National Geographic Sleeping Beauties: The Incorruptibles

Overview

Why do the bodies of St. Bernadette and those Incorruptibles like her remain untouched by time? From graves throughout Europe, holy bodies have been exhumed by the church – and found to be in a similar state. Few appear as outwardly perfect as Saint Bernadette – yet fresh from the grave their bodies too were whole and intact – apparently resistant to the decay reserved for ordinary humans. Why do the bodies of St. Bernadette and those Incorruptibles like her remain untouched by time? And how has their flesh defied the laws of nature?