Sister Wilhelmina's Lack Of Decomposition Undetermined

Black doesn’t crack, even in the afterlife, and the late, great Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster is a shining example of this truth.

Sister Wilhelmina, a Black nun who passed away May 29, 2019, was buried without embalming in a simple wooden casket on the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles monastery property in Gower, Missouri, an institution that she founded in 1995. When her body was exhumed on April 28, 2023, to be reinterred in the Abbey church, it showed no signs of decomposition, despite the four years of burial, according to an Aug. 22 statement published by Bishop James V. Johnston, who leads the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

On May 24, 2023, Johnston commissioned a team of medical experts to examine Sister Wilhelmina’s body and casket. In addition to lack of composition, their report noted another unusual finding: despite the complete deterioration of the casket lining, her habit and clothing showed no signs of decomposition. This was particularly strange given the burial conditions, which typically would not prevent decay and decomposition.

“The condition of her body is highly atypical for the interval of nearly four years since her death, especially given the environmental conditions and the findings in associated objects,” the report added. 

Furthermore, soil tests revealed no unusual elements that would prevent the decomposition of an unembalmed body, according to Johnston and his team of researchers.

People believe Sister Wilhelmina is “incorrupt.”

In both Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions, there are instances where individuals do not decompose as expected after death, a phenomenon known as “incorruptibility,” as described by the Catholic Answers website.

The site explains that similar to how Jesus’ body was preserved from corruption in the tomb (Acts 1:27), God allows the bodies of some of His faithful to remain incorrupt. However, Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster has not been officially recognized as “incorrupt,” as the Catholic Church does not have a formal process for declaring a deceased person as such. Johnston emphasized that “incorruptibility” is not a sign of sainthood and that there are no current plans to begin a cause for canonization for Sister Wilhelmina.

Still, people from around the world remain amazed and intrigued by Sister Wilhelmina’s extraordinary case. When news of her story spread in 2023, it captivated thousands from around the world. During the 2023 Memorial Day weekend, over 10,000 worshippers visited the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles monastery in Gower, Fox News reported. In the sacred building, the nun’s body, preserved in protective wax, was displayed for visitors to touch and pray over. Attendees described the sighting as a “modern day miracle.”

Who was Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster?

Sister Wilhelmina, born Mary Elizabeth in St. Louis on April 13, 1924, experienced mystical graces from a young age that deepened her love for Jesus Christ, according to the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, website. During her First Holy Communion, she saw Jesus and heard Him ask, “Will you be mine?” She felt compelled to answer yes and later joined the Oblate Sisters of Providence, taking the name Sister Wilhelmina. Committed to preserving traditional religious practices, she founded the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles in 1995 at the age of 70.

The monastery focuses on teaching the “love in the heart of the Church,” “loyalty to the Holy Father” and a “deep-seated love of the traditional liturgy.”

Members of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles community are currently working on a movie that will share more details about Sister Wilhelmina’s life, illustrious career and the amazing story of her burial called Incorruptible.

Watch the trailer for the film below.

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