Editing Stigmata (section)

==Description==
[[File:Cigoli, san francesco.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Saint [[Francis of Assisi]] contemplating the wounds of stigmata as part of the ''[[Imitation of Christ]]''<ref name=Goff >''Saint Francis of Assisi'' by Jacques Le Goff 2003 {{ISBN|0-415-28473-2}} p. 44</ref><ref name= Miles160>Miles, Margaret Ruth. (2004). ''The Word Made Flesh: A History of Christian Thought''. Wiley. pp. 160–161. {{ISBN|978-1-4051-0846-1}}</ref>]]

An individual bearing the wounds of stigmata is a '''stigmatist''' or a '''stigmatic'''. In {{Bibleverse|Galatians|6:17|KJV}}, [[Paul of Tarsus|Saint Paul]] says:
<blockquote>
{{lang|grc|Τοῦ λοιποῦ κόπους μοι μηδεὶς παρεχέτω· ἐγὼ γὰρ τὰ στίγματα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματί μου βαστάζω.}}

From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
</blockquote>
A {{transliteration|grc|stígma}} ({{lang|grc|στίγμα}}) is a mark on the skin.<ref>Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''[[A Greek-English Dictionary]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dsti%2Fgma ''s.v.'']</ref>

Reported cases of stigmata take various forms. Many show some or all [[Holy Wounds|Five Sacred Wounds]] <!-- preserved this phrasing even though it sounds non-neutral due to having its own article and to let reader know about it in a more direct way than a simple noun which may be confused as a simple description of it --> that were, according to the [[Bible]], inflicted on Jesus during his crucifixion: wounds in the wrists and feet, from nails; and in the side, from a lance. Some stigmatics display wounds to the forehead similar to those caused by the [[crown of thorns]].<ref name=Carroll/> Stigmata as crown of thorns appearing in the 20th century, e.g. on [[Marie Rose Ferron]], have been repeatedly photographed.<ref>Michael Freze, 1993, ''They bore the wounds of Christ'', OSV Publishing {{ISBN|0-87973-422-1}} p. 125</ref><ref>''A Stigmatist: Marie-Rose Ferron'' by Jeanne S. Bonin 1988 {{ISBN|2-89039-161-2}} p. 153</ref><ref>''Religion and American cultures: an encyclopedia of traditions, Volume 1'' by Gary Laderman, Luís D. León 2003 {{ISBN|1-57607-238-X}} p. 336</ref> Other reported forms include tears of blood or sweating blood, and wounds to the back as from [[scourging]].

Many stigmata show recurring bleeding that stops and then starts, at times after receiving [[Holy Communion]]; a significant proportion of stigmatics have shown a strong desire to receive Holy Communion frequently.<ref name=Carroll/> A relatively high percentage of stigmatics also exhibit [[inedia]], claiming to live with minimal (or no) food or water for long periods of time, except for the [[Eucharist|Holy Eucharist]]. Some exhibit weight loss, and closer investigation often reveals evidence of fakery.<ref name=Carroll/>

Some stigmatics claim to feel the pain of wounds with no external marks; these are referred to as "invisible stigmata".<ref name=Carroll/> Some stigmatics' wounds do not appear to clot, and seem to stay fresh and uninfected. The blood from the wounds is said, in some cases, to have a pleasant, perfumed odor, known as the [[Odour of Sanctity]].

Individuals who have obtained the stigmata are many times described as [[Religious ecstasy|ecstatics]], overwhelmed with emotions upon receiving the stigmata.<ref name="advent">{{cite web|url = http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14294b.htm |title = Catholic Encyclopedia: Mystical Stigmata |access-date = 2008-07-02}}</ref>

In his paper ''Hospitality and Pain'', Christian [[theologian]] [[Ivan Illich]] states: "Compassion with Christ&nbsp;... is faith so strong and so deeply incarnate that it leads to the individual embodiment of the contemplated pain." His thesis is that stigmata result from exceptional poignancy of religious faith and desire to associate oneself with the suffering [[Messiah]].

Differently from the [[Five Holy Wounds]] of Christ, some mystics like Francis of Assisi and father Pio of Petralcina reported a spontaneous regression and closure of their stigmata in the days following their death.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.avvenire.it/chiesa/pagine/cent-anni-fa-le-stimmate-di-padre-pio-da-pietrelcina | title = Cent'anni fa le stimmate di Padre Pio: quando la scienza si arrende | language = it | website = L'Avvenire | date = September 20, 2018| quote = Poche ore dopo, alla morte erano completamente scomparse, senza lasciare segno di sé.}}</ref>{{Clarify|reason=If they were dead, they couldn't have reported anything|date=August 2022}} Both of them claimed to have received the divine stigmata in their hands as well as in their feet.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.lalucedimaria.it/san-francesco-stimmate-assisi/ | title = San Francesco: le fonti che attestano le sue stimmate | date = October 24, 2019}}</ref>