Catholics flock to Missouri church to pray over body of 'miracle' nun trends now
Thousands of people are flocking to witness Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster's body after it was recovered from her Missouri grave without any signs of decay despite being buried since 2019.
Faithful Catholics are rushing to Gower - about 40 miles north of Kansas City - to witness the unblemished body of Lancaster, who died in May 2019 at the age of 95, as some are calling it a miraculous sign of sainthood.
The abbey which previously would receive no more than 20 visitors per day is now seeing about 1,000 visitors on a daily basis, according to Ashlie Hand, a spokesperson with the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
'As of Tuesday, they were seeing about 1,000 visitors a day. I think now, it's probably well above that. The expectation is the crowd will grow over the holiday weekend,' Hand said to Fox4.
Hand said it's possible the monastery would receive up to 20,000 visitor this over the weekend.
The abbey which previously would receive no more than 20 visitors per day are now seeing about 1,000 visitors on a daily basis
Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster's body was recovered from her Gower, Missouri grave without any signs of decay despite being buried since May 2019
It's possible the monastery would receive up to 20,000 visitor this over the weekend
Crowds have grown to the point that police have added a mobile command center, and more land has been cleared to park cars. The street outside the monastry, 316th Street, also became a one-way thoroughfare on Saturday, carrying cars west to east, according to Fox 4.
Lancaster's body will be laid out for public viewings until Monday, where visitors are allowed to touch her body and pray. Visiting hours run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
After May 29, visitors will still be able to see the nun and visit the site, but they will no longer be able to touch her body as it will be encased in glass. Lancaster's body glass encasement will be placed near the altar to 'welcome her growing number of devotees.'
The Benedictine sister planned to hold a public rosary procession Monday at 4:30 p.m., according to statement they posted online.
Photos taken at the scene are being shared online, showing visitors gently touching Lancaster's hands, which along with her face, are covered in wax. The nun's face and hands were then covered with wax mask after she was found intact.
A sign next to the body, which is surrounded by flowers, reads: 'Please be gentle when touching sister's body, especially her feet.'
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