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

Joan Carroll Cruz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1977

The stories of 102 canonized Saints and Beati whose bodies were found incorrupt long periods after their deaths, many of which endured abnormally adverse conditions in remaining intact. A fascinating and absolutely documented study--and one which will reinforce people's faith in the Catholic Church--the only religion that possesses the phenomenon of bodily incorruption. A now classic book that belongs in every Catholic home. Imprimatur

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joan Carroll Cruz (1931-present) was born in New Orleans and educated by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. She has written extensively on Catholic topics, especially the saints and miracles. She is also a lay Carmelite and is the mother of five children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 310 pages
• Publisher: St. Benedict Press & TAN Books; Copyright 1977 edition (1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895550660
• ISBN-13: 978-0895550668
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.7 x 7.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,669 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #34 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Religions, Practices & Sacred Texts > Mysticism
  • #39 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Catholicism > Saints

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

111 of 113 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars You Will Be Amazed. June 8, 2003

By John P. Rooney VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

You Will Be Amazed.
"The Incorruptibles" by Joan Carroll Cruz, Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford, Illinois,

On the very first page of her introduction, Joan Cruz specifies that she understands that she is treating a very special case in the preservation of the bodies of saints. First, she notes that there are three classifications of preserved bodies: (1) deliberately preserved, (2) accidentally preserved and (3) the incorruptibles. Ancient Egyptian mummies are probably the most familiar examples of deliberately preserved bodies; many of us have seen them in various museums. In her introduction, Ms. Cruz presents more details than most of us want to know about the modern techniques of embalming and its impact on the body of the deceased.
(Pages 27 to 32).

Accidentally preserved bodies include the more or less well known cases of bodies found in peat bogs in Denmark, Ireland and Scotland (page 32). Ms. Cruz presents the interesting case of Bremen Cathedral, Germany, where the cellar burial place tends to mummify any body left there. Experiments were run using the bodies of animals or fowls, hung in the open-windowed cellar, and the bodies of these animals became mummified.

The incorruptibles, however, are those bodies which have been preserved only since Christian times and their preservation is ..."even more baffling..." since it "...seems to be neither dependent upon the manner of burial nor on the temperature or place of interment". Joan Cruz makes a case for the intervention of God as a sign of favor to His saints. The mystery is "...further compounded ... (with) ...the observance of blood and clear oils" which flow from these incorruptibles. (Page 27). Her introduction to the book is a clear and pressing statement as to why the 100+ cases she presents are different from mummifying the bodies or from accidental preservation.

After her excellent introduction, Joan Cruz then presents, in chronological order, slightly more than a hundred documented cases of individuals whose bodies had been preserved from corruption after their death. In many of the cases, she provides photographs of the dead bodies, with, perhaps, the most striking and the most beautiful being that of the nun and saint, St. Bernadette Soubirous, (1844-1879), whose body has been preserved intact, "...without embalming or other artificial means", since 1879. This is a wonderful book, which will make anyone think again on his mortality, if the book is read with an open mind.

48 of 51 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Amazing and Inspiring December 29, 2005

By Kelly TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an incredible book! It is extremely well researched and very thorough. I was not at all familiar with this phenomenon until I bought this book, and I found it so fascinating.

The book goes through all the [surprisingly] many Saints whose bodies have remained incorrupt - it tells a bit about their lives and about their burials. It details the finding of their bodies incorrupt and the current state of the bodies. Mrs. Cruz goes into some detail on the science behind what makes this phenomenon so utterly amazing [and obviously of Supernatural origins], but she does it in a way that remains interesting and easy to understand.

This book is very faithful to the teachings of the Catholic faith and I found it incredibly faith strengthening. I think it would be difficult to maintain doubt when faced with such compelling evidence.

This book is almost 30 years old now. I would LOVE to see a revision with better photography and some information on how the incorruptibles may have been investigated with modern scientific measures.

Regardless, this is a fantastic book that I highly recommend to every Catholic and anyone else who is interested.

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Even for the skeptic an interesting study June 5, 2005

By Hallstatt Prince

Format:Paperback

This is quite an amazing book and one of my favorites. I personally believe it is bad science to try prove or disprove religious truths and religion is still smarting from trying to use religion to dispute scientific truths. That being said this book in a way makes for an exception to that adage.

The book is about the saints and the beatified whose bodies have not decayed and whether you are a religious person or not I think you will find it a quite interesting phenomena.

The book starts by discussing the natural decay of buried flesh, mummification and certain natural conditions (such as in peat bogs) in which the bodies of the dead will be preserved.

After this discussion Cruz presents a case by case study of the bodies of the saints and the beatified who escaped corruption despite the conditions in which they were buried. With each case there is a brief biography of the individual.

The number of cases in which the bodies of saints escaped decay is actually very remarkable.
Included in the book are some astounding photographs.

A very thought provoking read.

Jim Connell "Hallstatt Prince"