The Age of Stigmatics

No age seems to be particularly susceptible to the appearance of stigmata. Madeleine Morice (1736-1769), a poor French women's seamstress, received her first stigmata at the age of only eight, while others experienced it later in life, such as Christina Mary of the Cross of Strumbele (1242-1312), who was 69 when she received the stigmata.

There is also no set time period or timeframe for the phenomenon. Some people bore the stigmata continuously, such as Padre Pio, who bore them from 1918 until his death 50 years later, while others experienced the phenomenon only for a certain period.

However, in most cases, stigmata appear periodically. As in the case of Saint Catherine de Ricci, whose wounds appeared on Thursday at noon and disappeared around four o'clock on Friday, for twelve years. For obvious reasons, the most favorable time for the wounds to appear was Easter, particularly Maundy Thursday or Good Friday (the same day on which Jesus Christ was crucified).