Some time back I saw a program on TV about a woman who bled from her hands occassionaly. This was touted as a stigmata by the people making the program. Can anyone tell me why, if these happenings are true and not some prank, the stigmata prone people seem to bleed from the hands and not the wrist? Jesus was supposed to have been crucified through his wrists and if they are bleeding from their hands then it doesn't seem to add up.

-- Robert Essay (essayt@surfline.com), May 28, 2001

Answers

We really don't know why, but it's most likely because the stigmatized person is living the agonies subjectively, and in their mind the conventional image of Christ on the cross is an influence. That would not make the seriousness of this affliction any less. After all, none of these persons have actually been suspended from a cross for hours.

BUT, when they are authentically produced, these signs are a manifestation of FAITH; and the subjective will to suffer with Christ. Therein is the message. Stigmata of themselves are hardly productive of anything just for exhibition; they aren't sent for the curious to look at. A TV program, in fact, is the last thing a saint wants to undertake. The subject is a holy one. That is, if it is verifiable; and YES, there are true cases.

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), May 29, 2001.

Jmj

I agree with you completely, Eugene.
When Jackiea asked a similar question in an April, 2000, thread, I answered her: "God knew that St. Francis, Blessed Pio, and their companions, influenced by paintings and crucifixes, truly believed that the nails went through Christ's palms. Respecting this belief, God allowed the stigmata to appear in these men's palms. If God had placed the wounds in their wrists, it would have been totally confusing to the men, and it would have been rejected by their companions as something meaningless."
I would bet that most people even nowadays think that painted depictions and sculptures are correct when they show the nails through the palms. I think that most people have still not heard about the nails-through-the-wrists theory.

God bless you.
John

-- (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), May 29, 2001.

I am still learning about this phenomena, but recently I attended a conference with Fr. Zlatko Sudac. He bears the stimata in his wrists and feet, as well as wound in the shape of a cross on his forehead. The wounds were in his wrists, not his hands. He has been examined by the pope's own personal physician, and while no official statements have been made by the Church (that I am aware of), I believe that it was stated in the report that the wounds are a medical mystery.

You know what, here is a link to a site that can describe it better than I:

www.spiritdaily.com/SUDAC.HTM

cksunshine

-- cksunshine (cklrun@hotmail.com), June 01, 2001.

AFTER EMERGENCY OPEN HEART SYRGERY IN 1986, I HAD AN OUT OF BODY EXPERENCE, SINCE THAN I`VE HAD PAIN BURNING STINGING HEAT IN MY HANDS AND FEET AT TIMES THE SKIN WILL GO VERY WHITE TO RED IN COLOR,IN MY PALMS AND ON TOP OF MY FEET I`M ALSO VERY EMOTIONAL.IT`S HARD TO TALK ABOUT, HOW CAN I EXPLAIN TO SOMEONE ELSE WHAT I`M GOING THROUGH WHEN I DON`T KNOW FOR SURE MYSELF, I CAN SAY I`M MORE SPIRITUAL AND CLOSER TO MY GOD AND FIND WHAT I WENT THROUGH IN 1986 SOME QUESTION BUT I KNOW AND WILL CARRY WITH ME TILL I LEAVE THIS EARTH BOTH PHYSICALLY AND SPIRTUALLY. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED ON 4 DIFFERENT TIMES THUR ACCIDENT I SHOULD HAVE RECIEVED AT LEASE THIRD DEGREE BURNS BUT DIDN`T. IT`S SO HARD TO SHARE THESE THINGS ABOUT ME WITH OTHERS, FOR FEARING DISBELIEVING. IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO OTHERS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS IT AS REAL TO YOU AS IT IS TO ME? I CAN ONLY END THIS WITH I`M NORMAL AND GOD AND MYSELF KNOWS. MAY GOD BLESS ANYONE ELSE THAT IS LIKE MYSELF.

-- Ervin E. Riggs Sr. (tdrprissy@yahoo.com), April 12, 2002.

Mr. Riggs,

Please take a look at Raynaud's Phenomenon

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.cam), April 12, 2002.

Hello, Ervin.
It's not that we automatically disbelieve you, but only that the Church says that one must thoroughly investigate, and rule out, the possibility that such things are occurring for natural reasons -- before giving the first thought to the possibility of something supernatural being involved.
Here is a site that tells about Raynaud's Phenomenon. Perhaps after reading it you will choose to speak to a specialist.

God bless you.
John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), April 14, 2002.

I personally know two American mystics, a Catholic priest and a Catholic widow, who experience the pains of invisible stigmata, the priest in his wrists and head with the crown of thorns, the widow in her wrists and on the tops of her feet. They both view their spiritual gifts as God-given and for their own advancement in holiness. I doubt either one will ever reveal himself/herself. There must be others. God is generous in His gift-giving.

-- Patricia D. Jersin (patjersin@yahoo.com), January 25, 2003.

gene,

your story is touching... and i won't disbelieve because i dont know enough about charismatic gifts and/or you to make a discernment. What i will say is that you need to go and speak to your bishop, who will appoint doctors and experienced preists to examine you and your condition and to find out more about it.

only in this way can you be sure what you have is a gift from God, rather than medical condition. get on it, and let us know what is found...

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), April 17, 2004.

In summer of 1976, I went to my grandmother's house for a picnic... She always looked strange to me, I didn't know why... One night at about 5a.m. she started moaning in her room... Because she was so creepy to me and I was alone with her I was scared half to death... I turned on the lights to go see what's going on... I opened the door and turned on the lights, my grandmother was lying three feet above the bed just like Frankie Paige... I thought to myself: I must've dreamt it... When I was about to close the door she screamed... I turned around and seeing my grandmother's eyes turning completely white... her vains started to pop out, and she looked just like Frankie Page in the movie STIGMATA with blood started to poor out of her mouth... The scariest part was the way she talked... I was so scared that I fell on the ground... I woke up the next day in a hospital... I thought I was going mad, nobody believed me... I asked where she was, they told me she's safe in her bed... They told me they found her in the kitchen eating chicken... From that day on I never saw her do that again. I don't think I'll be watching the movie STIGMATA again... So I suggest the next time you go somewhere, make sure she or he's not creepy... Rock on!!!

-- Jonathan A. (gotcha927@rock.com), April 22, 2004.

jonathan,

the movie STIGMATA is garbage. it has nothing to do with the actual phenomenon of stigmata which occurs only to blessed people (not random new yorkers).

the stigmata is also not a frightening experience. it is quite passive, permanent bleeding or scabbed wounds on the hands, occasiona splitting of the side. often intense pain is not carried with the stigmata. the saints who bear the stigmata do NOT get whipped at random times by unseen asaillants.

what you describe is picture perfect for the movie STIGMATA, which is more or less a better example of demonic possession than the real occurance. i would talk to your local bishop about having an excorcist and a team of doctors examine your grandmother. You should not be in fear of a stigmata, it should not cause you to pass out, and it should not put you in the hospitol.

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), April 22, 2004.

Gene's post has been removed at his request.

Moderator

-- Ed (catholic4444@yahoo.ca), April 22, 2004.