| STIGMATA |
Author: Lisa
Stigmata are bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the
crucifixion wounds of Jesus, and the person afflicted with these marks is called a stigmatic.
Stigmata wounds appear in whole or in part and mimic the five Holy Wounds inflicted on Jesus
during his crucifixion including most commonly wounds in the hands and feet (sometimes the
wrists) from nails and a wound on the left side (sometimes the right) by a lance, but can also
include wounds on the forehead from the Crown of thorns and also tears or sweat of blood which
has been said to smell sweet and perfumed. Some stigmatics have shoulder and back wounds.
Sometimes extreme pain is felt while other stigmatics have what are called invisible stigmata,
whereas there are no external wounds.
The first known mention of stigmata historically was in the writings of Saint Paul in his Letter to
the Galatians where he says "I bear on my body the marks of Jesus." By this, he could have
meant the wounds he suffered from being stoned or he could be referring to wounds he
self-inflicted so that he could experience the same pain that Jesus did upon his crucifixion, known
as piety, which was common during the Middle Ages. The first actual recorded case of stigmata
was in 1222 by a man named Stephen Langton of England, a predecessor to Saint Francis of
Assisi who is the best documented case of stigmata, first appearing in La Verna, Italy, in 1224,
and whose wounds were said to appear as if the nails were still embedded in his flesh.
Most documented cases are very similar, but those afflicted with the wounds has varied
throughout history. Over 500 cases of stigmata have been reported since St Francis of Assisi,
however, no longer are only mystics or religious icons reported; ordinary people, and even those
who are non-Catholic Christians, both male and female, have since been reported to be inflicted
with stigmata.
Exactly why the wounds mysteriously appear (if divine in nature) is up for debate. Prior to the
wounds actually appearing, stigmatics occasionally will complain of feelings of sadness,
depression, weakness and pain. Placement of wounds also varies. It is unclear through religious
and historical writings whether nails were driven through the hands or wrists, or what side the
lance pierced Christ's body. Depending on what is believed, this too can determine the wounds
location on the stigmatic's body. As easily as the wounds appear, they can also heal themselves
without leaving a scar. They never become infected yet remain open to the air, sometimes openly
bleeding, and they do not respond to conventional medical treatment. Sometimes they appear
accompanied by other unusual phenomena such as being able to live without nourishment for
long periods of time as in the case of St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1381), who reportedly went
without water for an entire month, and Angelo of Foligno (1250-1309) didn't eat for 12 years
except for Holy Communion offerings.
So how do these wounds appear? Some believe the wounds to be miraculous, a sign from
Christ. Others believe they are caused by religious fanatics who have developed such a strong
desire to associate oneself with the suffering of Christ that they almost "will" it to happen. Another
possible explanation to explain some cases are people with Munchausen disease, who fake
illness to gain medical attention and care. Some believe they are internally generated
phenomena based on the victim's own imagination and subjective in character rather than
something of external divine origin.
Of course, there is the obvious suggestion that stigmata is faked, as in the case of
Magdalena de la Cruz (1487 - 1560) who, upon falling deathly ill in 1543, confessed that her
wounds were faked to appear more pious and deserving of her "sainthood." There have been
some evidence of the use of carbonic acid in more recent cases that were debunked. There are
some in the medical community who claim the wounds can be explained by a psychological
phenomenon known as psychogenic purpura, which results in chronic easy bruising that spreads
into other tissues and becomes very painful. It can sometimes manifest itself in the form of tears
of blood and lesions on parts of the body.
There are a number of possible explanations for what causes stigmata as well as why it
occurs, but interestingly, no instances of stigmata showing wounds through the wrists were noted
before the publication of the photographs of the Shroud of Turin, which showed wounds of this
kind. This supports the suggestion that stigmata is, in fact, generated by the human mind.
crucifixion wounds of Jesus, and the person afflicted with these marks is called a stigmatic.
Stigmata wounds appear in whole or in part and mimic the five Holy Wounds inflicted on Jesus
during his crucifixion including most commonly wounds in the hands and feet (sometimes the
wrists) from nails and a wound on the left side (sometimes the right) by a lance, but can also
include wounds on the forehead from the Crown of thorns and also tears or sweat of blood which
has been said to smell sweet and perfumed. Some stigmatics have shoulder and back wounds.
Sometimes extreme pain is felt while other stigmatics have what are called invisible stigmata,
whereas there are no external wounds.
The first known mention of stigmata historically was in the writings of Saint Paul in his Letter to
the Galatians where he says "I bear on my body the marks of Jesus." By this, he could have
meant the wounds he suffered from being stoned or he could be referring to wounds he
self-inflicted so that he could experience the same pain that Jesus did upon his crucifixion, known
as piety, which was common during the Middle Ages. The first actual recorded case of stigmata
was in 1222 by a man named Stephen Langton of England, a predecessor to Saint Francis of
Assisi who is the best documented case of stigmata, first appearing in La Verna, Italy, in 1224,
and whose wounds were said to appear as if the nails were still embedded in his flesh.
Most documented cases are very similar, but those afflicted with the wounds has varied
throughout history. Over 500 cases of stigmata have been reported since St Francis of Assisi,
however, no longer are only mystics or religious icons reported; ordinary people, and even those
who are non-Catholic Christians, both male and female, have since been reported to be inflicted
with stigmata.
Exactly why the wounds mysteriously appear (if divine in nature) is up for debate. Prior to the
wounds actually appearing, stigmatics occasionally will complain of feelings of sadness,
depression, weakness and pain. Placement of wounds also varies. It is unclear through religious
and historical writings whether nails were driven through the hands or wrists, or what side the
lance pierced Christ's body. Depending on what is believed, this too can determine the wounds
location on the stigmatic's body. As easily as the wounds appear, they can also heal themselves
without leaving a scar. They never become infected yet remain open to the air, sometimes openly
bleeding, and they do not respond to conventional medical treatment. Sometimes they appear
accompanied by other unusual phenomena such as being able to live without nourishment for
long periods of time as in the case of St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1381), who reportedly went
without water for an entire month, and Angelo of Foligno (1250-1309) didn't eat for 12 years
except for Holy Communion offerings.
So how do these wounds appear? Some believe the wounds to be miraculous, a sign from
Christ. Others believe they are caused by religious fanatics who have developed such a strong
desire to associate oneself with the suffering of Christ that they almost "will" it to happen. Another
possible explanation to explain some cases are people with Munchausen disease, who fake
illness to gain medical attention and care. Some believe they are internally generated
phenomena based on the victim's own imagination and subjective in character rather than
something of external divine origin.
Of course, there is the obvious suggestion that stigmata is faked, as in the case of
Magdalena de la Cruz (1487 - 1560) who, upon falling deathly ill in 1543, confessed that her
wounds were faked to appear more pious and deserving of her "sainthood." There have been
some evidence of the use of carbonic acid in more recent cases that were debunked. There are
some in the medical community who claim the wounds can be explained by a psychological
phenomenon known as psychogenic purpura, which results in chronic easy bruising that spreads
into other tissues and becomes very painful. It can sometimes manifest itself in the form of tears
of blood and lesions on parts of the body.
There are a number of possible explanations for what causes stigmata as well as why it
occurs, but interestingly, no instances of stigmata showing wounds through the wrists were noted
before the publication of the photographs of the Shroud of Turin, which showed wounds of this
kind. This supports the suggestion that stigmata is, in fact, generated by the human mind.
