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Stigmata
The
manifestation on a living person's body of bleeding
marks resembling the wounds suffered by Jesus Christ
when he was crucified. They are manifested on the hands, on the feet, near the heart, and
on the head and shoulders.
The
attribution of religious significance to wounds and scars predates Christianity.
In many primitive rites, wounds and scars were deliberately inflicted as
part of the religious ritual. The stigmata of Christ, however, allegedly
appear spontaneously on the bodies of extremely devout people.
The stigmata are not usual
bodily lacerations (the blood appears to discharge through the unbroken skin), do not
deteriorate in the usual fashion of wounds, and are not susceptible to medical treatment.
Francis of Assisi (later Saint Francis) was the first and best-known stigmatic, in
September 1224 he reportedly began to bleed from his palms and feet after meditating on
the crucifixion of Christ. More than 330 cases are known of Christians who have been stigmatized.
Stigmatics are deeply
pious, and the stigmata often appear after lengthy meditations on the crucifixion or
contemplation of a sacred image or object. Bleeding is also likely to occur during the
traditional times of commemoration of Christ's passion — Fridays, Lent, and
especially Good Friday. In many cases stigmatization can be explained by natural causes
such as the physical and psychic conditions of the person, along with a strong interest in
and devotion to the sufferings of Christ. In a number of cases, however, stigmatization
has been accepted by the Roman Catholic church as attributable only to supernatural
causes; 60 stigmatics whose lives have been marked by great holiness and mystical
experiences have been either canonized or beatified.
Related audio:
Looking for a
Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions & Healing Cures.
Related books:
Body, Blood and
Sexuality: A Psychoanalytic Study of St. Francis' Stigmata and Their Historical Context
(Studies in History and Culture, Vol 4).
Looking for a
Miracle: Weeping Icons, Relics, Stigmata, Visions & Healing Cures.
Stigmata; A
Medieval Mystery in a Modern Age.
Stigmata and
Modern Science.
They Bore the
Wounds of Christ: The Mystery of the Sacred Stigmata.
Further info:
Stigmata.
The Stigmata.
The "Touch" Hall of
Miracles.
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