MUMMIFIED In Her Glass Coffin For 300 Years

Sr Maria de Jesus Camello Pinto

The daughter of Manuel Camello Pinto and his wife Maria de Afonseca, and niece of Canon José Camello of the Collegiate of São Martinho de Cedofeita, Maria de Jesus resided at Rua Veloso in Porto, within the named Cedofeita parish.

Professing as a sister within the Venerável Ordem Terceira de Nossa Senhora do Carmo as its 850th member, she received her habit on October 8, 1758.

Reputedly leading a holy life, passing away in odour of sanctity of April 26, 1796, the Reverend Commissioner of the Carmelite Third Order granted her a burial in grave number 1 in the crypt of the Order's church in the city of Porto, overseeing that 50 Masses were successively celebrated for the repose of her soul.

Being considered in such reputation, the said Commissioner was careful enough to note in the Register of Burials 1761 - 1797 of the said church, registration 2173, that "when you open this grave, make sure you do so with caution".

Indeed, when it was opened at a later date, her remains were found to be incorrupt, and so remain to this day, preserved in the church's crypt.

Igreja de Carmo and the hidden house

Constructed in 1768 in Porto, Igreja de Carmo accompanies its sister church, Igreja dos Carmelitas, built more than a century earlier. The two churches make a great pair and at first glance, you may mistake them for one massive structure – but they are separated by an easily missed third structure! The 1.5-meter-wide Casa Escondido is the narrowest house in Porto built directly between the two churches. Rumor has it, this “hidden house” was constructed to prevent any – er – unseemly behavior between the nuns, housed in the Carmelitas, and the monks housed in the Carmo. Where it once housed chaplains, working artists and doctors serving the Carmo’s hospital, today it is uninhabited.

#history #incorrupt #porto