Stigmata

Stigmata (of Greek στíγμα stigma, stitch ',' stigma ',' character ', Latin for' stigma ') refers to the occurrence of the stigmata of Christ on the body of a living person. The corresponding stigmata are as Stigmata ( singular: Stigma ), people in whom stigmatization occurs, referred to as stigmatized.

The ancients designated στíγμα a mark that was branded on the forehead or the hand.

History

Biblical mention

Already in the Letter of Paul to the Galatians, the wounds of Christ are mentioned: " I wear the sign ( στíγμα ) of Jesus on my body. " ( Gal 6,17 EU), although the interpretation of these "signs" is uncertain, and they probably were not visible externally.

Carriers of the wounds of Christ

The first recognized case of stigmatization is the St. Francis of Assisi. His stigmata is said to have occurred on 17 September 1224. The first woman to receive the stigmata is said to have been the Blessed Christina of Stommeln whose relics are now in Jülich; the skull of the blessed are to be seen traces of a crown of thorns.

In the following years there are increasing reports of Stigmatisationen. The number of known stigmatized varies depending on the author between 100 and 330, since precise criteria missing, what is meant by stigmatization ( internal and external stigmatization ). The number of carriers with the visible and spontaneous bleeding wounds of Christ should not exceed 100; the physician Franz Lothar Schleyer pointed in 1948 for a medical study almost 70 confirmed cases after.

Among the known Stigmatiserten recent times include the Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, Therese Neumann from Konnersreuth, canonized on June 16, 2002, Padre Pio and Marthe Robin. Well-known contemporary stigmatized are the Italian religious brother Elijah ( b. 1962 ) and the Greek Catholic Syrian Myrna Nazzour (* 1964).

13 were stigmatized and holy - some more beatified by the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Church does not automatically evaluates a stigmatization as supernatural or as a demonstration of holiness. With the Causes of Saints stigmata were either not or only marginally mentioned.

Some of the modern stigmatized had to multiply medical examinations of secular and church undergo to rule out a Selbstbeibringung their wounds. For example, it is reported hand wounds by Anna Katharina Emmerich had been firmly connected and monitored by a commission day and night without having to her bleeding something had changed. Louise Lateau is one of the best documented Stigmatisationsfälle; their stigmata should have bled on Fridays. Rudolf Virchow, who, however, offered to examine them personally refused, she stopped for an impostor. The holy Veronica Giuliani, who was stigmatized on Good Friday 1697 on hands, feet and heart, wearing only the stigmata on the hands and feet, but not on the side. At autopsy after her death by two doctors in the presence of many witnesses were found, however, allegedly pierced her heart completely.

Attempts to explain

The majority of physicians as well as theologians comes from a predominantly natural, psychogenic cause of stigmatization. On the other hand, did not succeed in the former private investigator Joe Nickell Magicians and even to find a single case in which the onset of bleeding was observed. Psychosomatic phenomena such as auto-suggestion, Ideoplastie or hysteria associated with a strong passion piety could just as conscious or unconscious manipulation be the cause of stigmatization. This is also a native of the Psychiatric Clinic of the University of Munich current interpretation of the investigation report comes from the year 1927, Therese Neumann to the conclusion that the stigmata spontaneously within a psychosomatic symptom formation on the background of intense religious fantasies, that is, without manipulation, are formed. Studies have shown that hypnosis caused by recurrent subcutaneous bleeding and can not disappear healing wounds. The stigmatization is apparently related to the blood sweat and blood wines which a natural cause seems assured. These phenomena, however, occur no open wounds, but the blood exits directly through the intact skin, as it is also reported in some stigmatized by bleeding forehead and scalp.

Controversial, however, the exact psychological mechanisms and that can be explained by the fact all forms of stigmatization. For example, it is claimed that open wounds for many years ( even 50 years at Padre Pio ) will not cure, but not inflame or ulcerate and this medicine can not be explained. From the medical use of indwelling catheters is known that susceptibility to infection is very different for lasting, deep skin injuries from patient to patient. There are cases in which no inflammatory changes occur over years or decades. For a blood flow opposite to the force of gravity, as it is reported in Anna Katharina Emmerich, for example, and similar paranormal phenomena lack of objective evidence.

Handstigmata are usually seen on the palm or back of hand. It is now, however, likely that was a hit at crucifixions of the nail near the wrist between the radius and ulna of the forearm. Of interest is that the wounds generally stigmatized as occur, as these are known in this culture. Displays a culture so Stigmata back of the hand, then have the people there wounds to the back of the hand. If, however, wounds presented at the joints, they occur there. There seems to be a connection with the presentation. This can be combined with the above finding that the nails were not taken at the locations shown usual, suspect that a stigmatization caused by the psychic powers of the person himself as a rule and thus manifested, according to the conception of the person.

Movies

The issue of stigmatization has been taken up in several films:

• Agnes of God ( 1985)
• Stigmata (1999)
• The Butterfly Effect (2004)
• The Exorcism of Emily Rose ( 2005)
• I Know Who Killed Me (2007)