The incorrupt body of Sister Wilhelmina

I was reading about Sister Wilhelmina and the order of nuns she founded and learned that the young women of the order are well known classical recording 'stars' and have had several successful cds of choral singing and Georgian chant over the years. It seems they started to sell the cds locally to help pay the debt on their newly constructed convent and pretty soon they were noticed by professional music companies who helped to promote and distribute their music. I saw one of the nuns say in another interview that most of the debt was cleared this way. A great story and a beautiful sound. Here's a short video made ahead of the release of one of their albums from a few years back.

 

Will do! And thank you!

 

How beautiful, the voices of angels. The more that is revealed about Sister Wilhelmina and her order, the more I love her story. This reminds me of Mother Angelica's financial struggles. At one point the sisters were selling roasted peanuts and hand tied fishing lures to help pay the bills.

 

Amazing, I believe this trip will bring miraculous blessings to you and your family. Will you be so kind as to pray for Sr Wilhelmina's intercession for my son Finn's conversion? Thank you, and have a safe journey there and back.

 

Such courage and faith PF! Praying you have a safe journey and that God reward you for your witness! Please ask Sr. Wilhelmina to intercede for my youngest son’s conversion. Thanks. Peace.

 

I remember seeing this a few years ago, probably on EWTN, and thinking if I were to become a nun, that is the convent I would want to be in! So much joy.

 

Again I say What a Blessing! I will surely ask God to Bring great Blessings to your family.Please ask for Rodney to be healed and for conversion for my whole family.

 

I will pray for all of your intentions!

 

PF, may this pilgrimage to see Sr. Wilhelmina bring you and your family many blessings. You might be among the last group to see her at such close range. I think after the weekend access will be more restricted.
It seems that the good sister was an extraordinary woman in life and now also in death.
Sister Wilhelmina, pray for us.

 

Dear Families, Friends and Benefactors,

By now, most of you have heard of the events that have transpired at the Abbey, especially surrounding the exhumation of our Sister Wilhelmina. We simply want to reach out to you to clarify a few points.

Our Abbey had been planning the addition of a St. Joseph Shrine within the oratory for quite some time, including the reinterment of the remains of our beloved foundress, Sister Wilhelmina. Last month, in preparation for the construction of the shrine, we exhumed her, having been told to expect bones in the highly moist clay of Missouri, as she was buried in a simple wooden coffin without any embalming whatsoever four years ago.

The intent was devotional, and to carry this out in the privacy of our cloistered life. Nevertheless, the discovery of what appeared to be an intact body and a perfectly preserved religious habit created an unexpected twist to our plans. We had no intent to make the discovery so public, but unfortunately, a private email was posted publicly, and the news began to spread like wildfire. However, God works in mysterious ways, and we embrace His new plan for us.

Many have voiced concern about the disruption to our life, but we have, thankfully, remained unaffected and able to continue on in our life of ora at labora, prayer and work, as Sister Wilhelmina would have it. Unless we looked out the front windows, or out at the crowds attending our Mass and Divine Offices, we would not even know people are here. An army of volunteers and our local law enforcement have stepped forward to manage the crowds, and we are deeply grateful to each of them, as they allow us to continue our life in peace, while granting the visitors a pleasant and prayerful experience at the Abbey.

Regarding what seems to be the miraculous preservation of Sister’s body, we are given the opportunity to contemplate the great gifts God gives us every day, especially the ones that are literally hidden from our eyes. St. Augustine said that “We marvel at what is extraordinary. Think of the fact that a few seeds bring forth an entire field of wheat.” Of this and ordinary daily miracles, he says, “We don’t bother to reflect on this fact because it is always there. What we notice are events that aren’t part of the ordinary course of nature. They are works that God has reserved for particular times and places to cause us amazement and dumbfound us so that we will open our minds to God’s presence and care in all events and beauties.” We believe that even as Sister Wilhelmina’s whole life and death was a miracle, pointing the way to Almighty God, that what she has left behind continues to point to His Resurrection and the life of glory that awaits us.

The relics of a person are exhumed in the ordinary course of action for the opening of the causes of saints, leading many to believe that such a cause has been or will be opened. As this is not the case, we continue on with a simple reinterment of our foundress, and are seeking advice on a possible opening of a cause in the future, especially as Sister has not yet reached the required minimum of five years since death in order to begin. Initial statements regarding Sister’s extraordinary physical state have already been procured, but we acknowledge that further studies must be done later, in an official capacity.

While we can attest to Sister’s personal sanctity, we know that incorruptibility is not among the official signs taken by the Church as a miracle for sainthood, and that all things must be subjected to further scrutiny, especially by the competent authorities in the medical field. The life itself and favors received must be established as proof of holiness.


For all those inquiring about visiting Sr Wilhelmina, please know there are thousands of people coming. If you are willing to wait in line, please bring folding chairs and umbrellas for shade if desired. There may be some food available on the grounds, but it is not guaranteed. You may arrive beginning at 8am through 8pm. We ask that all guests depart immediately after Compline. If you do not want to attend Mass at 11 am here, please avoid coming from between 10:30 and 12:30 Sunday and Monday as there is not much room. Mass on Saturday is at 4pm.

Please know that it will be impossible to give communion to everyone, so thank you for your understanding about that. Please note that you will still be able to see Sister’s body and take dirt from her grave after the morning of the 29th, at which point she will be placed in the glass shrine in our church.
We had originally planned that the reinterment of Sister Wilhelmina on May 29th would be a simple, private ceremony involving the Sisters only, but things have certainly taken an unexpected turn since our original plan!
For those inquiring, we will do a Rosary procession sometime around 4:30, and will place her body in the St. Joseph Shrine after that.
IF YOU WISH TO REPORT ANYTHING CONCERNING SR. WILHELMINA, PLEASE LET US KNOW BY EMAIL OR MAIL TO OUR ADDRESS BELOW.

https://benedictinesofmary.org/srwilhelmina/

 

Thank you very much, WCWTS.

 

PF please mention my parents and family in your prayers to her as well. I thank you.

 

Thank you so so much?

 

I will!

 

PurpleFlower! Between your inner prompting and your husband’s dream, God wants you and your beautiful family to make the pilgrimage to see this holy Sister Wihelmina!! God Bless you guys! Looking forward to to hearing about it! Please bring us and our families in your hearts when you see her.

 

You are very welcome, HH!

 

I didn't realize this was Sr Wilhemina's order! I love their CDs. Its like entering the gates of heaven. Wow. Now it makes sense.

 

Thank you for posting this.

 

PF,
I hope I'm not too late to asking you, PF?
Could you please pray for Sr. Wilhemnia's intercession for my personal intentions and conversion for my daughter and my whole family?
Thank you and looking forward to to hearing about it when you're ready to share it with all of us here. May God bless you and your family.

 

Thanks so much for posting this!

The sisters seem to be handling everything wonderfully well! It must be like a hundred Christmas's come early for them. The same so easy and at home with it all and taking everything in their stride. Some folks might have freaked out a little, especially with it being such a surprise. But they are taking it like ducks to water.

I am sorry they have not enough Communion hosts, but that is easily fixed, I am sure they make loads more.

I have a feeling they will have to do lots of building for pilgrims, but they seem well able for just about anything, a wonderful group of ladies.