Mystical Stigmata
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 12:29 AM , 0 comments
Stigmata are wounds or skin blotches which match the wounds suffered by Jesus during his trial and crucifixion. Some people believe that they can appear spontaneously through a miraculous act of God. But the evidence often points to natural causes, such as self-wounding or unusual medical conditions.
Some stigmata have unusual shapes, such as a cross or a circle, and a few even glow in the dark. Many of them also produce a pleasant perfume-like odor. In a few rare cases they aren't even visible, but are known to be present from the pain that they cause.
Because stigmata are counterparts to the wounds suffered by Christ, they are normally found on the hands and feet, on one side of the chest, and on the head, shoulders, and back. But they are not always real wounds, for many of them occur in the form of purplish skin blotches or tattoo-like markings. However, in a few cases, what looks like a blotch may actually be a real wound, because small amounts of blood will sometimes seep from it, even though no breaks are visible in the skin.
The best-known stigmatics of modern times include Padre Pio, Therese Neumann, Heather Woods, and Lilian Bernas, but there have been many others. In some modern cases, people have reported that they went into a trance in which they seemed to be nailed to a cross, and when they awoke they found the wounds or markings on their bodies.
Modern investigations indicate that stigmata can persist for different time periods, from a few hours to many years. They often appear suddenly, remain for a few days, then quickly fade away. In a few cases they have appeared on Good Friday and vanished on Easter morning.
Many Christians believe that the sudden appearance of stigmata is a supernatural sign that a person is very close to God. According to some reports, the miraculous nature of the wounds is verified by the fact that they don't respond to medical treatment, but can suddenly heal without treatment and without leaving any scars.
Some stigmatics say that they gladly suffer from the pain because their sacrifice helps pay for the sins of other people.
