The Wounds of Christ

[ladybri77]

As you said, the true test of any sign is the fruit it bears in the lives of the individual or others involved. That’s why, so far as I can tell, the Church officially attributes no significance to stigmata in themselves, but looks for other fruits of holiness.

True, and I also think it can come about psychosomatically. We should always look to the Lord and love Him with all our hearts and never elevate His gifts above Him. At the same time we needn’t diminish His gifts, but be thankful that we can share in His suffering in this way and use them for His glory.

 

[fulbert4605]

Also, keep in mind the words which David, the Prophet, said of Jesus.

“They have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones.”

It doesn’t mention wrists. Furthermore, as Blessed Anne Catherine relates it they made the measurements, chiseled out holes and then did the nailing of the hands and feet into these chiseled holes. They put the holes in the cross too far apart when they did their measurements. Thus, Jesus had to be stretched in order to reach these holes. His members were disjointed. This also ties in with what David said of Jesus because He was stretched so much on the cross that every bone in His body was visible. Shoulder sockets hollowed, elbows disjointed, etc.

 

[Cluny]

FWIW, I looked in both the index of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and on-line versions with search utilities.

I could find no references to stigmata in them.

I find this silence deafening.

Moreover, with no disrespect to Bl. Catherine Ann, she is not the last word in the historical and forensic facts of the Crucifixion.