The tomb of Saint Teresa of Jesus was reopened on Wednesday after 110 years – the last time this happened was in 1914 – for a study on the conservation of the relics that will be carried out by a group of Italian experts.
The final silence of Aniago, the 15th century Carthusian monastery that is consumed by weeds and neglect
The general postulator of the Discalced Carmelite Order, Marco Chiesa, has reported after the start of studies on the tomb of Saint Teresa of Jesus that the body of the mystic maintains “the same visual appearance” as in 1914, the date of its last opening.
This study will serve to verify the state of conservation of the reliquaries of the heart and the arm deposited in the Basilica of Alba de Tormes, in Salamanca, and the hand, which was transferred in recent days from Ronda (Málaga).
Regarding the results of the analysis that will be carried out, the general postulator has stated that it is still too early to give details. “We will be able to learn very interesting data about Teresa and also recommendations for the conservation of the relics, but that will be at another stage,” he said.
On the other hand, the prior of Alba de Tormes, Miguel Ángel González, has described that on this first day of work “the body has been x-rayed with suitable state-of-the-art instruments.”
The urn was opened with the four keys that secure it and then the scientific team, headed by Luigi Capasso, was allowed to work.
The idea is that this study is similar to the one carried out in 1991 with the tomb of San Juan de la Cruz, in Segovia, when the fourth centenary of the death of the religious man and writer from Fontiveros (Ávila) was commemorated.
The prior explained that the analysis work will initially last until Saturday, in the hope that it will certify a good state of conservation.
