Is it true that the bodies of some saints are incorruptible?

Answer

The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches believe that the deceased bodies of certain saints remain miraculously incorruptible, meaning their bodies do not decay as typical corpses would. Catholics assert that these saints’ bodies are supernaturally preserved in fulfillment of Psalm 16:10, “You will not . . . allow your Holy One to see corruption” (Douay-Rheims Bible).

Some of these “incorruptible” bodies of saints are exhibited in various churches and monasteries worldwide. Typically, the bodies are entombed, and worshippers and pilgrims show reverence to the remains. There is an extensive roster of saints, such as St. Silvan, St. Teresa Margaret, and St. Bernadette of Lourdes, who, posthumously, were officially recognized as “incorrupt” by the Catholic Church, indicating that their remains displayed minimal to no decomposition, or at least delayed decomposition.

However, a slow decomposition rate does not equate to miraculous incorruptibility. The decomposition process of a body is influenced by external and internal environmental factors, including the level of oxygen and moisture exposure, ambient temperature, and the presence of various bacteria. A body sealed within a dry, airtight coffin in a cold tomb will decompose much slower than a body exposed to the elements. Nonetheless, all deceased organisms eventually decompose, whether saint, snail, or snapdragon. The Roman Catholic Church acknowledges this reality and takes meticulous measures to maintain the appearance of the deceased saints housed in their edifices—many of the “incorruptible” bodies have been adorned with wax masks and gloves to conceal the ongoing decomposition. A pilgrim visiting St. Bernadette in Lourdes, for instance, might perceive it akin to a visit to a wax museum.

The bodies proclaimed “incorrupt” by the Catholic Church have indeed exhibited a slower rate of decomposition than usual,Even without the wax touch-ups. However, slow decay is not necessarily miraculous. A man or woman believed to be on the path to sainthood would probably have received a superior coffin and tomb compared to the average person. This would significantly contribute to the body’s preservation and result in a subsequent misconception about incorruptibility.

If the body of an “incorruptible saint” was genuinely miraculously incorruptible, it would not require being stored in an airtight and climate-controlled case.

The Catholic Church’s focus on physical objects—relics, corpses, transubstantiation, icons, beads, statues, etc.—diverts many from spiritual matters of the heart. Their fascination with the “holy” saints also shifts the attention away from Christ. Psalm 16:10 prophesies about Christ, the only holy (i.e., sinless) individual to have ever existed. Jesus, the Holy One of God, truly experienced no corruption, as He was raised from the dead on the third day after His death.

Those who have faith in Christ are assured of receiving an incorruptible body one day: “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable” (1 Corinthians 15:50-53;KJV). (The term “incorruptible” is also rendered as “imperishable” in other translations.) One day, all believers will be glorified, both body and soul, including those who have passed away and those who are alive at Christ’s return (cf: 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).