline sense meaning any faithful believer) are certainly respected, for us putting their bodies to public display would be an act of irreverence rather than piety. Now, this is not a criticism to Catholics, and please, do not take any offence. It just illustrates how the practices and attitudes have diverged in 500 years.

 

[MaryT777]

Thanks to our non Catholics for responding. I as a Catholic have never really thought of it much myself.

Blessings this Easter,
Mary

 

[Godisgreat23]

Indeed, I am not competent to say. The tradition of relics is so foreign to Protestantism that we do not have any doctrinal stand on them, and they are one of the external aspects of Catholicism that to us is difficult to comprehend.

Anyway, from the Lutheran standpoint, while the graves and the sacred memory of departed saints (“saint” used now in the Pauline sense meaning any faithful believer) are certainly respected, for us putting their bodies to public display would be an act of irreverence rather than piety. Now, this is not a criticism to Catholics, and please, do not take any offence. It just illustrates how the practices and attitudes have diverged in 500 years.

But don’t you think God choose their souls over others to remain that way. They must have done something special to please god have their souls in corrupt. They Lived a life that would be an example to others…

 

[mlz]

Formerly as a Protestant I never knew anything about this. It wasn’t until I began studying the Catholic faith that I heard of this so don’t expect many Protestants to respond.
mlz

 

[Godisgreat23]

Formerly as a Protestant I never knew anything about this. It wasn’t until I began studying the Catholic faith that I heard of this so don’t expect many Protestants to respond.
mlz

Thanks for the reply! what were your initial thoughts when you first found about this?

 

[Marie5890]

I cant answer for all Protestants, esp since many dont even really know about them. But I do know that many agnostics/atheists would tell say, and with reason, that many can be explained do to envirnomental situations.

 

[GEddie]

But don’t you think God choose their souls over others to remain that way. They must have done something special to please god have their souls in corrupt. They Lived a life that would be an example to others…

It’s the BODY, not the soul, that remains incorrupt or not.

And one can become a Saint without an incorrupt dead body. Many Saints had bodies that were destroyed (ie, in martyrdom) or simply decayed in the course of nature. Incorruption, or the lack of it, is not an index of selection for sainthood.

For that matter, incorruption is not necessarily forever.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Attejohannes]

But don’t you think God choose their souls over others to remain that way. They must have done something special to please god have their souls in corrupt. They Lived a life that would be an example to others…

Well. My answer is an unshakeable maybe. However, I assume that the record of their life and its consequences should be the sufficient proof for the others and the subsequent generations of their examplary character.

Besides, I do not think that an incorruptible body alone is a sufficient indication of sanctity. Most saints (“saints” again in the Pauline sense) decay, and some definitely not very saintly persons have left behind incorrutible bodies (for example, Napoleon)

 

[Symphorian]

I’ve always wondered what protestants have thought about incorruptibility and what are their thoughts?

Kindly share your perspectives.

King Charles the Martyr (King Charles I) was declared a Saint by the Church of England. His body was found to be incorrupt and emitting a sweet odour 165 years after his martyrdom. At his death many pious onlookers dipped handkerschiefs and cloths in his blood. Many relics of St Charles survive and are said to have brought about miraculous cures.

 

[benjohnson]

I have to admit that I’ve never even considered the idea.

But even though I’m a scientist, I never like putting miracles “to the test.” The true miracle is the increase of faith in a world that desperately in need of it. For example, I have a rather dim view on Lourdes and Fatima, but I’ve visited both holy places and have an a high regard for the faith and love of the pilgrims - for me, that’s the miracle.

If you want my scientific opinion on incorruptible saints, I’d grudgingly give it to you if you bought me several beers and I knew that my opinion wouldn’t damage your faith. But if you want my “Lutheran” opinion, it would be to use these miracles, I would say rejoice in them and use them as a way of pointing to the Gospel and Christ.

 

[Offdoodykcrn]

In 1554—the little toe on the right foot was bitten off by a Portuguese lady named Dona Isabel de Carom, “as she was anxious to have a relic of the Saint.” It gushed blood, as if from a living body.

Don’t you think the only way it could have survived so long is because of divine intervention a living miracle?

I can only speak for myself, but respectfully - a few of the accounts of saints are a bit odd. The issue of treasuring body parts as holy relics has always alluded me. I had not heard of Dona Isabel de Carom, but when I read what she did, I didn’t think ‘that must be a sign from God’ - I thought, ‘ew… cannibalism…’ (shudder). I’m still trying to get the image of a bloody toe (from a corpse that had been dead for two years) in her mouth out of my mind.

I understand the value of passing on the stories of inspiring people to future generations. I do not doubt their veracity, and I respect the devotion of those who find their faith strengthened by them. Personally, my faith is rooted in Christ and his miracles are enough to keep my faith strong.