stigmata
Is it really possible for stigmata to occur? Stigmata: A biblical phenomenon when people mysteriously receive the crucifixion wounds of Christ. This stigma has an unexplainable concept that has always baffled both religious and scientific studies. There have been a number of stigmatics that have become famous religious icons. A lot of people question the authenticity of stigmatics because there is not a scientific explanation. Stigmata is the Greek word for puncture wound. Basically, to experience a stigmata, one must be really close to God. There are many different kinds of stigmatics. Usually the wounds are located both in the hands or wrist and through the feet. These wounds can make their first appearance at any time in the stigmatic's life. The wounds can be merely visible to human eye to an Eisenhower silver dollar. Some wounds completely puncture the hand or feet, and some partially puncture the limb. It has been recorded that Padre Pio, an Italian priest, had the stigmata and bled two cups of blood a day yet was perfectly healthy. His case is somewhat rare because he bled at a greater amount of blood and more often than any other stigmatic. Some bleed from their wounds only on Good Friday, and some blee
To this day there is not a scientific explanation for stigmata. Until there is there will always be skeptical people. Skeptics can say that the wounds are self-inflicted and are performed by religious fanatics and mentally unbalanced people. Some of these cases of stigmata are probably false. There are all kinds of religious fanatics that misunderstand the holy concept of stigmata and would self inflict these wounds for attention, and simply because they do not have anything better to do with their time. A lot of respected authors do not accept stigmata as a real concept. The American Heritage Dictionary does not appear to believe in stigmata; in fact they make it sound like a schizophrenic idea. The dictionary defines stigmata as, "Marks or sores corresponding to and resembling the crucifixion wounds of Jesus, sometimes occurring during religious ecstasy or hysteria." Interestingly, the American Heritage Dictionary defines hysteria as, "1. A neurosis characterized by traumatic symptoms, a calm mental attitude, and episodes of hallautionations, somnambulism, amnesia, and other mental aberrations. 2. Excessive or uncontrollable emotions, such as fear or panic. They make it sound like a mental illness. This definition of hysteria appears to contradict the definition of stigmata. Stigmatics have been known to show up around times of war. High religious officials of the Catholic Church say that the reason they appear around a time of war is because a stigmata is suppose to serve as a "forceful reminder of the seriousness of sin." Padre Pio was alive during W.W.I., W.W.II. , The Korean War, and the Vietnam Conflict. During those times of war his wounds bled profusely. Some critics of stigmata ask why the stigmatics do not come forward to get fame and recognition? St. Catherine was a stigmatic who prayed daily to have the wounds close up or shrink because of all the attention it was calling to her. St. Catherine said, "genuine mystics do not like t
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1339
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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