Mysterious Britain Forums

Subject: Stigmata Mon 12 May 2008, 8:29 am

I came across a note stating the first recorded instance of Stigmata was St Francis of Assissi in 1224 and it only tends to effect deeply religious people. Any thoughts on the subject? Is it paranormal?
_________________
"Sometimes I just sit and think, and sometimes I just sit".

Subject: Re: Stigmata Tue 13 May 2008, 5:25 pm

Most people leave notes about more mundane things like 'get milk' or 'buy bread' not notes on St Francis...

Stigmata is one of those events that I'd like to witness in person. I've seen enough images of 'victims', but I find it hard to believe that the wounds are physical and caused by belief. I'd much rather see footage of someone investigating the wounds - do they exist or are we talking about small nics in the skin - most wounds seem to always be congealed with blood, and once cleaned, do the wounds return. If they do, then we have to ask if someones psychological state/beliefs are causing some sort of bodily action.

Anyone recommend any books about this subject?

Subject: Re: Stigmata Sat 17 May 2008, 5:02 pm

Stigmata's a weird thing. Why does it occur in the hands when according to many historical sources, crucifiction victims would have to have been nailed through the wrists to stop the nail tearing through and the victim falling off the cross...?

but then many pictures depict Jesus standing on a podium attached to the cross, and I suppose there was nothing to stop the Romans from binding him by the wrists to the cross with rope anyway, hypothetically speaking.

Too many questions, not enough answers.
_________________
Seek for answers in the mundane, with hope for answers in the fantastic

the resident uruisge

www.swt.org.uk

Subject: Re: Stigmata Sat 17 May 2008, 7:32 pm

I think the bleeding from the hands and not the wrists is because of the depictions of the crucifiction, don't they all seem to show the nails in the hands and feet and not in the wrists and ankles. I do seem to remember at least one stigmatist that bled through the wrists though.

As you pointed out about the skin tearing through if you were nailed by the hands, i once saw a tv programme that said the same thing. I personally think the nails would have been in the wrists, but when you see these people that hang themselves from hooks through their skin it would seem plausable that the hands could take the strain.

Subject: Re: Stigmata Wed 21 May 2008, 7:18 pm

(Warning: not for squeamish)

The thing to bear in mind, Lee, is that crucifiction victims endured the punishment for days; these people that get fitted up to the old "meat hooks" are on there for minutes. Our skin is tough, but not indestructable.
Besides, the hooks have more of a "purchase" as it were. Presumably the nail would be driven between the metacarpals, you could probably pull yourself off of the nail (no matter how excrutiating unpleasant it would be). I don't know for sure, however.
_________________
Seek for answers in the mundane, with hope for answers in the fantastic

the resident uruisge

www.swt.org.uk

Subject: Re: Stigmata Thu 22 May 2008, 5:22 pm

Also, don't forget that crucifiction wasn't necesarily a punishment to the death.

Age : 31 Joined : 12 Oct 2007 Posts : 233

There are a few skin conditions that can produce superficial lesions similar to the ones associated with stigmata, especially on the hands: these are usually associated with lack of some nutrients, stress, lack of rest... all conditions that can be encountered during a deep mystical experience.
It has also been suggested that at least some cases were the result of either inconsciously self-inflicted wounds or downright fraud. The recently canonized Saint Pius, a Capuchin monk who died in 1968 and who is incredibly popular in Catholic countries (particulary Italy and Spain), has long been suspected of having "faked" his stigmata, though if this was done inconsciously or deliberately it is not known. During his youth he freely displayed the wounds but after a few years he started to wear heavy wool gloves at all time. And to be sure at the moment of his death the wounds were completely healed. Shocked

_________________
Fas: Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum.

Subject: Re: Stigmata Sun 25 May 2008, 4:55 pm

Just a thought - one of today's scriptures at church was Isaiah 49:8-16. It includes the words, "Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands." The "I" refers to God.

Now I'm hardly a Biblical literist, and I know that the Old Testement has gone through many translations, etc. so this is just a thought - perhaps stigmata occur in the hands because the person in question takes a passage such as this so literally that it has a sub-concious physical effect upon them?

Not trying to offend anyone's religious beliefs, just doing a little musing.