"Stigmata (singular stigma) are bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus, such as the hands and feet. In some cases, rope marks on the wrists have accompanied the wounds on the hands.The term originates from the line at the end of Saint Paul's Letter to the Galatians where he says, "I bear on my body the marks of Jesus." Stigmata is the plural of the Greek word στίγμα stigma, meaning a mark or brand such as might have been used for identification of an animal or slave. An individual bearing stigmata is referred to as a stigmatic or a stigmatist.Stigmata are primarily associated with the Roman Catholic faith. Many reported stigmatics are members of Catholic religious orders.[1] St. Francis of Assisi was the first recorded stigmatic in Christian history. For over fifty years Padre Pio of Pietrelcina reported stigmata which were studied by several 20th century physicians, whose independence from the Church is not known. The observations were reportedly unexplainable and the wounds never became infected.A high percentage (perhaps over 80%) of all stigmatics are women.[2] In his Stigmata: A Medieval Phenomenon in a Modern Age, Edward Harrison suggests that there is no single mechanism whereby the marks of stigmata were produced."
From my knowledge, in order to get a stigmata recognized, there has to be lots of testing not only through religious orders, but through scientists as well. The Vatican has a team of renowned scientists that works with them on all sorts of cases, from stigmata and other miracles to a team of astrophysicists that comb the sky every night (including Stephen Hawking).
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Below is a picture of Padre Pio. He was a Catholic Capuchin priest and was venerated as a saint. I will feature a video of him after these photos.
((http://www.swotti.com/tmp/swotti/cacheC3RPZ21HDGE=RW50ZXJ0YWLUBWVUDC1NB3ZPZXM=/imgStigmata4.jpg))
This is a photo of Therese Neumann, a Stigmatatic.
((https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaK3FUQO8_hhIzlX7yKJ2-B2jWtdqm49C9uo1aZSWzdvVnnyctYlu9q9BsACNuF_es2VTX1vfBefZPL9elHzo9Af2DJlaqimad4FgZml0mlz0sNOLASx4HaXNBygAYXsSG61c43tlSsQN/s1600/Therese_Neumann_von_Konnersreuth3.jpg))
Giorgio Bongiovanni is another famous stigmatatic.
((https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDK20GW03Hd6igWgwkoM_c_p8yn8Yq0s3h1l4BSerzhgH8nCqFzRG8MIaZO7110A6B3VEPVUo7X9tOw0IKo5X4Ivy1iBStHJpxVkWhLwA0oFKOuEDXWaNM_XBTDhC5CPQyDAzltuatep2X/s400/Stigmata_Bongiovanni.jpg))
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Here is a video.
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Scientists think they have discovered a scientific (redundant, I know) explanation for the Stigmata. Take a look.
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Either way you look at it, what an interesting phenomenon! And as someone of the Catholic faith, I am definitely a believer. One cannot measure the miracles that God brings upon us!
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love,
Chrissie.
