stigmata, in Christianmysticism, bodily marks, scars, or pains corresponding to those of the crucifiedJesus Christ—that is, on the hands, on the feet, near the heart, and sometimes on the head (from the crown of thorns) or shoulders and back (from carrying thecross and scourging). They are often presumed to accompany religiousecstasy. A stigmatic person may temporarily or permanently have one or more of these wound marks, which may be visible or invisible to others. According to theRoman Catholic Church, the presence of stigmata is a sign of mystical union with the suffering of Christ, and a genuine stigmatic must have lived a life of heroicvirtue.

The first example of thealleged miraculous infliction of stigmata occurred inSt. Francis of Assisi. While in his cell on Mount Alverno in 1224, pondering on the sufferings of Christ, Francis was purportedly visited by aseraph who produced upon his body the five wounds of Christ. PopeAlexander IV and others attested that they had seen these marks both before and after Francis’s death. The divinely attested sanctity of its founder gave to the newly established order ofFranciscans a powerful impulse.

In the next century the same alleged wonder occurred to aDominican sister, Catherine Benincasa, better known asSt. Catherine of Siena. Her biographer implied that she was subject to hystero-epileptic attacks, during one of which, at the age of 23, she received her firststigma. From the 14th to the 20th century, more than 300 persons were identified as having been stigmatized; more than 60 were declaredsaints or the blessed in theRoman Catholic Church. Famous among these areSt. Padre Pio, St. Faustina Kowalska, St. Rita of Cascia, andTherese Neumann.

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