Stigmata

Stigmata (plural of stigma) are wounds that were, according to the Bible, inflicted on Jesus Christ during his crucifixion.

• Wounds in hands or wrists, caused by nails
• Wounds in feet, caused by nails (not explicitly mentioned in any canonical gospel)
• Wounds caused by a Crown of Thorns
• Wounds caused by whip lashings or scourging on the back,
• Wounds caused by the Spear of Destiny in the side, this is often fatal.

History

Throughout history, over 500 people are believed to be Stigmatics. For no apparent reason, these stigmatists displayed wounds similar to those said to have been suffered by Jesus Christ. The first recorded case of these wounds was in the year 1222, by a man names Stephen Langton of England. Saint Francis of Assisi first suffered the wounds in La Verna, Italy in 1224. Other famous stigmatists include Catherine of Siena, St. John of God, and St. Marie of the Incarnation. The most famous stigmatist of the twentieth 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.

Explanation

Today, at least some of them are known to have faked the wounds, like Magdalena de la Cruz (1487-1560), who admitted the fraud. It is unknown (and a matter of faith) if stigmata actually exist.

Similar self-infliction of wounds can be caused by certain brain disorders. Some people who fake stigmata suffer from Munchausen Syndrome which causes an intense desire for attention. People with Munchausen hurt themselves or fake an illness hoping to end up in a hospital where they can enjoy attention and care. People also fake stigmata knowing that some who had stigmata were declared holy by the pope. In this way they try to gain a declaration of holiness too.

Self inflicted stigmata wounds heal naturally, but believers say true stigmata is caused by a mental soul and can only be healed by the mental soul, not by the body or a doctor.

Popular culture

The stigmata theme has been used in several movies, including Agnes of God (1985),which starred Meg Tilly and Jane Fonda and Stigmata (1999), which starred Patricia Arquette and Gabriel Byrne.

In an episode of the controversial TV series Nip/Tuck, a plastic surgeon discovers that his client faked stigmata in order to save a dying halfway home.