Scientists have been left stunned after seeing the perfectly preserved face of St Teresa, who was last buried 100 years ago.
St Teresa died back in 1582, but now scientists have opened her coffin again to examine her body for research.
Researchers found that her body was uncorrupted, and has revealed some aspects of her health.
They found that she suffered from spinal weakness, arthritis, heel spurs in her foot, and fractured her left arm a few years before she died.
The Prior of Alba de Tormes, Miguel Ángel González, was present for the research.
He said: “The majority of her body is in the tomb, as we have been able to verify…some relics of the saint are in other places: the arm and heart are in Alba de Tormes, next to the tomb.
“The hand is in the Carmelo de Ronda, a foot in Rome… but most of the body is in Alba de Tormes.”
He added that body was in a “very sturdy marble urn inside which there is a beautiful silver urn containing the body of the saint.
“The tomb was opened and then the reliquary that preserves the arm, heart, and hand (which is in Ronda, Málaga) that we brought to Alba de Tormes for the project.
“An attempt will be made to create as faithful an approximation as possible so that we can obtain the most real face of the saint.”
“A serene face can be seen, of a woman who died at 67 years old, elderly for that time.
“It must be remembered that the most interesting reason for opening the tomb is spiritual: to get closer to her and live more by her example.”
After the research is complete, the coffin will be resealed to ensure St Teresa’s remains are not disturbed again.
