Tens of thousands flock to see a Spanish saint remains more than 440 years after his death

Alba de Tormes, Spain (AP) – They aligned themselves to see it, silent and wonderful: inside an open silver coffin was Saint Teresa d’Avila, more than 440 years after his death.

Catholic worshipers Flounted on Alba de Tormes, a city surrounded by rolling pastures in the west of Spain where the remains of the Spanish, mystical and religious reformer of the 16th century were exhibited this month.

“It gave me a feeling of fulfillment, joy and sadness,” said Guiomar Sánchez, who traveled from Madrid with his two daughters on Sunday, the last full day of the exhibition.

Inspired by her mother’s belief in the carmelite nun, Sánchez praised the writings of the mystique as being ahead of her time. Sánchez said she also came in part to honor her mother.

“Seeing her was an inexplicable experience,” added Sánchez.

Monday morning, the Coffiil du Saint died in 1582 was closed and transported to the streets of the city, with pilgrims after the procession. It is not known how many years – or decades – will spend before the church again makes St. Teresa’s remains visible by the public.

Teresa was posted for the last time in 1914, when the faithful had only one day to see the saint. This time, the screen attracted nearly 100,000 visitors over two weeks, said Miguel ángel González, the prior of the Salamanca carmelites.

The coffin that contains the leftovers of the saint is barely 1.3 meters (4 feet) long.

What is visible is a skull dressed in a habit with clothes covering other parts of the body, which are not all intact. The heart of the saint is maintained in another part of the church, officials said. Other parts of the body – fingers, a hand and a jaw – are kept as Relics in churches across Europe.

Teresa is an imposing figure in the golden age of Spain and the 15th century counter-reform. His explorations of inner life and meditations on his relationship with God have been controversial, but they were considered over the centuries as a “deep treaty of spirituality”, said José Calvo, professor of theology at the Pontifical University of Salamanca who specializes in medieval history.

Many loved her. Ancient General Spanish dictator Francisco Franco We think we have kept a relic of the hand of the saint next to his bed.

Last September, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV Visited the birthplace of the saint in Avila, an hour’s drive from Alba de Tormes.

The remains of Teresa have also caused memes online on the macabre nature of size around its skull of several centuries.

In Alba de Tormes, church officials and experts minimized such reactions, saying that the screen was nothing out of the way Catholics venerated their saints for centuries.

“It was just something that people always did when they thought that someone could be a saint,” said Cathleen Medwick, who wrote the book “Teresa of Avila, the progress of a soul.”

“And the fact that his body did not decompose much was also considered a sign of his holiness,” added Medwick.

Some worshipers this month have been visibly moved. Sunday, a group of nuns from India suffered tears as they stood next to the coffin and looked at the remains of the saint behind a glass case.

Gregoria Martín López, 75, climbed into a high part of the church behind the altar, hoping to have a better view from the top of the decreased Saint.

“The saint for me is a great strength. If they close it, I can say that I saw it,” said Martín and with tears in the eyes, kissed Teresa’s relic while organ music filled the space.

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