Expert: Griff Ruby - 2/7/2008

Question
Dear Griff,

              I have been very spiritual all my life. I will be 22 next month a day after Easter. I have been curious lately. Every Holy Day of Obalation or Lenten season even Easter season. Others only have the sufferings, without any outward marks, and these phenomena are called invisible stigmata. I feel like I have this why do I say so well, "Stigmata" is a Catholic phenomenon, used to describe the appearance of the wounds of Christ on a pious saint or Christian believer. And I feel like I am called to be a pious saint!

The first recorded incident of stigmata occurred with St. Francis of Assisi in 1224 he was the founder of the Franciscan order there are the first second and third order, a devout Catholic. Stigmata are the wounds of Christ Jesus that occur in very devout Catholics and I am a very very devout catholic!"Stigmata" is a Catholic phenomenon, used to describe the appearance of the wounds of Christ on a pious saint or Christian believer. It has been long debated by many who believe stigmata is instead a psychosomatic effect brought on by intense prayer. Stigmatics themselves are the main source of mystery for thousands of Christian believers.

Are they really being punctured by the forces of God? Or are the wounds self-inflicted by those who harbor intense belief?

A lot people as this question and my answer is I believe so because I didnt ask for it God chosen me to be a tool an instrument of heaven!

Stigmata can exists in two forms, visible and invisible. Invisible wounds are those covered by the forces of God for the inner comfort of the sufferer and that is what I feel I have.

The second is:Visible wounds appear on the side, palms, feet and head, and often appear and disappear in the space of a few hours.

They can appear in one area alone, or all areas at once. Often, intense bleeding accompanies them, and the period before they appear is characterized by depression and weakness. Some stigmatics report feeling whips across their backs. I feel all this and I feel like God put this on me for a reason why?

The first recorded case of these wounds was in the year 1222, by a man named Stephen Langton of England. St. Francis of Assissi, a famous follower of Jesus, experienced wounds in 1224. The wounds can be experienced by both men and women. One of the more famous female stigmatics was St. Catherine of Siena, who experienced invisible wounds on her hands and feet.

An interesting fact about stigmata is that it corresponds with the Passion and Death of Christ. Many wounds appear during the Last Supper, and the holy days of Easter. They disappear on Easter itself. Stigmatics reportedly speak to visions of Christ and angels during their trials, and smell strange scents.

There are even reported cases of the blood types not matching between stigmata and wounds.

This is what I experience daily but it comes and goes mostly I feel this at the hour of divine mercy 3pm and Fridays and Holy days then the worst is Lenten season where

I feel a depression but I feel like a sorrow for souls and I tend to smell like if I am smelling a strange scent when that happens!Stigmata has been reported everywhere from America to Italy. There are cases in France, Spain, England, and Germany. The count of these victims has stopped at 345. It is believed that there are many more, however. Among this count are some of the most famous saints, such as St. Frances of Rome of Assisi, St. Gertrude, St. Collette, St. John of God, and St. Marie of the Incarnation. They span many religious orders, including Dominican priests, Augustinian monks and the Poor Clare nuns.

I feel like I am being drawn to become a Dominican Nun. The charism of a religious congregation can be understood as a lens through which the unique contribution of the group to the work of the Church can be seen. Different orders have different charisms.

The Dominican charism is to go forth and preach. St. Dominic envisioned itinerant “friars in the marketplace” rather than in the monastery. It was a unique concept in his time.

Today the Dominican Sisters are in the “marketplace” preaching through a wide array of ministries unique to the gifts of the individual sisters who choose them. They continue to transition into different ministries throughout their life seeking new ways to best serve God’s people. Many continue to serve well past traditional retirement age.

There work life invovles the following below:
Types of Ministerial Service
Art
Bereavement Ministry
Campus Ministry
Communications
Cosmetology
Ecology
Health Care Administration/Management
History/Archives
Hospital Chaplaincy
Massage Therapy
Ministry of Welcome
Missions
Music Education
Nursing
Office Administration
Pastoral Ministry
Podiatry
Prayer Ministry
RCIA
Religious Education
Rural Ministry
School Administration
Social Services
Speech Therapy
Spiritual Direction/Retreats
Teaching
Team ministry
Tutoring

Ministry Locations (Dioceses)
Baltimore, MD

Las Cruces, NM

Boston, MA

New Orleans, LA

Brooklyn, NY

New York, NY

Newark, NJ

Chimbote (Peru)

Ogdenburg, NY

Cincinnati, OH

Pittsburgh, PA

Columbus, OH

Richmond, VA

Denver, CO

Rome (Vicariate)

Detroit, MI

San Pedro Sula (Honduras)

Dodge City, KS

Santa Fe, NM

Ft. Wayne/S. Bend, IN


Seattle, WA

Gary, IN

St. Petersburg, FL

Green Bay, WI

Steubenville, OH

Greensburg, PA

Washington, DC

Hartford, CT

Wheeling/Charleston, WV

Dominican sisters the religious order value working closely together with other Dominicans to further our common mission. We are currently collaborating in:

• An Alliance: Twelve congregations of Dominican itinerant women committed to collaboration, who link their energy, resources and personnel to preach the Gospel.

• A Cluster: Seven Dominican congregations working together on a process of reconfiguration for the sake of Dominican life and mission.

• Dominican Sisters International (DSI): A global network of Dominican sisters emphasizing the development of mutual relationships. DSI provides a way for Dominican Sisters to speak with each other across continental lines.

• A Federation: …women of the Holy Preaching who proclaim the truth in love; companions on the journey for the healing of the world.

Committed to proclaiming the Gospel in the 21st century.
Risk takers who respond creatively to the needs of God’s people.
Joyful preachers of God’s grace.
Eager for the fulfillment of God’s reign of truth and life, holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace.
Committed to maintaining relationships with others, especially with our extended Dominican Family members.

I feel called to this life to Domincian sisters of Mary mother of the holy Eucharist!As a Christian, I am called to be attentive to the Word and to embody that Word in my life as a proclamation of it to all those with whom I live and work.

words from a sister below:
All the Baptized are called to follow and live the Good News as taught by Jesus. Dominicans are called to live that Good News in a uniquely Dominican way – as the Holy Preaching. Everything we do, think or say must be oriented to that preaching.... As we preach, we ask for God’s voice to be ours as we proclaim the Good News in the world, for our lives to be Jesus’ life as we live compassionately and justly and for our presence to be that of the Spirit to all we encounter.

– Sr. Barbara Kane, OP
So am I a true stigimatic? Please reply back I am not writting this to get attention and fame I am an honest to God sincere young lady whom is a great believer on Christ! So please I just wanted you to know I dont fake things like this. And I am not a hypocrite! :-)











One of the more interesting theories to explain this phenomenon is the idea of "theological placebo effects." According to this line of thought, stigmatics are so emotionally and physically tied to their belief that they experience a state of mind similar to raptures. It is a fact that the immune system can be controlled by the waking mind, and in some cases, a heartbeat can be consciously slowed. It is this belief that leads some to think that the wounds of the stigmata are personally, albeit unconsciously, produced.


Stigmatics still exist today. There were a reported 20 in the nineteenth century, and their numbers are diminishing. One of the most famous current stigmata is Georgio Bongiavani, who has stigmata on his hands and forehead. His religious wounds cannot be explained by any sources, and according to several news reports they appear and disappear at will.  

Answer
Mystical experiences are to be discussed with your confessor (priest to whom you most regularly confess).  If there is anything significant here he will know what to do with it.
Would that someone of your boundless energy could commit to a careful and serious advancing of the cause of Christ instead of bouncing off the walls in all directions...  You have the capacity to achieve much, but without submitting your efforts to a wise and careful spiritual director in order to focus them on something specific and constructive you are liable to meet your Maker having squandered the talents He gave you.