Almost) Everything about stigmata

Stigmata, or wounds corresponding to those of the crucified Christ, have fascinated both believers and scholars for centuries. This phenomenon, observed in some saints and mystics, still lacks a definitive explanation. The first known stigmatic was St. Francis of Assisi, who experienced this unusual phenomenon in 1224. Hundreds of cases of stigmatization have been recorded over the centuries, largely among women. This article explores the history of stigmata, their significance, and the variety of cases that have occurred over the centuries.Stigmata are a phenomenon observed in some Christian saints and mystics, for which no satisfactory explanation has yet been offered. It consists of the appearance on the bodies of living persons of wounds or lesions corresponding to the wounds of the crucified Christ. The first and most famous example of this type of stigmata is Saint Francis of Assisi." (Encyclopedia Britannica)