The remarkably preserved body of 16th-century Catholic mystic Saint Teresa of Jesus has been unveiled to the public, drawing emotional reactions from faithful pilgrims and curious onlookers alike.
Displayed inside a glass coffin at the Basilica Annunciation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Spain’s Salamanca province, the saint’s remains were shown for the first time in over a century—since 1914—on Sunday, May 11.
Though skeletal at first glance, parts of Saint Teresa’s body are said to remain astonishingly well-preserved, especially considering she passed away in 1582. Many visitors to the basilica were moved to tears, while others stood silently in prayer before the revered Carmelite nun’s resting form.
The coffin was opened by Discalced Carmelite clergy—including nuns, monks, and priests—to allow for the examination of relics, including her heart, hand, and arm. Experts compared the body’s current state to archival photographs taken during its last public unveiling in 1914.
“The uncovered parts—particularly the face and foot—are in the same condition as they were in 1914,” explained Father Marco Chiesa. “There’s no color as the skin is mummified, but facial features, especially in the center of the face, are still clearly visible.”
This rare ceremony of public veneration has only occurred three times since Saint Teresa’s death: once in 1760, again in 1914, and now in 2025—making it a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual event for many of the faithful.
Researchers and religious scholars alike have marveled at the saint’s remarkable state of preservation, calling it both scientifically intriguing and spiritually significant.
