Stigmata are bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus. The term originates from the line at the end of St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians where he writes, “I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” Stigmata is the plural of the Greek word stigma meaning a mark or brand such as might have been used for identification as with a slave.
The first well-documented case–and the first to be accepted by the Catholic Church as authentic–was that of St. Francis of Assisi who first experienced Stigmata in La Verna, Italy in 1224. Over the past seven centuries, some 350 people have reported this extraordinary phenomenon –with most reports surfacing in just the last 10 years.
The causes of stigmata are the subject of considerable debate. Some contend that they are miraculous, while others argue that they are hoaxes. Regardless of who you listen to, it safe to say that, more often than not, it’s almost impossible to tell what’s real and what’s not.
What do you think?