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Stigmata (plural of stigma) are wounds that were, according to the Bible, inflicted on Jesus Christ during his crucifixion.
There have been over 500 people throughout history believed to be Stigmatics. For no apparent reason, these stigmatists displayed wounds similar to those said to have been suffered by Jesus Christ. The first recorded case of these wounds was in the year 1222, by a man named Stephen Langton of England. Saint Francis of Assisi first suffered the wounds in La Verna, Italy in 1224. Other famous stigmatists include Catherine of Siena, St. John of God, and St. Marie of the Incarnation . The most famous stigmatist of the twentieth century was Padre Pio (1918 -1968). More recently, stigmata was experienced by Brother Roque (died 1998), a novice in the order of Los Hijios de los Hijos de la Madre de Dios in Villavicencio, Colombia, Georgio Bongiavani and Canadian Lilian Bernas who began exhibiting stigmata in 1992.
There have been historical stigmatics that were known to have faked wounds, such as Magdalena de la Cruz (1487-1560), who admitted the fraud. It remains unknown if stigmata actually exist. To accept the exisence of stigmata may simply be a matter of religious faith.
Similar self-inflicted wounds can be associated with certain brain disorders. Some people who fake stigmata suffer from Munchausen Syndrome which is characterised by an intense desire for attention. People with Munchausen hurt themselves or fake an illness hoping to end up in a hospital where they can enjoy attention and care. People also fake stigmata knowing that some who had stigmata were declared holy by the pope. In this way they try to gain a recognition.
Self inflicted stigmata wounds heal naturally, but believers say true stigmata is caused by emotional distress, and must therefore be treated as such.
As a psychological condition, the suffering of a stigmatic may be very real. It has also been theorized that the wounds have a physiological origin, where the mind somehow produces the physical signs of the stigmatic’s religious fervency and fanaticism.
The stigmata theme has been used in several movies, including Agnes of God ( 19851985 is a common year starting on Tuesday. Events January events January 1 Creation of the Internet's Domain Name System. January 17 British Telecom annouces they are going to abolish the famous red telephone boxes. January 23 A debate in the House of Lor), which starred Meg TillyMeg Tilly (born 14 February 1960 in Texada, British Columbia) is a Canadian actress, dancer, and author, notable for her innocent face and youthful voice. She is the sister of Jennifer Tilly. As a teen, Tilly was involved with the Connecticut Ballet Compa and Jane FondaJane Seymour Fonda is an Academy Award winning American actress, model, writer, producer, activist and philanthropist. Biography Born December 21, 1937, in New York City, to actor Henry Fonda and socialite Frances Seymour Brokaw. She was named after Lady and StigmataStigmata is a controversial movie that premiered in 1999. It follows the conflict between Frankie, an atheist New York City hairdresser who exhibits true stigmata (played by Patricia Arquette), and Father Kiernan, an ordained priest who investigates mirac ( 1999For the album by Prince, see 1999 (album 1999 is a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the UN. Events Kosovo War Former child star Gary Coleman files for bankruptcy Y2K prep), which starred Patricia ArquettePatricia Arquette (born April 8, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American film actress. She is the sister of actors Rosanna Arquette, David Arquette, Alexis Arquette and Richmond Arquette. She was married to actor Nicolas Cage from 1995 until 2001. Filmo and Gabriel ByrneGabriel Byrne (born Friday, May 12, 1950) is an actor born in Dublin, Ireland. He was educated by the Christian Brothers in Dublin, Ireland. He married and divorced actress Ellen Barkin. He first visited the United States when he was 37, and he currently.
In an episode of the controversial TV series Nip/Tuck, a plastic surgeon discovers that his client faked stigmata in order to save a dying halfway home .