Stigmata

[EzraJacob]

I just wanted to ask, is it wrong to allow your mind to wonder what you would do if you was given the great blessing of stigmata? Especially if you wish for it, not for any kind of fame or attention, but to use it as a tool for the conversion of non-Catholics and the return of relapsed Catholics? I also find the blessing a great one because its a sign of Gods great love for you and the extraordinary purpose of your life.

But is it a sin?

 

[Belle10]

Thinking about how you would share a great gift from God with others isn’t a sin.

I suppose if you were thinking about how such a gift might glorify yourself, then maybe that would be prideful.

Wondering about things and imagining things aren’t sinful in and of themselves; if we include as part of those wonderings pride, lust, etc., that can lead us to sin.

There is a fine line between speaking out/living our lives in a way to help lead others to Christ and being boastful and prideful about knowing Him. This is where humility comes in, for if we are truly humble in our actions and words, He knows that and others will see that too – that it’s not about us, it’s about Him.

Does that help?

 

[JamestheOlder]

From the suffering described by some of those saints with the stigmata, I’m not sure you would want to call it a “blessing”.

Have you ever hit your thumb with a hammer? Try considering what that would feel like, even worse, with the piercing of the hand and the bleeding…constantly! Why Jesus Christ didn’t die, right there on the ground when the nails were hammered into His hands, I’ll never be able to realize.

I’m old, and I’m tough, but I’m not that tough!

Bless you for your desire to convert others, but be careful of what you pray for.

 

[brgregmack]

I’ve wondered from time to time what I would do if I had the stigmata. If I were to get it, I would prefer it to be the side so I could cover it more easily and thus avoid pride and be more able to think of being united to Christ’s sufferings.

Actually asking for it is prideful. However, I’ve asked for the grace to live as if I had stigmata.**

 

[valentino]

I just wanted to ask, is it wrong to allow your mind to wonder what you would do if you was given the great blessing of stigmata? Especially if you wish for it, not for any kind of fame or attention, but to use it as a tool for the conversion of non-Catholics and the return of relapsed Catholics? I also find the blessing a great one because its a sign of Gods great love for you and the extraordinary purpose of your life.

But is it a sin?

People have been given stigmata for centuries now.Hundreds of them have be catalouged.I don’t believe many non christians would be influenced by looking at a stigmata.Especially when scientists have already given their explainations.I don’t necessarily believe that God proves His love by giving one the stigmata.There are stigmatists living today and they don’t appear to be extraordinary holy Catholics.Gorgia Bongiovanni has bleeding stigmata since 1985 and met with kings and heads of state from all over the world but I don’t see a dramatic change toward religion in the world.Personnally i donnn’t know why anyone would want the stigmata but I guess it would hurt anything by wishing you had it if you thought it could make an impact and cause people to convert.

 

[EzraJacob]

From the suffering described by some of those saints with the stigmata, I’m not sure you would want to call it a “blessing”.

Have you ever hit your thumb with a hammer? Try considering what that would feel like, even worse, with the piercing of the hand and the bleeding…constantly! Why Jesus Christ didn’t die, right there on the ground when the nails were hammered into His hands, I’ll never be able to realize.

I’m old, and I’m tough, but I’m not that tough!

Bless you for your desire to convert others, but be careful of what you pray for.

Well I understand it would be and is an extremely painful experience. But what better way to be united with Christ then to share the pain of his passion? Through the pain you are used as a tool by our Lord and savior to show his great love for us.

 

[EzraJacob]

I’ve wondered from time to time what I would do if I had the stigmata. If I were to get it, I would prefer it to be the side so I could cover it more easily and thus avoid pride and be more able to think of being united to Christ’s sufferings.

Actually asking for it is prideful. However, I’ve asked for the grace to live as if I had stigmata.**
I do not see it as very prideful, for it is the want to be used as a tool by God. But you make a good point and it is something I should meditate over.

Though I would like to note, that I do not even see myself even worthy of praying for such, since I am not even close to being as enlightened or worthy of such.

 

[EzraJacob]

People have been given stigmata for centuries now.Hundreds of them have be catalouged.I don’t believe many non christians would be influenced by looking at a stigmata.Especially when scientists have already given their explainations.I don’t necessarily believe that God proves His love by giving one the stigmata.There are stigmatists living today and they don’t appear to be extraordinary holy Catholics.Gorgia Bongiovanni has bleeding stigmata since 1985 and met with kings and heads of state from all over the world but** I don’t see a dramatic change toward religion in the world.**Personnally i donnn’t know why anyone would want the stigmata but I guess it would hurt anything by wishing you had it if you thought it could make an impact and cause people to convert.

bolded by me

It wont convert the whole world, as we can see already. But I think one could assume that it would have some kind of impact on thous a person with stigmata meets. Whether it is a negative or nonproductive meeting, where the person ignores it and the words of the gospel, or it helps to prove the gospel and strengthen someones faith.

I do think it would strengthen some relapsed Catholics or doubting Catholics of the presence of our Lord and his truth, like the miracle of Lanciano did for the congregation at the time of the miracle.

 

[music2]

I mean no disrespect,or to be a “downer”,
but i don’t think that fame/attention/pride etc is the only danger to watch out for.
There also is a need to think clearly and a person make sure that they arn’t in a delusional or fantasy way of thinking.
We need to watch that our mind doesn’t delude us into wishing to have ‘specialness’,or that we can save the world,or delusions of grandeur etc,or are naive etc.
Its important to be rational and in touch with reality.
As someone mentioned,on a pratical sense,having the stigmata would likely not cause a sudden huge surge in Catholicism because even when ‘miracles’ happen,a lot of people take caution in these matters.
There is usually,or at least hopefully,scientific testing to confirm that it wasn’t from a fraudulent source,or manmade.
If it can be reasonbly confirmend as not manmade,then people might believe it is a miracle,but again they might question/discern the supernatural source of it etc…

God does love you.100 % Regardless.

 

[brgregmack]

I mean no disrespect,or to be a “downer”,
but i don’t think that fame/attention/pride etc is the only danger to watch out for.
There also is a need to think clearly and a person make sure that they arn’t in a delusional or fantasy way of thinking.
We need to watch that our mind doesn’t delude us into wishing to have ‘specialness’,or that we can save the world,or delusions of grandeur etc,or are naive etc.
Its important to be rational and in touch with reality.
As someone mentioned,on a pratical sense,having the stigmata would likely not cause a sudden huge surge in Catholicism because even when ‘miracles’ happen,a lot of people take caution in these matters.
There is usually,or at least hopefully,scientific testing to confirm that it wasn’t from a fraudulent source,or manmade.
If it can be reasonbly confirmend as not manmade,then people might believe it is a miracle,but again they might question/discern the supernatural source of it etc…

God does love you.100 % Regardless.

Your right. Which is why I’ve only prayed for “as if” once. Now all I pray for is to be purged of all self-love so that I my heart will be replaced by Christ’s, however He wants to do that.
I prefer it to be quietly so I may love most extraordinarily in the most ordinary things of daily life.

 

[hdog]

I’ve wondered from time to time what I would do if I had the stigmata. If I were to get it, I would prefer it to be the side so I could cover it more easily and thus avoid pride and be more able to think of being united to Christ’s sufferings.

Actually asking for it is prideful. However, I’ve asked for the grace to live as if I had stigmata.**

my first thought would probably be how painful it would be (OUCH!!)
my second thought would be flabbergasting
my third thought would be thankfulness
and my fourth thought would be “Why on earth am I getting this? I am a horrible sinner!!!”