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Benedict_777
Guest
So is God the one afflicting the holy ones with the stigmata or is it Satan??
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patrick457
Guest
Considering that the stigmata is seen throughout history as a good sign even by its recipients (unless of course you’re referring to a certain horror film which involves the Gospel of Thomas and the soul of a deceased priest
), I’d lay my bets on genuine (as opposed to fake ones) stigmata being of divine origin.
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Benedict_777
Guest
No, the way I mean to ask the question is if God is the one causing the wounds and pain or is Satan allowed by God to afflict the person? I do realize that stigmatas are good as they help purge the one afflicted and the suffering can be offered up for us poor sinners. I’m just wondering how the whole thing is undergone.
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mdgspencer
Guest
St. Francis of Assisi was the first person to receive the stigmata, and perhaps this account of what occurred to St. Francis, put up by a Franciscan Order, will help. This is at:www.franciscanfriarstor.com/archive/stfrancis/stf_stigmata_of_st_francis.htm
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Sam_777
Guest
Interesting!, this is my first time I hear about “stigmata”…
How many Priests in total have gotten stigmata till now?
How many Priests in total have gotten stigmata till now?
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Big_Dummy
Guest
I think many of the stigmata are simply faked by the humans themselves because often the wounds are in the wrong places in the plams of their hands rather than in the wrists, in the side instead of just off the side of the rib cage.
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midori
Guest
It’s my understanding that stigmatics generally have a choice in whether to accept it or not. It would make sense, especially since all stigmatics have been ecstatics as well. And I also know of Saints who chose to accept it through their desire to unite themselves with Christ’s suffering, but requested it to be invisible so they didn’t draw attention to themselves (ie, Siena, d’Ricci). And even the way the wounds manifest, or their placement, or which ones you have and which ones you don’t have— those vary from case to case (ie, no one’s ever been a duplicate of how St. Francis’ stigmata manifested itself). There’s no one “right” way to be a genuine stigmatic. 
The Catholic Encyclopedia cites at least 321 stigmatics “in whom there is every reason to believe in a Divine action.” 41 of these were men. 62 of these have been canonized saints. 20 existed in the 19th c. Don’t know how many priests in total.
Although I’m sure there have been people who tried to fake it at some point in history, it would be pretty obvious that fakes are fakes. One of the important signs of the stigmata’s supernatural origin is the fact that there’s no necrosis, no stink, and a physician’s efforts can’t heal them. (St. Rita’s forehead wound was the only one that smelled unpleasant, but the tissues themselves never rotted— maybe an extra humility she chose to compensate for such a visible placement? Can’t think of any stigmatic who flaunted their stigmata.) On the contrary, most stigmatics have been associated with a pleasant smell— flowers, perfumes, the “odor of sanctity”. I’ve yet to see an example of a person who mutilated themselves to be able to accomplish any of that.
The Catholic Encyclopedia cites at least 321 stigmatics “in whom there is every reason to believe in a Divine action.” 41 of these were men. 62 of these have been canonized saints. 20 existed in the 19th c. Don’t know how many priests in total.
Although I’m sure there have been people who tried to fake it at some point in history, it would be pretty obvious that fakes are fakes. One of the important signs of the stigmata’s supernatural origin is the fact that there’s no necrosis, no stink, and a physician’s efforts can’t heal them. (St. Rita’s forehead wound was the only one that smelled unpleasant, but the tissues themselves never rotted— maybe an extra humility she chose to compensate for such a visible placement? Can’t think of any stigmatic who flaunted their stigmata.) On the contrary, most stigmatics have been associated with a pleasant smell— flowers, perfumes, the “odor of sanctity”. I’ve yet to see an example of a person who mutilated themselves to be able to accomplish any of that.
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Church_Militant
Guest
St. Francis of Assisi and St. Padre Pio are 2 stigmatics that I know of.
It is a miraculous sharing in the sufferings of Christ.
There have been fakes, but these 2 are authentic.
It is a miraculous sharing in the sufferings of Christ.
There have been fakes, but these 2 are authentic.
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MarcusAndreas
Guest
Only one, St. Padre Pio. St. Francis was a layman until nearly the end of his life when he became a deacon. All other cases of stigmata were laity.
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RosaryFan
Guest
St. Rita of Cascia also bore the stigmata of a thorn from Christ’s crown of thorns in her forehead.
I agree with Church Militant - it is a share in the sufferings of Christ so it does not come from the devil. I see the stigmata as a gift from God. Those who have received the stigmata love Christ beyond all description and, therefore, are worthy to share in His suffering for the benefit of us poor sinners.
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wild_thing
Guest
Stigmata can have three origins- divine, diabolical and purely human. Some people purposely hurt themselves so as to appear to have the stigmata, or else it comes through psychosomatically. These kinds of wounds show themselves to be false right away.
Still others have diabolical origins. For example, Magdalena de la Cruz in the fifteenth century was reported to have the stigmata on and off for thirty-nine years. She was eventually exposed and confessed to have made a compact with the devil in exchange for superficial supernatural gifts. She was indirectly the cause of much suffering for St. Teresa of Avila, for Teresa’s confessors were afraid of her spiritual experiences as coming from the devil just like Magdalena’s. Some ways to identify false stigmata: the wounds are very transient- lasting for only brief intervals; the wounds are superficial and blood is often more murky; there is a lack of the other extraordinary gifts associated with a stigmatist; the false stigmatist has a tendency to show off the wounds; the wounds do not appear to cause much pain; the wounds may vanish under hyponosis or autosuggestion; the wounds never puncture all the way through the limbs; psychological hysterical symptoms are evident; the wounds can be treated with medicine; the false stigmatic has a superficial spirituality.
Finally, there is a divine origin. Authentic stigmata are deep- all the way through the limbs; come on through a rapture or ecstasy; subject to severe bleeding; wounds appear fresh and are bright red in color; often have a sweet odor; they occur spontaneously; the blood flowing through the wounds often goes against the laws of gravity; wounds tend to appear in the place where skin is thickest and most resistant; and intense pain characterizes these wounds. (All this information can be found in "They Bore the Wounds of Christ, by Michael Freze).
Padre Pio is the first priest to have had the stigmata, and as far as I know, the only one so far. Some people think that St. Paul was actually the first person to have the stigmata- but obviously we do not know that for sure.
The bottom line is that stigmata is in no way a factor in considering someone’s sanctity. This is usually ignored and the person’s virtues are what are examined- their humility, patience, charity, etc. Supernatural gifts are just the ‘icing on the cake’ so to speak. In a saint like Padre Pio, they are present for us to marvel at the greatness of God, who can work wonders with the most humblest of people.
Whether the stigmata is truly of divine, diabolic or human origins within a person is something that simply will reveal itself in time.
Still others have diabolical origins. For example, Magdalena de la Cruz in the fifteenth century was reported to have the stigmata on and off for thirty-nine years. She was eventually exposed and confessed to have made a compact with the devil in exchange for superficial supernatural gifts. She was indirectly the cause of much suffering for St. Teresa of Avila, for Teresa’s confessors were afraid of her spiritual experiences as coming from the devil just like Magdalena’s. Some ways to identify false stigmata: the wounds are very transient- lasting for only brief intervals; the wounds are superficial and blood is often more murky; there is a lack of the other extraordinary gifts associated with a stigmatist; the false stigmatist has a tendency to show off the wounds; the wounds do not appear to cause much pain; the wounds may vanish under hyponosis or autosuggestion; the wounds never puncture all the way through the limbs; psychological hysterical symptoms are evident; the wounds can be treated with medicine; the false stigmatic has a superficial spirituality.
Finally, there is a divine origin. Authentic stigmata are deep- all the way through the limbs; come on through a rapture or ecstasy; subject to severe bleeding; wounds appear fresh and are bright red in color; often have a sweet odor; they occur spontaneously; the blood flowing through the wounds often goes against the laws of gravity; wounds tend to appear in the place where skin is thickest and most resistant; and intense pain characterizes these wounds. (All this information can be found in "They Bore the Wounds of Christ, by Michael Freze).
Padre Pio is the first priest to have had the stigmata, and as far as I know, the only one so far. Some people think that St. Paul was actually the first person to have the stigmata- but obviously we do not know that for sure.
The bottom line is that stigmata is in no way a factor in considering someone’s sanctity. This is usually ignored and the person’s virtues are what are examined- their humility, patience, charity, etc. Supernatural gifts are just the ‘icing on the cake’ so to speak. In a saint like Padre Pio, they are present for us to marvel at the greatness of God, who can work wonders with the most humblest of people.
Whether the stigmata is truly of divine, diabolic or human origins within a person is something that simply will reveal itself in time.
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Sam_777
Guest
Thank you Marcus for clarifying that.
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