Thousands of people flocked to see a Spanish saint over 440 years after his death
Alba de Tormes, Spain (AP) – They lined up to see her, silent and wonderful: 440 years after her death, there was an open silver coffin in the holy coffin of Ivera.
Catholic worshippers have been flocking to Alba de Tormes, who have knocked the remains of Spanish saints, mystics and 16th-century Reformers on the rolling ranch in western Spain.
“It gave me a sense of satisfaction, joy and sorrow,” said Guiomar Sánchez, who traveled from Madrid with her two daughters on the last day of the exhibition.
Inspired by her mother's belief in Sister Carmelit, Sarenchis praised the mysterious writing beyond her time. Sanchez said she also came in part to honor her mother.
“It was an inexplicable experience to see her,” Sánchez added.
On Monday morning, the coffin of the saint who died in 1582 was resealed and passed through town streets, with pilgrims following the parade. It is not clear that many years or decades will be passed in the past when the church once again makes the remains of St. Teresa to the public.
Teresa was last exhibited in 1914, when the devotees could see the saint one day. The previous show of the Carmelites tortured by Salamanca, this time attracted nearly 100,000 visitors in two weeks.
The coffin with the remains of the saint is only 1.3 meters (4 feet).
What can be seen is the skull, the clothes that cover other parts of the body are not all intact. Officials say the saint's heart is preserved in another part of the church. Other body parts are preserved in churches throughout Europe, preserved as relics – fingers, hands and chin.
Teresa was a towering figure in the Spanish Golden Age and counter-reformation of the 16th century. Her exploration and meditation of her relationship with God is controversial, but for centuries they have been considered “deep papers on spirituality,” says José Calvo, a professor of theology at the Pope University of Salamanca, who specializes in medieval history.
Many people admire her. It is believed that the former Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco placed the saint's hand beside the bed.
Last September, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV visited the birthplace of the Saints an hour-drive by Alba de Tormes.
Teresa's body also spawned memes online about the creepy nature of her centuries-old skull.
In Alba de Tormes, church officials and experts underestimated the reaction, saying the show was not unique because of how Catholics respected the saints for hundreds of years.
“It's just something people do when they always think that someone might be a saint,” said Cathleen Medwick.
“And the fact that her body doesn't have much decay is also considered a sign of her sacredness,” Medwick added.
Some admirers this month were clearly moved. On Sunday, a group of nuns from India stood on the side of the coffin, looking at the body of the saint behind the glass box, wiped away tears.
Gregoria Martín López, 75, climbed to the elevated part of the church behind the altar, hoping to get a better view from above the skull of the tiny saint.
“To me, the saint is a great force. If they close her, I can say I saw her.” Martin said, tears flowing in his eyes, blowing kisses and blowing the relics of Teresa when the organ music fills the space.
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