Stigmata

Greek: Plural, Stigma singular. Στίγμα - meaning to brand, mark or tattoo, used for identification of livestock or slaves. Individuals bearing stigmata are known as a “stigmatic” or a “Stigmatist”.

The Stigmata is an often overlooked phenomena in the paranormal world, that focuses so heavily on ghosts and UFO's, we at Eidolon Paranormal like to do things a little differently than other teams, and research a vast array of different topics, and keep away from recycling the same old stories we so often see on paranormal forums, in what seems to be an endless cycle of trying to “top” another teams work.
Really though, how many times do paranormal fans out there want to read about Amityville (for example), with a slight variation of events, it'd be like watching the same episode of Ghost Adventures in a highlight real again and again with a slight variation to Zak's hair in each episode – you wouldn't want to watch it, we wouldn't want to present it.

So, as we have done before with our look into “Hex house” (http://eidolonparanormal.blogspot.com.au/2012_11_01_archive.html) and Pennsylvania Dutch Hex Signs, we are going to delve into The Stigmata and some short biographies on people who were blessed, or suffered from it, (as the case may be). As per usual with all our topics we present, we will provide links and direction for you to research the subject yourself (if you choose) – there is nothing better than making discoveries on your own, and we would like to encourage you to do so, rather than accepting what we put out as gospel.

So What is the Stigmata?

The Stigmata is used a term used to describe marks upon someone’s body, sores, wounds or pains that correspond with the crucifixion wounds suffered by Jesus Christ, the wounds appear on the feet and hands, a wound on the side, and sometimes many small wounds, or severe pain around ones head usually in conjunction with many marks across ones side and back. (an often overlooked aspect of the Stigmata that is associated with the “scourging” of Jesus with cat-o-nine tail type whips)

The main wounds are where the nails were driven into Jesus' feet and hands. Where the crown of thorns placed upon his head, and where Roman soldier, Longinus drove a spear into Jesus' side.
Many blessed Saints have become famous for the stigmata appearing upon their bodies, St. Francis of Assisi and Saint Padre Pio, being amongst them, but everyday, ordinary people have also borne the wounds of Christ and, as you are going to see with the coming Stigmata posts, it is not only men who the wounds appear on, women have also had stigmata.

Is it real?

This is truly a fascinating subject that needs exploring further. There are so many unanswered questions. Why do the wounds not get infected?
Why do some wounds smell like roses?
Is it a psychological physical manifestation and not Holy and of God?
Why are some Stigmata wounds in the wrist and not the hand?

Hopefully, some of these questions will be answered along the way, others you will find in our summary at the end of this series that will appear on our blog and our website simultaneously, links will also be put on our facebook page to the main story of the day.

© 2013 Allen Tiller
www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

Wednesday, 10 October 2012

Proof of God? - The Incorruptible Body

Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli,
who died in 1651.

An Incorruptible body is a belief that divine intervention preserves some deceased human bodies from decomposition.
Our flesh and blood bodies decay after death, much quicker if not embalmed, but some Christians have a belief that the bodies of very Holy people are spared this indignity and that their corpses are preserved indefinitely. There is long-standing evidence of this belief with the untainted remains of many saints in different countries of the world.

This effect has baffled many scientists, with no clear and rational explanation given as to what causes the effect.

It should be noted that this isn't due to mummification, artificial preservation or other "modern science" human effects upon the body, but is instead thought to be a divine supernatural effect that only occurs with the bodies of Saints and other Holy People.

It appears that most of those affected have died very recently, or indeed appear to be sleeping, even though some of them have been dead for hundreds of years!

There is a belief that these bodies will be resurrected in the End Times spoken in the Bible, to what purpose is unclear.

Many in-corrupt bodies produce a distinctive scent known as the "Odour of Sanctity", which resembles the fragrance of rose blossoms. Some of these bodies also have a miraculous power to heal sick people who touch the preserved flesh.

The smell is also noted to come from the wounds of those suffering the stigmata. This condition and the scent were reported by those that witnessed the Stigmata of Padre Pio.

Is it Divine Intervention, or something else?