Cristo Crucificado by Diego Velázquez 1632 Museo del Prado, Madrid
A Word to the Reader and Believer
The subject I am writing about here is in no way attempting to demean the church or the faithful. This author is merely attempting to probe
into this enigmatic subject, in hopes of leading the reader to their own conclusions. It is my hope that I, in no way, leave the impression of dishonoring those 'blessed" Stigmatics, nor of their memory, as I believe all faiths are an individuals rights and should be valued.
Stigmata, or Ecstasy of the Passion of Christ, is believed to be the marks or wounds, pain, sensations, and suffering, in the exact locations corresponding to the wounds suffered by Christ during his crucifixion. Those that bear the marks are called ecstatics or stigmatics. While the phenomenon is disturbing and rare, the causes of stigmata are unknown. Many believe it is no phenomenon, but rather well planned hoaxes.
But there are those of deep faith who believe the stigmata originates from a divine source, and is usually exhibited on certain exceptional individuals of profound faith, and especially in women. In many cases, the wounds of the sufferer appear and flow on holy days such as Good Friday and Easter Sunday. These days are significant because they correspond with the time in which Christ suffered, died, and was resurrected.
The Crucifixion of Christ by Andrea Mantegna 1457-59
The word stigmata comes from the Greek word stigma, meaning mark or brand. In some reported cases of stigmata, the afflicted may bare all five of the holy wounds of Christ, which are usually seen on the palms of the hands or wrists, feet, forehead, side, or back. Others bear the marks on the forehead, similar to wounds inflicted upon Christ when he was forced to wear the crown of thorns.
Christ in Crown of Thorns Carrying his Cross by El Greco 1580
Certain stigmatics have been known to bear open wounds in the hands or feet alone. Some stigmatics suffer from wounds on their side, like that suffered by Christ when the lance was thrust into his side at the time of his crucifixion, while others may only exhibit marks over their backs, similar to those suffered by Christ during his scourging.
The Flagellation of Jesus Christ by William Adolphe Bouguereau 1880
Still there are other reported cases of stigmatics who sweat blood or bleed from their eyes. In some rare cases the blood that flows from the wounds has a pleasant odor known as the "Odour of Sanctity." The Odour of Sanctity
has also been found on incorrupt corpses such as, Saint Bernadette of Lourdes, France.
In real documented cases of Stigmata, medical experts cannot heal the wounds, nor can they explain their mysterious origin. In these cases the wounds do not give off foul odors of putrefying flesh, and when the wounds suddenly disappear they leave no scarring, which in itself is baffling. Most ecstatics also experience visions and apparitions
while in ecstasy.
Strangely, in other documented cases of stigmata, there are those who show no external wounds at all. These individuals have been known to suffer internally. They will experience excruciating pain, like those suffered by Christ, but without exhibiting the marks that other Stigmatics suffer. This is called "Invisible Stigmata."
Famous Stigmatics
Saint Francis of Assisi Receiving the Stigmata by Cigoli 1596
Giovanni Francesco Bernardone, better known as Saint Francis of Assisi, (1182-1226) was the Founder of the Franciscan Order. He was also known as the patron saint of animals and was one of the first documented cases of stigmata. History recalls Francis, who spent much time praying to God for enlightenment and helping the sick and the poor. He claimed to have had a vision of Jesus Christ and devoted himself to a life of poverty and preached redemption. During this time in his life, he gained eleven followers and then led them to Rome to found a new religious order where he was ordained as a deacon.
Sometime later in his life, while fasting and praying on the mountain of Verna, Francis is said to have had a vision of a seraph on a cross. The angel was said to have given Francis the gift of the stigmata. Later, while suffering from the stigmata and complications from an unsuccessful eye surgery, he fell ill and was brought to the house for infirmed friars. He died on October 3, 1226. On July 16, 1228 he was canonized as a saint by Pope Gregory IX. Saint Francis' feast day is observed on October 4.
Sister Elena Aiello
The Holy Mother Mary Speaks:
(through Sister Aiello)
"People pay no attention to my motherly warnings, and thus the world is falling headlong into an abyss of iniquity. Nations shall be convulsed by terrible disasters, causing destruction and death."
Yikes! Spooky doomsday predictions coming from a nun. Were these true prophesies or ideas taken from other known seers of the past such as Nostradamus, or from apocalyptic scriptures taken from the bible? So far, most agree that Sister Elena Aiello appears to be the real deal, and the Catholic church agrees. But it seems that she was a bit hung up on world wide catastrophe and death. And not everyone is lucky enough to get out alive, including believers. So were these prophecies of doom or more unhinged ramblings from a religious zealot?
Sister Elena Aiello of Calbrai, Italy was born in April of 1895. This faithful nun began suffering the full stigmata every Good Friday from 1923 until her death in 1961. She was said to have experienced visions of Jesus, Saint Francesco, numerous other saints, and the Virgin Mary until her death. And with the visions of the Virgin Mary came the gift of prophecy of the future.
Many of Sister Aiello's prophesies were apocalyptic in nature and foretold of God's wrath upon the earth if the world did not cease from its sinful ways. The following are from the Blessed Virgin Mary to Sister Aiello during one of her apparitions of the blessed mother:
"My Heart is sad for so many sufferings in an impending world in ruin . . . The wrath of God is near. Soon the world will be afflicted with great calamities, bloody revolutions, frightful hurricanes and the overflowing of rivers and the seas . . . the world will be overturned in a new and more terrible war. Arms most deadly will destroy peoples and nations. The dictators of the earth, specimens infernal, will demolish the churches and desecrate the Holy Eucharist, and will destroy things most dear. In this impious war, much will be destroyed of that which has been built by the hands of man ..."
Her case of stigmata was well documented and authenticated by scientists and doctors. She suffered the full stigmata in her hands, feet, side, and head. Photos taken during the course of her suffering proved to be quite gruesome and disturbing.
Therese Neumann
Mystic, Saint, or Fraud? Did Therese Neumann survive without food or water from 1926 until her death in 1962? How is this humanly possible? Was this something orchestrated by the hand of God or was this a well planned hoax? Neumann's case is baffling and incredible and continues to spark rumors of fraud, but on the contrary, also gives hope for millions of believers.
Therese Neumann's (1898-1962) suffering began on March 5, 1926, the first Friday of Lent, when she claimed to have had her first vision of Christ's suffering during his passion. Her first wound appeared just above her heart, which she kept secret at the time. On March 12, she had another vision of Christ in his crown of thorns and began displaying wounds that oozed blood. By Good Friday, Therese had experienced a vision of the complete passion of Christ and she could no longer keep her wounds a secret. Her feet, hands and eyes began bleeding openly. On Easter Sunday she had a vision of Christ's resurrection.
Over the years, Therese Neumann suffered every Good Friday and was said to have at least nine wounds on her body that never healed, got infected, and bled openly only on holy days. Witnesses swear to have seen the actual bleeding while it occurred and substantiated this phenomenon. From 1926 until her death in 1962, Therese claimed to have subsisted only on the Holy Eucharist and nothing else. This was closely observed by a physician and four Franciscan nurses for a two week period in which they maintained this was true.
Author and critic of Neumann, Josef Hanauer, called the German born Neumann, the "The Swindle of Konnersreuth" in his book, claiming witnesses only saw the blood on the wound sites, but never the oozing, also supposed bloody wound sites on her head were examined but no openings could be found. Conversely, author Albert Paul Schimberg wrote of the witnesses who saw the actual flowing of the blood from the wounds, further authenticating this phenomenon. On September 18, 1962, Neumann died of cardiac arrest. After her death, her wounds were observed on her body. Therese Neumann's case was truly remarkable and will be recalled by many believers as a saint.
Padre Pio
Padre Pio Exhibiting the Wounds of the Stigmata
Francesco Forgione, better known as Padre Pio (1887-1968), was a famous stigmatic. The Italian Roman Catholic Capuchin priest was born to a faithfully religious family of peasant farmers, and is recalled as a miracle worker and a spiritual director to many. At age 5, Pio was said to have dedicated his life go God as he began having visions of Jesus, Mary, and angels and conversing with them. In 1903 at age 15, Francesco began his preparation for the Capuchin Friars priesthood, where his name was changed to Pio. By 1910, he became an ordained priest.
Four days later, he gave his first mass. It was then that Padre Pio began having problems with his health. He began suffering migraine headaches, fainting spells, insomnia, and a number of other illnesses which, at times left him bedridden for long periods of time. He went to live with his family until 1916 when he was called back to his work. He later enter the military in 1917 but his health was so poor that he returned home to San Giovanni Rotondo where he was called to work at a friary. By then he had a reputation as a miracle worker.
While Pio served in the priesthood, his suffering increased. But physical torment was not the only suffering that he endured, strange phenomenon began to occur at the same time. He began to have dark visions and went into stupors during prayer. At times fellow priests could hear screaming and roars coming from his room while he was in prayer. Another time, a priest found him levitating during one of his ecstasies. While his physical and spiritual torments increased, he was then sent away to recover but his health continued to decline and his infirmities grew worse.
He was sent back home. In all is suffering, Pio felt that by suffering, one was brought closer to God. Forgione dark visions continued and many of his followers believed that the priest was being attacked by the devil on many levels. While his physical torment continued, his disturbing visions escalated along with visions of the angelic and holy.
In 1918, Pio began exhibiting all the marks and suffering of the stigmata after a vision of Christ. He experienced extreme pain in the wounds in his hands and feet like those suffered by the nails driven in Christ's feet. He claimed to feel the pain of the scourging and crown of thorns as well. He begged God to take away the physical wounds and leave the pain, and the wounds disappeared for a while but returned years later. Along with the stigmata, Pio was given the gift of prophecy, bi-location, healing and other miracles.
During his priesthood there were also accusers of Pio who came forth with claims of perversions, theft, insanity, and fraud, but all claims were dismissed as untruths. While Pio's wounds were inspected, they were never completely validated as authentic. One physician believed they may have possibly been self inflicted, as the wounds were not very deep, nor would the priest allow the doctor to examine them too closely, claiming the pain during examination was too excruciating. There was said to be a thick layer of crusted blood over the wounds. But devotees of Pio, including one of his physicians, claimed that he could see right through the wounds and found them to be real and not self inflicted.
On September 23, 1968, Pio's health took a turn for the worst and he passed away, fifty years after receiving the stigmata, which lasted until the moment of his passing. After his death his body was examined but no wounds of the stigmata could be found. His hands were completely smooth and scar free. Upon exhumation of his body in 2008, his body was found to be in a slight state of decay.
An incorrupt corpse is thought to be a sign of the sainthood to some believers, but in the obvious state of decay of Pio's body, a silicone covering was used on his face during his viewing. His hands were found to be in a well preserved state and wound free as they were after he died. Under normal circumstances all bodies decompose after death, even those of well known saints.
So does this prove this case of stigmata to be false? One can't be sure. Other cases in history show that the wounds of true stigmatics healed miraculously without leaving even a hint of scarring. Perhaps this is also true for Padre Pio.
Whatever one may conclude, one thing is certain, Forgione remained faithful to God and became a symbol of love and hope for his followers and the faithful alike. He suffered greatly in life and was loved by many. He was later canonized in 2002 as a saint by the Catholic Church.
Padre Pio in Death Exhumed 40 Years after his Death. On Display at the Holy Mary of Grace Shrine in 2008-09
Explanation for Stigmata
There have been historical stigmatic cases of fraud, like that of Magdelena de la Cruz, (1487-1560) who admitted that she had faked her wounds. Other newer cases of fraud include the use of drops of carbolic acid on the hands and feet to make the skin blister or bleed, while others go to extreme measures of self mutilation in order to achieve the marks.
Many of these unstable individuals that inflict wounds upon themselves often suffer from illnesses such as Munchausen Syndrome or other mental illnesses. Other hypothesis include psychosomatic reaction during deep meditation which can mysteriously bring about such phenomenon. This is known as, "Psychogenic Purpura. " And finally, when science can't explain away this rare spectacle, one could consider that stigmata is a real miracle.
In Conclusion
Whatever one may think about the mysterious and disturbing phenomenon of the stigmata, one could also consider that it may be given to those unique sufferers to show that miracles do still exist. Or be it the connection of the human mind and the power of suggestion at work, one could hypothesize that the mind is a powerful tool, which in itself is also miraculous if it can produce such marks and suffering on the human mind and body.
In the case of fraud, one can only assume that a need for attention is well founded, or in other circumstances, mental illness is a reality. Whatever the case, this strange phenomenon continues to afflict certain individuals throughout the world and cannot always be easily explained away. So it's conceivable that stigmata is a miracle, possibly even something orchestrated from a much higher power than we could ever fathom. For now, Stigmata remains
a heavily cloaked mystery.
Some other cases of stigmatics are among the following:
. Anna Katarina Emmerick
. Catherine of Siena
. Mary Francis of the five wounds
. Matthew Carrieri
. Saint Catherine of Ricci
. Saint Gemma Galgani
. Saint Veronica Giuliani
Copyright © Sylvia Zimmer 2008
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Sources:
Stigmata
Famous Stigmatics
Wikipedia
Padre Pio
Prophesies of Sister Aiello
montaltouffugo.net
Elana Aiello
Therese Neumann
http://www.josef-hanauer.de/swindle-of-konnersreuth-introduction.html
St. Francis of Assisi
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