The Stigmatist

Padre Pio died September 23, 1968, his funeral attended by over 100,000 people. During the fifty-eight years he was a priest, his monastery at San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, became a mecca for pilgrims from all over the world. Born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887 at Pietrelcina in southeastern Italy, Padre Pio joined the Capuchin Order in 1903 and was ordained in 1910. On September 20, 1918 he received the sacred wounds of Christ, or the stigmata, which he bore the rest of his life.

A comprehensive study of sacred stigmata augmented with the teachings of the Magisterium, scientific discussion, and biographical stories of authentic stigmatists. -- Dust jacket.

Whether you are an atheist, an agnostic or a true believer and disciple of Jesus Christ, you will be mystified at what you learn from The Stigmata. The Stigmata examines such other worldly phenomena, one could liken it to a spiritual X-files episode. Christ’s death and resurrection was not the end, but the beginning for us all. Jesus’ agonizing suffering, sacrifice and surrender of his own life opened the gates of heaven to all those willing to follow Him. The stigmatics serve as an earthly human reminder of the Divine Jesus’ obedient, holy and sacrificial offering to us. The Stigmata is a compilation of some 657 individuals from the 13th to the 21st centuries who have incomprehensibly borne the wounds suffered by Christ. The Stigmata discusses many of the stigmatics in biographical detail. Some stigmatics are recognized saints, such as St. Padre Pio and St. Therese Neumann. Sainted or not, all stigmatics suffer in some way like Christ, bearing evidence of nail piercings to the hands and feet, the crown of thorns and sword laceration near the heart. Have there been fraudulent stigmatics? Yes, and The Stigmata discusses the fakes, separating them like wheat from chaff. Aside from the painful and bloody wounds these individuals suffer, many stigmatics exhibit other miraculous mysteries, from levitation and bi-location to reading of souls and other human impossibilities. The pain the stigmatics have endured is real, the phenomena they’ve experienced is mystical and their complete impact on the world is known only to God.

Fascinating accounts of a much misunderstood reality, describing well-known and well documented cases: St. Francis of Assisi, Padre Pio, Therese Neumann, etc. A scientific and theological examination. Sparks the interest of all.

"American pilgrims at an apparition site in Spain are caught up in frightening visions, which appear to signal the end of the current Age. Fr. Anthony Santorelli, sent by the Vatican to investigate, is given a message for the Pope foreshadowing a series of future events. To authenticate his role as a messenger and prophet, the priest is mystically marked with stigmata in his hands, feet and side, replicating the five wounds of Christ on the Cross. [This] is the story of Fr. Santorelli's struggles to accept and fulfill his new calling as the visions spread inexorably from country to country, triggering plots within and against the Catholic Church, and internation intrigues, terrorist acts, and nuclear war."--Page 4 of cover.

An exploration of mysticism, with a particular focus on the appearance of bodily wounds that bear resemblance to Jesus Christ’s crucifixion wounds, known as Stigmata. First published in 1947, The Physical Phenomena of Mysticism details the Christian mysticism of Stigmata. Those who lead a virtuous, Christian life may discover wounds in similar places to that of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion wounds, for example, the hands and feet from the nails, the head from the crown of thorns, or the shoulders and back from the weight of carrying the cross. Montague Summers was an English clergyman, best known for his studies on vampires, witches, and werewolves. In this volume, he explores and analyses divine and diabolic phenomena.

Chronicles the life of the priest and saint Padre Pio, particularly the Vatican's investigation of his stigmata in 1921 through documents recently released by the Catholic Church.

The life and remarkable gifts of Therese Neumann (1898-1962); who bore the stigmata from 1926 to 1962; and suffered the Passion of Jesus on Fridays. She went without food and drink (save Communion) for 26 years. Also tells of her visions; language phenomena; mystical recognition of the Holy Eucharist; of priests; priestly blessings and relics; her bilocation and other mystical gifts. Twenty pictures in color and over 50 in black and white. Impr. 290 pgs 25 color Illus;20 b&W Illus ; PB

A Light Shone in the Darkness is the account of the life of Therese Neumann of Konnersreuth, a mystic who lived in Germany until her death in 1962 and who was given to visions, crying tears of blood, and bearing of stigmata throughout her life.