<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

This article refers to the reported phenomenon. For other uses, please see Stigmata (disambiguation).

Stigmata are marks or wounds (or the perception of them) that spontaneously appear on a person and correspond to the injuries believed to be received by Christ during his crucifixion. A person experiencing stigmata is called a stigmatic.

Stigmata have been used as plot elements in some Sci Fi works.

Contents 1 Manifestations 2 Theories 3 Issues 4 Stigmatics 5 External Links

Manifestations

Typically, wounds may appear on the palms or wrists, and/or on the side of the body. These wounds (or marks) may behave unlike typical wounds, for example, flowing freely for days. They may appear and disappear.

There is a concept of invisible stigmata, in which the person feels the wounds, but they are not visible to other people.

Theories

• The wounds may be seen as a miracle, a divine manifestation
• The wounds may be psychosomatically created, caused by an intense belief
• Mundane medical conditions may be misinterpreted
• There may be fraud involved in some cases
• People with mental illness may hurt themselves without being consciously aware of it

Issues

• Some wounds appear on the palms of stigmatics, believed to correspond to nails driven through the palms. This is a common depiction in religious art. Some research suggests that nails would tear through the palms of the hands, and that crucificixion was more likely accomplished by driving the nails through the wrists.

Stigmatics

Several people canonized (made into saints) by the Catholic Church have been reported stigmatics, including Padre Pio and Saint Francis of Assisi. Other cases have been reported.

External Links

• Catholic Encyclopedia
• Skeptic's Dictionary

For specific information, such as individual books and works based on stigmata, please click the Stigmata category link at the bottom of this article. To see other articles that reference stigmata, please click the What Links Here tool in the toolbox at the bottom of this page.