Exhuming bodies

[New Jack Swinger]

What does it mean when a Saint's body is exhumed?

[Michael Canaris]

That it is dug-up from his/her grave, possibly for examination or preservation as relic/s.

[DavidObeid]

The Church tries to check as much about the person being examined as possible. This includes, where possible, identifying the person and his remains.

Michael is also correct - if the person is made a saint their relics are reserved for veneration.

[New Jack Swinger]

Ok cool. Is there any special process that takes place upon digging up the body that the Church does? This came to mind after hearing about the incorruptability of Lebanon's new Blessed Estephan Nehme.

[DavidObeid]

I'm not sure about the mechanics of the examination, but I remember hearing this story about when St. Charbel's body was exhumed from a (former) LMO monk: The story I heard was that a monastery superior thought the miraculous issue of blood and oil from his body was a natural phenomenon only and so he had his body laid out on the monastery roof in the sun for a few days to dry out!