I was doing some Net research on the St. Catherine Laboure’s Miraculous Medal… and little did I know that Catherine Laboure’s body is still preserved incorrupt. The encased body of St. Catherine Laboure (1806-1876) is on display at a church (140 Rue de Bac) in Paris. Pretty amazing. I knew little about this phenomena before and never gave it much thought. Has anyone of you ever seen her incorrupt body in person?

I found a few Web sites that talks more about this miracle/phenomena of incorrupt bodies – which, interestingly, I just found out happens only within the Catholic Church (a tremendous testimony to our Holy Catholic Faith)..

This close-up photo I found of St. Vincent De Paul’s incorrupt head is incredible…

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/stv01009.jpg

And to think… St. Vincent De Paul lived between 1580-1660… which means that the head in this picture is an incredible 342 years old! Sheesh, I can’t believe it -- his cheeks are still red. I’m so impressed by this phenomena. The person in this picture looks so serene and happy, as if he’s sleeping and having a pleasant dream or something (guess he’s enjoying eternal rest). Plus, he looks like he could have died yesterday!

I find that the head on this body doesn’t even look like that of an 80 year old man. I just read that when St. Catherine Laboure’s body was exhumed after a few decades, her body was found to look like that of someone who died in the prime of her temporal beauty, and not as that of an aged woman. The pictures I’ve seen of her incorrupt body are pretty amazing. So are the ones of St. Bernadette's incorrupt body (who had numerous apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes.)

You can check out more pictures of incorrupt bodies at this site:

http://members.aol.com/ccmail/incorruptbodies.html

Wow, seeing these marvelous miraculous pictures of the saints has only increased my Catholic faith! It’s definitely been a call for me to strive towards greater holiness. I mean, after seeing these miraculous pictures…how can I ever doubt in our Lord’s power and omnipotence over all creation? How can I ever doubt in His immense Love for us and in His promise of eternal salvation for all those who love Him and Keep His commandments?

And to think, after all He’s revealed to us up 'til now (as if it wasn’t proof enough) … He still continues to this day to perform countless miracles (through the relics of the saints, healings, other miracles, etc,) so that all (even the most hard of hearts) may believe in Him… with the hope that we too may one day enjoy eternal rest, happiness, and salvation with Him forever and ever. (Is anyone else here as impressed by this phenomena as I am… or am I just rambling on?)

God bless. Sincerely,

Robert P

-- Robert P (Robertp234@hotmail.com), April 21, 2003

Answers

Jmj

Yes, Robert, this is something that has interested me for many years.
I think that you would enjoy reading the book, "The Incorruptibles," by Joan Cruz, which tells about more than 100 Catholic saints and blesseds whose bodies were preserved, in whole or part, from corruption. You can purchase the book in many places, or you can probably find it in your library. Click here for a peek at the cover of the book, which shows St. Bernadette.

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), April 21, 2003.

Robert, Lenin , the founder of Soviet Communism still looks young. He's been dead about 80 years. He was an atheist.

What I mean by this is that people in the old days have recipes for keeping people young, even after they died. It had nothing to do with a miracle or living a saintly life. I don't doubt Jacob still looks so so after being buried 3500 years in Hebron. He was embalmed by his son Joseph. Joseph was also embalmed. While Abraham who wasn't embalmed maybe has a few bones left.

I don't think the Jewish or Muslim authorities would allow us to check their bodies.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), April 21, 2003.

Thank you so much for telling me about the book "The Incorruptibles", John. Looks great. I will definitely search for it and read it! This phenomenon fascinates me. I believe it's truly a miracle and can't just be dismissed with a few shallow, unsubstantiated remarks (like our friend Elpidio seems to have done).

It would be great to read more documented evidence that proves the case for the miraculous preservation of these bodies.

I read, for example, that St. Francis Xavier's incorrupt body was examined by a whole team of medical doctors throughout the centuries... and none could offer a rational medical explanation as to how the interior organs of the saint's body remained intact, preserved, and uncorrupt after all those years. Plus, I hear many of these saintly incorrupt bodies, far from smelling bad, actually emit a pleasant odor! Definitely not the same thing as an embalmed dead corpse. Truly amazing, in my opinion.

Thanks again John.

Sincerely,

Robert P

-- Robert P (robertp234@hotmail.com), April 21, 2003.

> "Robert, Lenin , the founder of Soviet Communism still looks young. He's been dead about 80 years. He was an atheist."

And they say that is a miracle of modern science, and a lot of chemicals was used.

> "What I mean by this is that people in the old days have recipes for keeping people young, even after they died. It had nothing to do with a miracle or living a saintly life."

Elpidio, some of these Saints like St. Bernadette was buried in the ground for 20 years, before being dug up and realized to be a incorrupt, which was a surprise to all. There have been a great many saints but only a few have been incorrupt.

Ask yourself, why have not the great Kings and Queens of Europe not been made incorrupt if such "recipes" exist to make people look young? Only a small selective number of people have had this blessing bestowed on them, and one characteristic stands out, that they lived holy lives.

> "I don't doubt Jacob still looks so so after being buried 3500 years in Hebron. He was embalmed by his son Joseph. Joseph was also embalmed."

You think they would look like these incorrupt saints? Have you ever seen a mummy before? Do they look alive, like they are just sleeping?

-- Gordon (gvink@yahoo.com), April 22, 2003.

While I am intrigued by the bodies of the Incorrupt, I am troubled by it as well. Sometimes there's a notion that incorruptability is a result of extraordinary individual holiness. What about the body of St. Therese of Lisieux, a remarkable saint that underwent serious corruption? I am not sure if God favors a certain saint with incorruptability vs. corruption.

Personally, I think if God is behind incorruptability of a saint, it is a testament of His power to overturn the order of nature which He created, proving to the world His omnipotence. Equating incorruptability with personal holiness...I'm not so sure about that one.

Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead as a prophecy of His own resurrection - not because of Lazarus' personal holiness. The Mother of God's Dormition was a proof to all Christians of what awaits us - Resurrection in Christ, She being the first to receive God's promise of eternal life.

John the XXIII's body was found in good condition at the exhumation. While some claim is he miraculously incorrupt, the Vatican also realizes the natural conditions that could've effected this: a triple sealed, air tight casket buried in a moisture free environment. Interestingly, the Church is not using his well-preserved body as a "sign" for the cause of his canonization.

On another note... the body of Bl. Vasyl (Basil) Velychkovsky, CSsR, a Ukraininian Catholic Bishop Martyr of Canada, was found to be very much intact: http://www.yorktonredemptorists.com/Shrine.htm

Glory to God for all things!

Joseph

-- Joseph (josephwill@aol.com), April 22, 2003.

While I am intrigued by the bodies of the Incorrupt, I am troubled by how some may interpret this phenomena. Sometimes there's a notion that incorruptability is a result of extraordinary personal holiness. What about the body of St. Therese of Lisieux, a remarkable saint that underwent serious corruption? I am not sure if God favors a certain saint with incorruption vs. corruption.

Personally, I think if God is behind the incorruptability of a saint, it is a testament of His power to overturn the order of nature which He created, proving to the world His omnipotence. Equating incorruptability with personal holiness...I'm not so sure about that one.

John the XXIII's body was found to be in very good condition at his exhumation. While some claim is he miraculously incorrupt, the Vatican also realizes the natural conditions that could've effected this: a light embalming after death to prolong his ability to be viewed by the faithful, a triple sealed, air tight casket buried in a moisture free environment, etc. Interestingly, the Church is not using his well-preserved body as a "sign" for the cause of his canonization.

On another note... the body of Bl. Vasyl (Basil) Velychkovsky, CSsR, a Ukraininian Catholic Bishop Martyr of Canada, was found to be very much intact: http://www.yorktonredemptorists.com/Shrine.htm

Glory to God for all things!

Joseph

-- Joseph (josephwill@aol.com), April 22, 2003.

Sorry for the double post...I got an error the first time saying my post did not go through. So, I re-wrote it.

-- Joseph (josephwill@aol.com), April 22, 2003.

Gordon, Abraham, Jacob and Joseph talked to God. They followed God. Don't you think they are saints in their own right? It is because of these 3 men that we have the religion we have now.

I don't remember if the chemical is cyanide, the other mercury, chemicals used to preserve bodies. They kill all the bacteria.

-- Elpidio gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), April 22, 2003.

> "Gordon, Abraham, Jacob and Joseph talked to God. They followed God. Don't you think they are saints in their own right?"

Many Saints are not incorrupt. Only a select few. It's a rare blessing from God.

> "I don't remember if the chemical is cyanide, the other mercury, chemicals used to preserve bodies. They kill all the bacteria."

Popes, Queens, and Kings are all corrupt, and yet we have a select few Saints who are not. If there was such a "recipe", then why is it applied to some Saints, and not the great leaders of Europe throughout the ages?

-- Gordon (gvink@yahoo.com), April 22, 2003.

Jmj

You're welcome, Robert P.
After you read the Cruz book, perhaps you can come back here and tell us what the author said about why some holy people's bodies are preserved, while others are not. (I read it more than 15 years ago, and I can no longer remember.) The Church knows that extreme holiness does not necessarily result in incorruptibility. But God does allow this to happen on rare occasion, for reasons of his own.

We can simply ignore our local "Doubting Thomas," Elpidio, who thinks that there is a natural explanation for this. Here is a guy -- a fallen-away Catholic, who doesn't believe in the divinity of Jesus -- who expects us to believe that he has had a bunch of dreams from God. Here is a guy who thinks he can make prophecies that the pope is about to die, etc.. Yet he wants us to disbelieve in the incorruptibility of 100 or so very holy people. Truly a pitiful case is "Doubting Elpidio."

Yes, Gordon, the Commies used lots of chemicals on V. I. Lenin. According to an article in Australia's "The Age": a "mummification team ... worked furiously between March and July 1924 to stop Lenin's decay by dipping the body in potassium acetate and glycerine. They bleached the dark spots on his skin, stitched his lips and eyelids closed, and sealed up the scars after his brain was removed. The equally secretive Institute of the Brain studied every bend and fold of Lenin's brain for years to wrest from it the secret of the genius that Soviet ideology attributed to Lenin. It is still preserved in a jar at a laboratory in central Moscow along with the brain of [Joe] Stalin, who shared the Red Square mausoleum with Lenin until 1961, when he was taken out and buried by the Kremlin wall."

Amazingly, though the U.S.S.R. broke up a decade ago, and Communism and Lenin have been discredited, the Russians haven't been able to muster the will to burn or bury Lenin's body. Yeltsin wanted to do it, but left office before it was accomplished. Putin (being a "closet red") doesn't want to change the "status quo."

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), April 23, 2003.

PS: I completely forgot to mention the most important point that I had in mind -- especially to counteract Elpidio's skepticism. If I recall correctly, almost all of the holy people whose bodies are incorrupt were buried without having been embalmed or otherwise treated. I think that some were poor religious monks or sisters, placed in a wooden box and buried almost without delay. Only a miracle can account for their current condition.

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), April 23, 2003.

John G, what makes the poor monks and nuns better than saint Paul, Saint Peter, Moses, Abraham, Joseph...?

Moses suffered. Abraham suffered. Joseph suffered. Paul really suffered. Peter suffered. Many either gave their life for God or preached God to the people. Some saved lots of people. Some created our faith. Some talked to God directly.

-- Elpidio gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), April 23, 2003.

Hello Eplidio,

Know one is saying that the few saints in history (whose bodies, in whole or in part, have been miraculously preserved from corruption) are somehow "better" or "holier" than all the other amazing saints that have existed throughout history (whose bodily remains have decayed just like the rest of us will).

As John G said in an earlier post, God allows this phenomena to take place on rare occasions for reasons of His own. I didn't hear anyone here say that these particular saints were better or holier than the likes of St.Paul, St.Peter, Abraham, St. Joseph... or any of the other thousands of saints who have suffered much for the love of God and who have led exemplary Christian lives. Why are you making this assumption that we think these saints are holier? I don't get it.

Sincerely,

Robert

-- Robert (robertp234@hotmail.com), April 23, 2003.

That's basically the point, Robert, How do you know God has preserved them?

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), April 23, 2003.

Elpidio wrote: "That's basically the point, Robert, How do you know God has preserved them?"

Elpidio, I believe it, first and foremost, out of Faith. I mean, why couldn't the Almighty God work a miracle like this (or any other) from time to time, if He so choses? If you believe in God, there's no problem with believing in the whole notion of miracles/unexplained supernatural phenomema (assuming, of course, that they are backed up by a few scientific studies and have been given Church approval).

There's an old saying (I think I saw in an old movie once about St. Bernadette and Her apparitions of the Virgin Mary), it goes something like this: "For those who believe no explanation is necessary, for those who don't believe no explanation can be given."

Sincerely,

Robert P

-- RobertP (Robertp234@hotmail.com), April 24, 2003.

Hi.

Robert-You've justified Elpidio's dreams.

John- Jesus had to prove to "Doubting Thomas" that He had risen.

Elpidio- ?Que haces que no te aman?

Will somebody tell me the significance of these preserved dead bodies? I was taught that our souls are the reason, not the flesh. If I kept a dead antique body in a glass case in my house, they'd lock me up in a crazy house and throw away the key. I've read and seen pictures of ST. Lawrence. I didn't get a good feeling about it.

What am I supposed to understand about these incorruptible bodies?

rod

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), April 24, 2003.

Rod (also known as "Doubting Tom II"),

You should read the book also. It will answer your questions, and it will prove things to the "Doubting Tom" inside you.

By the way, Rod -- Amamos a Elpidio, pero no amamos al hecho de que el abandono a la Fe Catolica para adoptar el error de no creer en la divinidad de Jesus.

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), April 24, 2003.

John-Well said. I should have clarified my thoughts. "....que no te aman tus hechos?"

I tend to doubt what I am ignorant of . But, I hope that I do maintain an open mind about things. I haven't read the book; I've only read what the online sites reveal.

So, how are those incorruptible corpses significant?

"Doubting Thomas II" .

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), April 24, 2003.

I am wondering about the age of some of the photographs, particularly the photos I see online of St. Bernadette.

J Hill

-- J. Hill (hillnotes@hotmail.com), April 24, 2003.

> "So, how are those incorruptible corpses significant?"

Rod, they are significant in that they are not decomposing. For a body to exbihit this, would require a miracle, cause the only other way to perserve a body, is with chemicals, and that has not occured in these cases, simply because a simple test would reveal that. The fact that it happens only to people who lived very holy lives, would mean that God is providing a signal grace to us. It does not happen to all saints, but a select few, and the reason for that is unknown.

-- Gordon (gvink@yahoo.com), April 24, 2003.

Hi.

Wood becomes petrified over time; this doesn't make it a miracle.

Why is it so important that those Holy Corpses remain intact? Why would God do such a thing as to provide an incorruptible corpse? Of what value would a dead body have to our faith? Is it a Holy practice to keep a decapitated head on display?

How does the keeping of a deceased flesh coincide with the teachings of spiritual-ness--the soul? It has been hammered into my beliefs that the "flesh" is nothing. It is our soul that is of importance.

This forum questions charisms, particularly speaking in tongues. Yet, to look upon a dead incorruptible corpse without it's mysteries revealed is quite acceptable. I don't get it. Where is the list of acceptable and unacceptable mysteries and oddities?

Give me some answers so that I can have a chance to doubt or believe.

rod

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), April 25, 2003.

Uh......live an extremely righteous (holy) life and your body will not decay.

That doesn't sound right to me.

rod

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), April 25, 2003.

Some photos and mucho "fine print" here. It may be interesting to some of you.

Here are some excerpts from an Internet article on "strange phenomena." Keep in mind that this is from a secular reviewer, who may not be Catholic ...

Joan Cruz, author of "The Incorruptibles," "reports no less than 102 stories of incorrupt bodies of Catholic saints. Although the Catholic authorities do not deny the possibility of miraculous preservation of bodies, neither do they place much stock in it. According to Rome, the strange phenomenon may confirm holiness but, on its own, the unnatural preservation of bodies does not, automatically, prove holiness. The authorities, quite sensibly, are more interested in the person’s virtue.

"The phenomenon raises many questions. If unnatural preservation is, indeed, a sign of saintliness, why aren’t all saints supernaturally preserved? Bernadette and Thérèse of Lisieux were both 19th century French girls who went into a convent and died of consumption at an early age. St Bernadette’s body was incorrupt but St Thérèse’s body, at her exhumation, was reduced to a skeleton in the normal way. Why should one saint be incorrupt and not the other?

"... there is enough evidence of remarkable occurrences surrounding the incorruptibles. St Isidore and St John of the Cross are two ... examples which illustrate the unsettling events and show that, despite all other explanations, the incorruptibles are probably one of the best documented examples of the ‘miraculous’. St Isidore was a farm labourer who died in the year 1130. He was buried directly in the earth without tomb or coffin. Forty years later, prompted by a dream, his body was exhumed to move it to a more worthy tomb. An eyewitness recorded that it ‘looked as if it had just died although it had been lying in the earth for 40 years.' In 1622, the body was exhumed a second time before many witnesses. Once again, it was perfectly fresh and emitted 'a heavenly odour'. One of the witnesses was the king’s minister, who signed the document attesting what they had all seen.

"When St John of the Cross died in 1591, he was buried in a vault beneath the floor of the church. When the tomb was opened, nine months later, the body was fresh and intact; and when a finger was amputated to use as a relic, the body bled as a living person would have done. When the tomb was opened for a second time nine months after that, the body was still fresh, despite the fact that it had been covered with a layer of quicklime. At further exhumations in 1859 and 1909, the body was found to be still fresh. The last exhumation was in 1955, when the body – after nearly 400 years – was still 'moist and flexible' although the skin 'was slightly discoloured.'

"As with most fortean phenomena, the existence of incorrupt bodies has not been studied seriously by the scientific community. ... [I]t may be that in a devoutly religious person ... the practice of prayer and meditation is merged with the physical discipline of asceticism and abstinence. Perhaps the physical and the spiritual become intermingled; perhaps, in some cases, this interpenetration of the spiritual with the physical so overwhelms the person’s body as to preserve it from natural corruption. How else may we begin to explain why some bodies do not decay, despite the fact that the individual has died of a noxious disease, was not embalmed and was buried for decades in damp conditions with other corpses that rotted naturally? When we understand how the mind and body work together, we may also start to understand why some characters wind up being both dead as a doornail and fresh as a daisy."

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), April 25, 2003.

Hi John.

It is truly amazing to learn about these incorruptible bodies. It seems quite improbable that science could give a definite explanation for this phenomena. I also think that the Church has the same dilema. It exists, but we can't explain why.

rod

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), April 25, 2003.

> "It exists, but we can't explain why."

It is a great mystery, that can only be described as a miracle, as certainly no scientific explaination can account for it.

A signal grace from God, for the purpose of affirming our faith? Quite possible the reason for God's motivation, as miracles mean that God does not want our faith to exist in a vacuum.

Excellent post John.

-- Gordon (gvink@yahoo.com), April 25, 2003.

John- see what a "Doubting Tom" can engender?

rod

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), April 25, 2003.

John - ditto with Gordon about the excellent post!

That's amazing how St. John of The Cross's finger bled like that of a living person's, would when it was amputated to be used for a relic.

Robert

-- Robert P (robertp234@hotmail.com), April 25, 2003.

Thank you, Gordon, Rod, and Robert.
I had the same reaction to the case of St. John of the Cross. He was an incredibly holy man who suffered greatly and died quite young.
JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), April 27, 2003.

I've had the privilege of seeing several incorrupt bodies including: Pope John 23 - Rome, St. Peters Basilica St. Claire of Assisi St. Bernadette - Nevers, France St. Catherine Laboure - 140 Rue De Boc Paris, France St. Saint Louise de Marillac - 140 Rue De Boc Paris, France St. Vincent De Paul - Paris

I an a convert to the Catholic faith but I didn't know anything about the incorruptables until later on. I can honestly say that seeing these Saints in person has had a profound impact on my life.

There is no doubt in my mind that this is a supernatural occurrence and you will find the naysayers out there that will try to discredit Gods work.

There used to be a lot more incorruptables but during the Protestant Reformation, the Protestants destroyed hundred by dragging them through the streets and setting them on fire.

-- Mick Bailey (bailem@mail.wvnet.edu), May 08, 2003.

Thank you, Mick, for your very interesting post. You have received great blessings. JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), May 08, 2003.

i have lost my faith due to various terrible years i have went throught,now ,at 35 i feel alone in the world and disengaged from my family..but recently i have been having vivid dreams of a nun who visits me.she is called sister jennifer of the sisters of charity and has told me to stop smoking.she has led me to believe that even thought i am protestant and of the angligan church of ireland faith i have to go to lourdes and to the convent at nevers.i have a conviction to go and now making arrangments and my cousin is coming with me.sister jennifer told me that there,i would find my faith again..may god have mercy on us all....

-- glynn kayes (glynnkayes@hotmail.com), May 19, 2003.

Glynn Kayes, I am curious of how you knew the name of the nun: a) did you see her name some place b) she told you her name , cshe told you her name in adream, d) a voice told you her name, e) you saw her name written somewhere in your dream.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), May 19, 2003.

elpideo,she never proclamed her name to me,i just knew her name from the first dream i had...i have woke up crying in the morning..and wanting these dreams to stop,but i have felt strange and quiet when the dreams happen,my friend has witnessed me waking up from a deep sleep to jumping out of my bed and sweating with heat and being cold at the same time,i am telling you the truth,and have nothing to gain,i hope i find the answers to this...glynn

-- glynnkayes (glynnkayes@hotmail.com), May 19, 2003.

Is this nun in your dream asking you to be a nun, or just to go to Lourdes, France, to visit the shrine there?

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzale@2srla.org), May 19, 2003.

Is sister jennifer asking you to join a convent, or just vist the shrine at Lourdes?

If you are planning to go to Lourdes, and you haven't been to Israel first ( the cradle of our faith: Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth...the River Jordan...) then I suggest you go to both places. Go to Israel first. Then later, make a trip which includes Rome and Lourdes.

Maybe there is something which will increase your faith.

Dreams have been part of my life since October 1996. Just pray to God to show you the right path. Don't be afraid anymore.

We all go trough emotional, religious, or spiritual crises. Mine was at 20. Later another one at 37.

May Yahweh our God bless you in whatever you do. May the love of his Son Jesus lead you in the right way.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), May 19, 2003.

well i cannot be a nun as i am a man,and i knew of the shrine at lourdes but not of the convent at nevers.sr jennifer tells me of the convent in the dreams and its in the convent i will find my faith...glynn

-- glynn kayes (glynnkayes@hotmail.com), May 19, 2003.

Then a monk? or to maybe to help in rebuilding ( restoring)something?

Next time confront the person if you have another dream. Ask more questions. It is kind of scary. But it may work.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), May 19, 2003.

Glynn

I think it is good to give up smoking, especially if it is an illegal substance. I don't know what you are smoking. I think your dream is a representation of your emotions. Take it symbolically. It is telling you to change your life. There is something important you need to do to improve your life. You may not need to take a trip across the world. Your dream is not a direct order from God. But it does mean you are distressed and need help.

-- Mike H. (michael.hitzelberger@vscc.cc.tn.us), May 19, 2003.

Then Glynn, maybe a monk? or to maybe to help in rebuilding ( restoring)something?

Next time confront the person if you have another dream. Ask more questions. It is kind of scary. But it may work.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), May 19, 2003.

sr jennifer told me to stop smoking and nothing else..she told me if i dident stop i would have an illness..please pray for me

-- glynn kayes (glynnkayes@hotmail.com), May 19, 2003.

Tring to get rid of Italics.

I wish you the best, Glyynn.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), May 19, 2003.

i only smoke cigarettes from gallaher ltd ..and marlboro and such like,i am not into illegal substances so i know my dreams are not drug induced or hallucinations..sr jennifer also knows as she has warned me....please pray that my addiction to tobacco will wain..sister jennifer told me if i can overcome my addictions to worldly life, my faith will be restored but i have to make the pilgimage to lourdes and nevers...st bernadette pray for me....and if after my visit to your holy shrine...at nevers..and should i find peace,,i will give up my life for a vocation to god...st bernadette help me to restore my faith..amen

-- glynn kayes (glynnkayes@hotmail.com), May 19, 2003.

Hi Glynn.

Are there any hospitals in your area named after Lourdes?

If there is, I wonder if some nurse on staff is named Sister Jennifer?

Have you had a medical check up?

Your dreams maybe closer to home than you think.

But, what do I know? Don't answer that Elpidio.

rod. .

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), May 19, 2003.

Maybe your hunch is good, Rod.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), May 19, 2003.

please believe me i was brought up protestant in belfast,on the shankill road with no connections to the catholic faith at all..i never knew nuns of any description,or anything about them..i have never before had experience of nuns but just seen glimses of them at the local hospital although i was never a patient there

-- glynn kayes (glynnkayes@hotmail.com), May 19, 2003.

Hi Glynn.

You wrote:

"i have never before had experience of nuns but just seen glimses of them at the local hospital although i was never a patient there"

Well, there is your connection to the dream you had. You are remembering that event in your dreams. You need to figure out why you are remembering this event. If you are waking up in the night with cold sweats, you need to figure out what is going on with your health.

rod. .

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), May 20, 2003.

Thank you Robert I have just had a look at the amazing photo at the web site you mentioned, WOW! He certanly does look good! I am just converting to the Catholic faith and am every day being delighted by the new friends I meet and the wonderful facts about the religion. Take care qand thanks again

Julie x

-- Julie Dawn (j.jdh@btopenworld.com), October 20, 2003.

Hi my name is Sarah. I just ran across your website randomly when i was doing so reasearch on incorruptible saints. Recently I have become very interested in the phenomenon of incorruptible saints. It facinates me more and more. I have however come to a dead end. It seems like not much information exists about it. I know about the book "The Incorruptibles" by Joan Cruz, but other than that I have not been able to find any other information. I was wondering if any of you knew of any other websites or books that provide additional information on the subject. Thank you.

-- Sarah M.Howe (nodoutsno1fan@msn.com), February 19, 2004.

Their isnt much informsation on them, only their Biographies and the fact that their Bodies mysteriosuly didnt decompose, and a few scientific theories such as natural mummification...

The Miracle itsself is the preservation, which is easy to show, and which cannto be explained currently. ( The above was a sampel theory.)

Other than this we know nothing, so nohtign is reported.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), February 19, 2004.

Jmj
Hello, Sarah.

Please scroll up to my April 25, 2003, message and click on the link I provided. It is still "alive," and it will take you to a site about "incorruptibles."
When you are finished there, try this page (which is continued to additional pages) for photos ... and this page for an essay by a dependable, orthodox Catholic writer.

God bless you and aid you in your research.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), February 20, 2004.