The Incorruptibles: A Study of the Incorruption of the Bodies of Various Catholic Saints and Beati

by Joan Carroll Cruz

Paperback, 1977

Barcode

6227

Call number

922.22 STS

Status

Available

Call number

922.22 STS

Pages

310

Description

Continuously popular since it first appeared in 1977, TheIncorruptibles remains the acknowledged classic on the bodies of saints that did not undergo decomposition after death. Many remained fresh and flexible for years, or even centuries. After explaining both natural and artificial mummification, the author shows that the incorruption of the saints' bodies fits neither category but rather constitutes a much greater phenomenon that is unexplained by modern science to this day. The author presents 102 canonized saints, beati, and venerables, summarizing their lives, the discovery of their incorruption, and investigations by Church and medical authorities. The incorruptible bodies of saints are a consoling sign of Christ s victory over death, a confirmation of the dogma of the Resurrection of the Body, a sign that the Saints are still with us in the Mystical Body of Christ, and proof of the truth of the Catholic Faith--for only in the Catholic Church do we find this phenomenon. Impr. 342 pgs 33 Illus, PB.… (more)

Local notes

Miraculous preservation of saints' bodies

Publication

TAN Books (1991), Edition: illustrated edition, 102 pages

ISBN

0895550660 / 9780895550668

Collections

Rating

½ (20 ratings; 3.7)

User reviews

LibraryThing member kaulsu
This book, by a lay Catholic woman, purports to identify those saints (and beati) whose bodies remained undecayed (incorrupt) for an unnaturally long period of time after death.

The difficulty in documenting this phenomena after centuries is understandibly impossible. But the book remains
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interesting for the stories of the Saints portrayed in the book and their "claims to fame."

Cruz makes the dubious claim that "the incorruptibles, however, have existed only since early Christian days" (27). This type of comment is typical of the subjective manner in which she writes.
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LibraryThing member neverstopreading
I expected this book to read like many hagiographies: completely uncritical. However, before engaging in the hagiographical material and reporting on the different miracles, the author describes the different ways a corpse may be incorruptible: through mummification, through natural means (and
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examples of this were given), and through seemingly miraculous ways which cannot be explained naturally (eg: a single corpse in a crypt of dozens is uncorrupt). Of course, this book focuses on the latter, and it is fascinating reading, even if you don't believe in the miracle.
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