🇮🇹 Versione italiana
🇪🇸 Leer en español
Rome – On 28th August 2024, in the Spanish town of Alba de Tormes, a significant spiritual and scientific event began: the canonical recognition of the mortal remains of Saint Teresa of Jesus, the founder of the Order of Discalced Carmelites and one of the most important figures in Christian mysticism. This process, which culminates in the public exhibition from 11th to 25th May 2025 and the subsequent relocation to the tomb, represents not only an act of veneration but also a moment of historical and anthropological reflection. We asked Fr. Marco Chiesa O.C.D., General Postulator of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, what motivated the Institute to carry out the canonical recognition and when the previous one took place.
“From the documentation available to us, there is no record of a complete canonical recognition and, especially, a study of the conservation of the remains using scientific criteria, nor any related treatment of the same. We know that after various disputes over the body between Alba de Tormes (where the saint died) and Ávila (where she was headed), the mortal remains were initially placed in a white stone tomb on the left side of the church of the Monastery of Alba. In the 18th century, the Spanish kings wanted to provide a new burial, placing the body in a silver urn and then in a grey marble sarcophagus above the altar of the main altar of the same church, where it remains today. The Saint rested here until 1914, when, at the will of the General Father, a simple opening was made, documented by photographs. The lack of historical information, combined with concerns about the preservation, particularly of the heart, led the Order to take this important step, beginning with the right foot (which is kept in Santa Maria della Scala in Rome) and then tackling the long and demanding work in Alba de Tormes on the body, arm, hand, and heart. One could say that the intervention has been providential, both for all the scientific information acquired and for the preservation of the entire covered part of the body, which for centuries had been heavily attacked by microorganisms, now finally eradicated.”
What does it mean for a child of Carmel to carry out an act like the canonical recognition, and what are the spiritual feelings and fruits you have experienced, considering it not just a scientific act but above all one of deep spiritual significance?
“What might seem like a mere scientific and canonical task always carries an important spiritual reflection. Indeed, coming into contact with the body of a Saint – especially one’s own founder – becomes a sort of interior listening and dialogue with the human and spiritual experience she went through, from which one can still draw. Teresa, though fully a daughter of her time, had an extremely balanced and modern anthropological vision, attributing to the human body all the dignity it deserved, seeing it as a sort of ‘setting’ on which the ‘diamond’ of the soul shines and is exalted, thus tightly connected and interdependent. Observing the fragility and suffering of that body before our eyes, and knowing the greatness of the soul through her writings, helps us understand better the gift of this extraordinary woman and makes us ‘sing the mercies of God,’ as she often loved to say herself.”
Mystic and Reformer
Saint Teresa of Jesus, also known as Teresa of Ávila, was born in 1515 and lived in an era marked by profound religious and cultural changes. Entering the Carmelite Order at a young age, she embarked on a long spiritual journey that led her to a profound union with God. Mystic, reformer, and writer, Teresa did not merely live her faith; she became an indefatigable spiritual guide for many, founding the Order of Discalced Carmelites together with Saint John of the Cross. Her reform was not only disciplinary but above all spiritual: she brought the Carmelite life back to the evangelical simplicity and inner silence of contemplative prayer. Author of key works in Christian spirituality – such as The Way of Perfection, The Interior Castle, and The Book of Life – Saint Teresa left a legacy that continues to inspire believers, religious, and laity of every age. Her inner strength, theological clarity, and extraordinary humanity make her a “living” saint, still capable of speaking to the hearts of contemporary humanity. In a fragmented and frenetic world, her invitation to deep prayer, discernment, and inner freedom is more relevant than ever.
What is Canonical Recognition?
Canonical recognition is an official and solemn procedure in the Catholic Church, consisting of the inspection, verification, and documentation of the relics of a blessed or saint. As stipulated by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in the document of 17th December 2017, the recognition is governed by strict rules that ensure its ecclesiastical and scientific validity. It is carried out for various reasons: the protection of relics, their relocation to new places, verification of their integrity, preparation for canonisation, or public exhibition. The phases of the recognition must take place under the supervision of the competent ecclesiastical authority, with the presence of experts in forensic medicine, archaeology, and anthropology, who work in accordance with canonical prescriptions and in a spirit of prayer and sobriety. A detailed record of the entire procedure must be made, with photographs, descriptions, and signatures of those present, which will be kept in the ecclesiastical archives.
The Canonical Recognition of Saint Teresa of Jesus
In the specific case of Saint Teresa of Jesus, the canonical recognition carried out in Alba de Tormes had particular significance not only religiously but also scientifically and culturally. Under the guidance of the General Postulator OCD, Fr. Marco Chiesa, and with the supervision of the General Curia of the Discalced Carmelites, the examinations were conducted by an Italian team composed of professors Luigi Capasso, Ruggero D’Anastasio, and Jacopo Cilli from the University of “Gabriele d’Annunzio” in Chieti-Pescara. This investigation allowed not only the documentation of the state of the remains but also the acquisition of valuable data that led to the decision to create a scientific reconstruction of the Saint's face, using the most modern forensic techniques. The work was entrusted to forensic sculptor Jennifer Mannfrom the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (Australia), who employed methodologies used in the United States and the United Kingdom, based on anthropometric data and X-rays provided by the University of Chieti. The reconstruction – also known as forensic approximation – gives a realistic and moving image of the face of one of Christianity’s most beloved saints. Photographs and videos of the work, made by Jennifer Mann and Paul Burston, have been authorised for publication, maintaining the authors' rights.
Mystery and Devotion
The scientific report, compiled by Professor Luigi Capasso, in collaboration with a team of Italian anthropologists and researchers, thoroughly documented the state of conservation and anatomical characteristics of the mortal remains of Saint Teresa of Jesus, which were examined from 28th August 2024. The relics are located in various places and include, among others, the body (in the Basilica of Alba de Tormes), the left hand (in Ronda), the right foot (in Rome), and the heart (in Alba). All the remains are naturally mummified and in an extraordinary state of preservation, with soft tissues, skin, muscles, and bones still intact, particularly in the face, which retains even the right eye and part of the hair. The investigation excluded any intervention of artificial mummification and confirmed that the environmental conditions were suitable for preservation. The Saint had a slight build (about 157 cm tall), suffering from painful and debilitating conditions, including dorsal kyphosis, severe osteoarthritis in the knees, respiratory and dental problems, and significant skeletal wear due to her intense activities, such as writing. In line with historical sources, these physical conditions reinforce the image of a woman who lived in suffering but with extraordinary dignity and serenity, still visible today in the relaxation of her facial features. In addition to the anthropological and radiographic analysis, the recognition also included the forensic reconstruction of the face and the study of DNA, which is still ongoing, to detect any hereditary diseases. The canonical recognition of Saint Teresa of Jesus was not only a technical or historical operation but a profound act of communion with a spiritual figure who continues to speak to the hearts of the faithful. The respect for canonical norms, combined with scientific competence and art, has allowed the celebration of the Saint's memory in a new, authentic way that is also accessible to future generations.
M.F.P.
Silere non possum