I watched Nat Geo yesterday. It was mid afternoon and I was awfully sleepy. So, I only managed to watch the middle part of the documentary about stigmata before I fell asleep.
I learn that the Catholic church does not officially recognise stigmata or rather, accept and acknowledge them except for St. Francis Assisi and St. Pio. Even that, St. Pio’s case was not officially recorded and in their library, only St. Francis Assisi’s stigmata was recognised. Before St. Pio was canonised as a saint, he had to prove with three miracles and the stigmata and eventual disappearance of his wound marks at his death was not recognised as one of the miracle.
The documentary also discussed the spots where Jesus was supposed to be nailed to the cross. Apparently, the persons who had the stigmata seem to changed after one person argued and tried to prove that Jesus was not nailed in the hands but the wrists. The doctors and all the experts provided their scientific and medical explanations and they also acknowledged that a few of the cases they had seen were proven genuine while others were self-inflicting wounds or fake dyes.
After three paragraphs, I forget to explain what stigmata is. Stigmata is a phenomenon where a person very faithful to Jesus will bleed at the spots where Jesus was supposed to be nailed to the cross. These people will have unexplainable bleeding from the palms, feet, side and some bizzare cases, they even shed blood as tears.
I personally will take everything with a pinch of salt. I definitely will not subscribe to the Korean woman who thrashed in throes of pain and cried and rolled on the ground as a Catholic teaching. Eeeeeee…she is really freaky, man! I doubt Jesus wants His disciples to be so dramatic, blood and all. Hers was more a bloody cult, in my opinion.
From the documentary, I also found that St. Pio is awfully handsome and full of charm. He reminds me of some handsome Italian tenor, only much more handsome and thinner. So, let me go dig out some things about St. Pio. I have seen his statue and photos somewhere in my cathedral and other churches but I never really pay much attention to saints. That’s why I am such a blur Catholic. So much to learn, so little brain cells, so help me God.
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