Stigmata: The history and science behind this Christian phenomenon
Until reading Patrick Schmitt’s article on “Stigmata: The history and science behind this Christian phenomena,” I knew just a few stigmatists. Of the little I have read or know of them, I have for years been fascinated by St. Francis of Assisi and St. Padre Pio who departed from this world no so long ago. I believe this phenomenon is but both a metaphysical and a mystical truth.
The first time I heard of stigmata, my heart, emotional, mental and I am sure my soul bodies were all immensely touched. For some reason I identified myself with this “phenomenon.”
As a Muslim little boy, while attending an Islamic function amidst hundreds or thousands of people, I experienced a non-physical strange aroma. I never wanted that it leave me. I tried my best to keep this aroma for as long as I could but could not hold it much long. I have never had that experience again until this day. I know to the best of my knowledge and experience the aroma was no physical perfume whatsoever. My father used to wear perfumes and often he gave them to me to wear too. Egyptian musk was one of his best aromas.
When I was in sixth grade elementary my father took me from the Muslim school to a Christian school for that grade. One day while in class, reading the New Testament with our teacher, we came to that part where Jesus was crucified. At that very point I could not restrain my tears. Only I, a born-Muslim cried upon reading of how Jesus (the Prophet Isa) was arrested and crucified. It was not the first time for me to hear of the fact that Jesus was crucified. I had heard of it on radio every Christmas day of every year since I was about four or five. However, this time was I extremely touched so much that I literary cried. My teacher saw my tears rolling down my cheeks. He knew I was one of three pupils in the classroom who were non-Christians. He admonished the Christians saying, “How come you Christians are not crying at the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus and this Muslim boy is?”
After High School, I got into a relationship with a Catholic lady who I loved so much that I thought I could never separate from her for anything of this world. From her, I learned more about stigmata. It was she who introduced me St. Francis. Years later, I encountered a contemporary Saint who spoke to me about Padre Pio. I bought one of Padre Pio’s biographies. I read it in two days. It was about close to 250 pages or more. I just could not put it down.
St. Francis was a living saint of his
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