St. Paul a stigmatic?

[dancornell]

The stigmatics of the Church are known for “literally” suffering for Christ by bearing the wounds of Christ on their bodies. St. Paul talks about suffering and even says in Galatians 6:17

From now on, let no one make troubles for me; for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.
Is it possible that St. Paul was a stigmatic?
Thanks a lot.

Dan

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

dancornell:

Is it possible that St. Paul was a stigmatic?

Possible, yes. But it is also possible that Paul was talking about other sufferings for the sake of the gospel that he was linking to Christ’s own suffering. At this point, without confirmation from historical sources (of which I am personally unaware), we cannot know for certain the sufferings to which Paul was referring.

Interestingly enough, stigmatism has been a gift more often given to women in the Church than to men. Also interestingly, aside from Christ himself (cf. John 20:27, Rev. 5:6) – and Paul if indeed this passage refers to stigmatism – the only priest known to have been a stigmatic was Padre Pio. (St. Francis of Assisi was not a priest.)