Thousands of people gather to witness Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster’s body after it was recovered from her grave in Missouri without any signs of decay, despite being buried since 2019.
Faithful Catholics rush to Gower – about 40 miles north of Kansas City – to witness the immaculate body of Lancaster, who died in May 2019 at the age of 95, what some call a miraculous sign of sainthood.
The abbey, which previously would receive no more than 20 visitors a day, now receives about 1,000 visitors daily, according to Ashlie Hand, a spokesman for the Kansas City-St. Joseph.
“As of Tuesday, they were seeing about 1,000 visitors a day. I’m thinking now, it’s probably well up there. The audience is expected to grow over the holiday weekend,” Hand told Fox4.
Hand said it is possible the monastery will receive up to 20,000 visitors this weekend.
Lancaster’s body will be on display for public viewing until Monday, where visitors are allowed to touch her body and pray
It is possible that the monastery will receive up to 20,000 visitors this weekend
The abbey now receives thousands of visitors every day
Visitor will not be able to touch Lancaster’s body after May 29
A sign next to the body, which is surrounded by flowers, reads: “Please be careful when touching sister’s body, especially her feet.”
The crowd has grown so much that the police have added a mobile command center and more land has been cleared to park cars. The street outside the convent, 316th Street, also became a one-way street on Saturday, with cars moving west to east, according to Fox 4.
Lancaster’s body will be on display for public viewing until Monday, where visitors are allowed to touch her body and pray. Visiting hours are from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
After May 29, visitors will still be able to see the nun and tour the site, but they will no longer be able to touch her body as it will be enclosed in glass. Lancaster’s glass enclosure will be placed at the altar to “welcome her growing number of devotees.”
The Benedictine nun planned to hold a public rosary procession at 4:30 p.m. Monday, according to a statement they posted online.
Photos taken at the scene have been shared online showing visitors gently touching Lancaster’s hands, which are covered in wax along with her face. The nun’s face and hands were then covered with a wax mask after she was found intact.
A sign next to the body, which is surrounded by flowers, reads: “Please be careful when you touch sister’s body, especially her feet.”
Church officials said they are investigating Lancaster’s case, as incorruptibility can be a sign of sanctity, though it is not definitive.
Bishop James Johnston of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph released a statement on May 22 noting that “the integrity of Sister Wilhelmina’s remains must be protected to allow for a thorough investigation,” according to News Week.
The church has not declared the case miraculous, but the bishop “is working on a thorough process to understand the nature of the condition of Sister Wilhelmina’s remains,” the statement said.
‘Incorruptibility has been verified in the past, but it is very rare. There is a well-established process for pursuing the cause for sanctity, but it has not yet been set in motion in this case.”
Lancaster’s body was buried outside the Benedictines of Mary, the monastery of the Queen of the Apostles, and was exhumed to be placed in a better tomb in the chapel.
At the time of Lancaster’s death, the nun’s body had not been embalmed for her burial and her coffin was made of plain uncoated wood. Workers expected to uncover deboned bones, but instead found a perfectly intact corpse.
After seeing Lancaster’s intact body, the convent’s abbess, Mother Cecilia, described the actions the nuns had taken, according to Newsweek.
“You can’t google, ‘what do you do with an intact body?'” she said, “so we started with the basics, just cleaning her with hot water, because holding her face was basically a mask of thick mold.” ‘
Thousands of visitors came from far and wide to touch Lancaster’s body over Memorial Day weekend
Sunday, May 28, prayers will be held at the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster in the Benedictine Abbey of Mary, Queen of the Apostles
The abbey, which previously would receive no more than 20 visitors a day, now receives around 1,000 visitors a day
Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster’s body was recovered from her grave in Gower, Missouri with no signs of decay despite being buried since May 2019
Hundreds of people visited the small Missouri town this week to see the nun’s body, which has barely decomposed since 2019.
Lancaster’s body was moved to a chapel in the Benedictine monastery of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, when it was believed to have been preserved. Pictured: Lancaster before her death
The Catholic Church believes that a preserved body is a sign of sanctity after death. But an imperishable body does not always qualify a person for holiness. In the photo: The Benedictines of Mary, the Monastery of the Queen of the Apostles
The phenomenon has been dubbed “a miracle in Missouri,” and several people are rushing to view the body, which will be on display until May 29. Pictured: pilgrims outside the monastery
At the time of Lancaster’s death, the nun had not been embalmed and workers expected to uncover bones from her body, but instead found it perfectly intact. Pictured: Lancaster’s grave
The sisters also revealed that they had hoped to keep quiet about the surprising condition of their foundress’ body, but it was posted publicly.
“Bishop Johnston invites all the faithful to continue to pray in this time of inquiry for God’s will in the lives of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles; for all religious women; and all the baptized in our common call to holiness, with hope and confidence in the Lord.”
The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph has not yet given a figure for the exact number of visitors.
While many have expressed concern about the disruption due to crowds and international media attention, the sisters said they remain unaffected and can continue their daily activities.