The body of Saint Teresa of Jesus—better known as Saint Teresa of Avila—has been unveiled to the public for the first time in over a century, reigniting awe, reverence, and debate surrounding one of Christianity’s most mysterious phenomena: incorruptibility.

Saint Teresa, who died in 1582 at the age of 67, was exhumed last August by officials from the Diocese of Ávila in Spain. What they found left religious leaders, scientists, and worshippers alike stunned—her body was astonishingly well-preserved after 440 years.

On May 12, 2025, her remains were publicly displayed at the Basilica of the Annunciation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Alba de Tormes, Salamanca. Draped in a religious habit and resting in an ornate silver coffin encased in marble, Saint Teresa’s face remains “clearly visible,” while her limbs appear “incorrupt”—a term used by the Catholic Church to describe bodies that defy the natural process of decomposition without embalming or preservation.

Faithful pilgrims flocked to the basilica to pay their respects, some waiting hours to glimpse the saint they believe is a living miracle. Many knelt in prayer, others wept silently, and some called it “a moment of divine intimacy.”

“She is a miracle,” one visitor told Spanish media. “She reminds us that the holiness of a soul can leave a mark, even in the body.”

The extraordinary condition of her corpse has captivated not just the faithful, but scientists as well. The Church has partnered with medical professionals to conduct a thorough, respectful study of her remains. Researchers are photographing, X-raying, and testing DNA samples, which were sent to a lab in Italy for detailed analysis. However, experts stress that they are in the early stages, and results are not expected for several months.

Father Marco Chiesa, General Postulator of the Order and the man overseeing the exhumation, explained the importance of the work. “We believe this can help us better understand not only Teresa’s life but how relics of saints may be preserved without human intervention,” he said. “It’s too early to share conclusions, but the signs are extraordinary.”

The unveiling required a strict security protocol—ten keys are needed to access her coffin. Three are held by the Duke of Alba, three by the city of Alba de Tormes, three by the Carmelite Order in Rome, and one—called the King’s Key—completes the set. Such measures are in place to protect the sacred relic from theft or misuse.

Teresa’s body has only been exhumed a few times since her death, most notably in 1750 and 1914. On each occasion, her remains were declared incorrupt. But this is the first time in over a century that the public has had the chance to see her body. Black-and-white photographs from 1914 were used for comparison, although, as Chiesa notes, the limitations of early photography make direct analysis difficult.

“She has no skin color because the skin is mummified,” he said. “But the features are there. Her face can still be seen clearly.”

Saint Teresa’s life was as remarkable as her death. A Spanish mystic, nun, and reformer of the Carmelite Order, she was canonized in 1622 and named a Doctor of the Church in 1970—the first woman to receive that title. She is considered one of the most important spiritual figures in Christian history.

She suffered from numerous health problems during her life, including convulsions, stomach pain, and loss of consciousness. Her writings describe these afflictions as mystical encounters with God. Recent analysis of her feet uncovered a rare and painful condition known as calcareous spines—sharp bone-like growths similar to those found in sea urchins. Doctors believe these made walking excruciating, yet Saint Teresa traveled extensively, even during her final days.

In fact, when she fell fatally ill in October 1582, she had just completed a journey to visit a friend in Alba de Tormes. Three days later, she told her traveling companion, “At last, my daughter, I have reached the house of death,” before peacefully passing away.

Today, she remains the patron saint of numerous causes, including people in religious orders, lace makers, chess players, those suffering illness, and people who have lost parents. Her spiritual influence continues to transcend centuries.

While the Church investigates the scientific reasons behind her body’s condition, many believe the incorruptibility of her remains is a testament to her sanctity—a sign, perhaps, that some mysteries are meant to be both studied and revered.

As the crowds continue to gather in Alba de Tormes, the quiet presence of Saint Teresa’s body, untouched by time, invites a question science may never fully answer: how can the incorruptible still walk among the mortal?