Why does Catholic church exhume bodies?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rae8
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
R

Rae8

Guest
I was just wondering why the Catholic church exhumes bodies ?

I finished watching St. Teresa of Avila - a 3 disc Spanish mini series with Concha Velasco.
At the end of the movie, they talked about what happened after they exhumed her body. It was horrible. Cutting off hands, arms, fingers, eyeballs, etc. Her body is spread all over Spain.

I know they want to see if the bodies were not corrupted but is that the only reason? Why bury them and then exhume them? Why not just put them in an encasement right off?

Just wondering.

Thanks
 
St. Teresa of Avila was not considered a saint at the time of her death yet. By that, she was not canonized until probably many, many years later after miracles were attributed to her, &c.,

Once they are canonized and such wonderfully venerable saints such as her, their relics (parts of their bones) are removed and sent around the world for various parishes, religious groups, clergy, and sometimes even laity.

If they are incorruptible in death, I think they still will remove relics from the saint somehow.

Blessings!

Landon
 
Rae8 said:
I was just wondering why the Catholic church exhumes bodies ?

I finished watching St. Teresa of Avila - a 3 disc Spanish mini series with Concha Velasco.
At the end of the movie, they talked about what happened after they exhumed her body. It was horrible. Cutting off hands, arms, fingers, eyeballs, etc. Her body is spread all over Spain.

I know they want to see if the bodies were not corrupted but is that the only reason? Why bury them and then exhume them? Why not just put them in an encasement right off?

Just wondering.

Thanks
Click to expand...
It is somewhat gruesome, isn’t it?

However, that’s not really the point; gruesome doesn’t mean it is wrong. These first class relics are profound proofs of the Catholic faith. Incorruptible bodies of saints of continuing miracles which show, without a doubt, that there is such a thing as supernatural occurrences from God.
 
dshix said:
It is somewhat gruesome, isn’t it?

However, that’s not really the point; gruesome doesn’t mean it is wrong. These first class relics are profound proofs of the Catholic faith. Incorruptible bodies of saints of continuing miracles which show, without a doubt, that there is such a thing as supernatural occurrences from God.
Click to expand...
There is a Church in Rome (known as the “Bone Church”) which has human bones all over. The bones are made into Crosses, etc.

The Capuchins even have their own hostel there (which just opened in Jan 2013) icappucciniroma.it/

google.com/search?q=bone+church+rome&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=-IWFUt-QGLSgsATn04GgDg&sqi=2&ved=0CCkQsAQ&biw=1680&bih=933

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capuchin_Crypt << Rome

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capuchin_catacombs_of_Palermo << in Sicily

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedlec_Ossuary << in the Czech Republic
 
Here in NA, Saint John Neumann is an incorrupt, and still has first class relics all over the place.

When the body is incorrupt, relics are taken from the bones and skin, leaving the bodyform intact. A relic can be near microscopic and have the same spiritual power.

When there has been no incorruption, dissassembly of the body for relics does no more harm to the body than nature has done already. Having limbs “all over Spain” or elsewhere in no way impedes formation of the pneumatikon soma, after all:)

ICXC NIKA
 
Saint John Neumann’s body is here in Philadelphia. It’s really an “otherworldly” experience seeing him under the alter of the lower Church of St. Peter the Apostle. www.stjohnneumann.org/
 
landon13 said:
St. Teresa of Avila was not considered a saint at the time of her death yet. By that, she was not canonized until probably many, many years later after miracles were attributed to her, &c.,

Once they are canonized and such wonderfully venerable saints such as her, their relics (parts of their bones) are removed and sent around the world for various parishes, religious groups, clergy, and sometimes even laity.

If they are incorruptible in death, I think they still will remove relics from the saint somehow.

Blessings!

Landon
Click to expand...
Hi - Yes I am aware that she wasn’t a Saint then. But they exhumed her 9 MONTHS after her death. Then proceeded to fight over her body parts. It just seemed very morbid or irreverent, yet I realize they held her in reverence which is why they were fighting over her.
That was quite a while ago and I’m sure the Church wouldn’t allow that type of conduct now. But I was wondering if there is a set period of time - now - that they wait before exhuming them and why they do it.
Thanks
 
phil19034 said:
Saint John Neumann’s body is here in Philadelphia. It’s really an “otherworldly” experience seeing him under the alter of the lower Church of St. Peter the Apostle. www.stjohnneumann.org/
Click to expand...
That’s not too far from me. Maybe I’ll get there one day. 🙂

Just looked at their FB page. What a beautiful church!
 
Rae8 said:
That’s not too far from me. Maybe I’ll get there one day. 🙂

Just looked at their FB page. What a beautiful church!
Click to expand...
Hopefully you can!

While I am much farther away, I had the privilege of seeing SJN on my way to Toronto back in 02.

I love it. Incorruption… The next best thing to being alive!🙂

ICXC NIKA
 
GEddie said:
Hopefully you can!

While I am much farther away, I had the privilege of seeing SJN on my way to Toronto back in 02.

I love it. Incorruption… The next best thing to being alive!🙂

ICXC NIKA
Click to expand...
Well I’m looking forward to a “heavenly body” . 😛
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top