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A mention of mummification immediately brings to mind the ancient Egyptians--but the Roman Catholic Church has long used the practice to preserve notable members of its faith. In Italy alone, more than 300 preserved bodies appear on display in churches and cathedrals--the mummified remains of saints, priests, martyrs, and other high-ranking Roman Catholic officials.This study explores the history of Roman Catholic mummification, which continues to this day in the use of New Kingdom Egyptian mummification procedures on popes. It explores various types of mummies, the connections between the Catholic Church and Egyptian religious practices, the treatment of the dead by other faiths, and the veritable cult that has arisen in Italy surrounding the saints whose bodies are preserved.By examining this unusual practice from both scientific and cultural perspectives, the book sheds light on a relatively unstudied aspect of the Roman Catholic faith.
Ken Jeremiah has written extensively about spiritual and religious phenomena. He lives in Narragansett, Rhode Island, and runs tour groups to Japan, Italy, and other countries yearly.
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Preface Introduction I. World Mummification1. Mummification and Critical Thinking 2. The Science of Mummification 3. Natural Mummies 4. Artificial Mummies 5. Other Forms of Mummification 6. Relic-Bodies 7. Death and the Unknown: The Allure of Mummies II. Mummies in Italy8. Critical Thinking, Self-Reflection, and Mummy Studies 9. The Roman Catacombs 10. The Cult of the Martyrs 11. The Catacombs in Palermo 12. The Chapel of the Dead and the Skull Cathedral 13. Mummies of Ferentillo and San Domenico Maggiore; Papal Funerals 14. Polytheistic Elements of the Faith III. Saints and Relics15. The Enigmatic Catholic Saint 16. The History of Saint Making 17. Stigmata and Other Miracles 18. Modern Saints 19. Asceticism in the Catholic Faith 20. The Importance of Physical Remains 21. The Cult of the Dead IV. Incorruptible Bodies22. The Incorruptibles 23. Miraculous Preservation 24. The Preserved Bodies in Rome, Assisi and Mantova 25. Mummies in Florence, Naples and Sicily 26. Mummies in Other Parts of Italy 27. The Importance of the Incorruptibles 28. Preservation in Christianity V. Influences from Other Cultures29. Mummification in Roman Society 30. The Old Testament 31. Historical Evidence 32. Immaculate Conception and the Resurrection 33. Mithra: The Zoroastrian God of the Sun 34. Pythagoras and Dionysus 35. The Cult of Osiris VI. The Egyptian Influence36. Egyptian Influences in Italy 37. Alexandria and Coptic Christianity 38. Early Egyptian Religious Beliefs 39. Burial Practices 40. The Holy Trinity: Isis, Horus and Osiris 41. Religious Rituals and Practices 42. Integration and Assimilation VII. The Reasons Behind Christian Mummification43. The Bodily Preservation of Jesus 44. The Rapture 45. Early Concepts of the Soul 46. The Power Inherent in Bodily Remains 47. Foreign Influences 48. Enduring Virtuosity 49. Symbols of Life and Death Appendix: Locations of Select Mummies or Bodily Relics in Italy Chapter Notes Bibliography Index
