For several centuries there appear to have been certain Christians who have exhibited on their bodies physical marks that allegedly
resemble those of Christ's suffering. They have had wounds in their hands as if nails have been hammered through; their feet similarly
have scarred and bled; some have had marks on the forehead corresponding to those which might have been made by a crown of thorns;
others have had a wound in the side as if they have been speared; or stripes across the back as if from scourging. They have carried
the stigmata, the marks of Christ's suffering. It is very difficult to calculate the precise number of stigmatics living at any
given time. There will be some whose experiences have not become public knowledge and there will be others, who, having once been
thrust into the public domain, have retreated into privacy and who have since died.
It is generally accepted that St Francis of Assisi was the first person to receive the stigmata. His stigmatisation occurred in
September 1224 on the Feast of Exultation of the Holy Cross. This somewhat minor festival was, in the thirteenth century, celebrated
with considerable fervor. St Francis was at the time totally absorbed in a longing to suffer for and with Christ. Other famous
stigmatists include Catherine of Siena, St. John of God, and St. Marie of the Incarnation. The most famous stigmata of the 20th
century was Padre Pio (1918 - 1968). More recently, stigmata was experienced by Brother Roque (died 1998) , a novice in the order of
Los Hijios de los Hijos de la Madre de Dios in Villavicencio, Colombia, Georgio Bongiavani and Canadian Lilian Bernas who began
exhibiting stigmata in 1992.
Various theories can be put forward to explain stigmata's emergence at this time.
The first relates to the way in which theological trends, or fashions, come and go. After the Catholic and the Orthodox churches
had diverged around a thousand years ago, the Catholic wing began to reemphasise the doctrine of the incarnation. There was a shift
in theological emphasis towards the contemplation of the Christ in human form. A new church feast was introduced into the church
calendar, Corpus Christi, the body of Christ, and great emphasis was laid on devotion to and contemplation of the physical sufferings
of Jesus during his trial and execution.
Secondly, there was an upsurge in realism in religious art and depictions of the crucifixion, which had previously been stylized and
devoid of emotion, became vivid, gorey and bloody.
Thirdly the lay people of the church, and women in particular, felt excluded from the mysteries of the Mass when the bread and wine,
they believed, was turned into the body and blood of Christ.
The church, which the laity increasingly saw as corrupt, only gave priests the authority to celebrate the last supper. Stigmata
enabled many people to marvel at the wounds of Christ in such a way that gave them direct access to the body of Christ in a way which
the church could not condemn outright.
The personality profile of stigmatics is similar in many cases to that of people who have claimed to have received marks on their
body from aliens when abducted onto UFOs. Given the tendencies towards various forms of self abuse of people
with these personality profiles it would be easy to assume that all stigmatics (or indeed abductees) have received the marks by
wounding themselves. However, it would be wrong to make the assumption that all stigmatics are frauds.
The causes of stigmata are far more complex. If a person commits some act of self abuse it is a by-product of a medical or psychiatric
condition and not a case of wilful deceit.
Secondly, it would appear that many people who do harm themselves do not consciously recall doing so.
Thirdly, there is substantial evidence to suggest that marks on a person's body, once healed, can reappear psychosomatically or
spontaneously.
It is generally accepted that St Francis of Assisi was the first person to receive the stigmata. His stigmatisation occurred in
September 1224 on the Feast of Exultation of the Holy Cross. This somewhat minor festival was, in the thirteenth century, celebrated
with considerable fervor. St Francis was at the time totally absorbed in a longing to suffer for and with Christ. Other famous
stigmatists include Catherine of Siena, St. John of God, and St. Marie of the Incarnation. The most famous stigmata of the 20th
century was Padre Pio (1918 - 1968). More recently, stigmata was experienced by Brother Roque (died 1998) , a novice in the order of
Los Hijios de los Hijos de la Madre de Dios in Villavicencio, Colombia, Georgio Bongiavani and Canadian Lilian Bernas who began
exhibiting stigmata in 1992.