CASES OF STIGMATA - Fact or Fiction?

I have a question that has been nagging me for quite some time now concerning people throughout history bearing the stigmatic wounds of Christ. I am a firm believer that the Shroud of Turin is indeed the burial cloth of Jesus Christ, and based upon that belief, I pose the following observations for discussion and feedback.

Concerning the location of the five wounds as shown on the Shroud of Turin, with regard to the placement of the nails (through the carpal bones in each wrist at what is anatomically known as "the open mesocarpal space of Destot"), why is it that so many alleged stigmatists have "wounds" located in the center of their palms? In the case of Padre Pio, why were his wounds in the center of his palms? Were they possibly self inflicted as many sceptics have expressed throughout the years? If not, then why would they be located in the palms and not through the wrists as depicted on the Shroud? An observer would think that for someone to have the wounds of Christ, they would be exactly located on their body as they were inflicted on Christ's body. Also, I remember reading a book entitled "Padre Pio - The Stigmatist" by Fr. Charles Carty (available through TAN Books) in which a medical doctor who was to perform an operation on Padre Pio (for a medical condition which I fail to remember ... it may have been a case of hernia), the doctor placed Padre Pio under local anesthetic much to the protest of Padre Pio who wanted to undergo the operation without it. Apparently while unconscious, the doctor studied Padre Pio's wounds in his hands, feet, and side. The doctor found that Padre Pio's side wound was located on the LEFT SIDE of the chest in between the ribs below the heart in the form of an inverted cross about the size of a standard crucifix as found on a typical Rosary. As is depicted on the Shroud of Turin, the side wound of Christ is shown on the RIGHT SIDE of His chest from where the lance pierced His side. Why would Padre Pio's wound be in the form of an inverted cross and located on the left side of his chest according to the doctor's observation?

In trying to analyze this myself and determine possible scenarios and conclusions, it would seem that if Padre Pio were right handed, it would be plausible for him to either scratch with a sharp instument or heat up a small metal crucifix (perhaps on the end a Rosary) either over an open flame or dipped in some form of caustic solution with his right hand and then place it there on his left side to create a wound (as in the case of branding). The wound then could be continually reopened or reinflicted as needed with an easily obtainable source (i.e. the metal crucifix heated over an open flame such as a candle). Why then would he have this wound on his left side in the shape of an inverted cross? One of the ideas that has crossed my mind is that it would almost serve as a constant reminder to him of the cross on which Christ was crucified whereby that in looking down upon it daily from his vantage point (by nodding his head downward), it would appear as a normal depiction of an upright Roman crucifix, but to others (who were not meant to see it) it would appear inverted from the standpoint if you viewed Padre Pio chest while directly in front of him. A puzzling question indeed and as I mentioned at the beginning of this post, one that has bothered me for some time. Please do not feel that I am trying to tarnish Padre Pio's image in any way, it is just that I am trying to discern some type of plausible explination about the cause for his stigmata. Granted, this very much may be a case of Divine Intervention in which God chose Padre Pio in which to call the faithful to ponder the wounds of Christ and His Passion, but I don't understand why He would allow the wounds to be inaccurately depicted on someone with regard to comparing them to the wounds shown on the Shroud of Turin. That is to say that I am using the Shroud of Turin as a touchstone for all other possible cases of stigmatic wounds. On a side note here, I firmly believe that the wounds of St. Francis of Assisi were indeed genuine based upon, to my knowledge (in which I may be inaccurate here), no one up until the time of St. Francis had been blessed with the Stigmata other than Jesus Christ Himself. Please correct me if I am indeed wrong.

Also, what is one to make of the so-called stigmatic priest from Croatia by the name of Fr. Zlatko Sudac (pronounced "sue-dots")? It has been alleged in some circles (mainly those in favor of the apparitions in Medjugorje), that Fr. Sudac bears all five wounds of Christ in addition to a small blood-red crucifix "wound" located just above the middle of his eyebrows in the center of his forehead. Needless to say, this wound has never been heard of or seen in cases of alleged stigmata. In the few pictures that I have seen of Fr. Sudac's forehead wound, I have noticed that the length of the vertical line of the crucifix has in some depictions (most notably at the very bottom of the vertical portion of the crucifix located just about a quarter of an inch above his eyebrows), varied ever so slightly in that sometimes it is longer and at other times it is shorter. I have never heard of a wound that could modify itself in length or form unless it either were self-inflicted or manipulated into not healing correctly. With regard to Fr. Sudac's alleged hand wounds, it is said that his wounds are located in the wrist area. However, in all pictures that I have seen of him, no indication of any wound or mark is located on the wrist or hand area. Once again, is this a possible deception, and if so, what are we indeed looking at with regard to Fr. Sudac's motives? Thanks for your time everyone and I look forward to your feedback. Sincerely, Front 242

Sometimes the answers to our questions, are simple, and we don't need to look so hard. Why wouldnt Jesus appear to someone of "colour" not as "white" but as one of colour? Or maybe to someone who is Oriental, as Oriental etc.. Wouldn't it make more sense that God or his Angels etc.. appear as someone that would be of our culture or way to make us feel more comfortable? He may even speak to each of us in our own language? I had a miracle where Marie Rose Ferron, the stigmatist of Woonsocket, RI. came & spoke to me, I didn't even know who she was, but long story short, when I finally told someone, they asked me with much criticism & disbelief in their tone of voice, "did she speak to me in french or English?" I spoke the truth that she spoke in English and this person chalked me off as "lying" because Rose was french from Canada! That made sense to this person. Odd thing tho, how this person based believing my story on something as simple as whether Rose spoke to me in English or French as my thought later became, why would she speak to me in French, as I would have never ever understood her, I dont know French! She would have never got my attention that way! The same goes, I think, for stigmatists and their wounds.. Someone once told me God won't give you more than you can handle.. And noone ever can see God for his light is too powerful for anyone normal human being to bear. Well so arent his precious wounds! He was beaten far worst than any "criminal" had been in those days as an example. Remember, Pilate originally just wanted him beaten badly hoping that would appease the people to avoid putting him on the cross, because he didnt want to make a decision. His wife had haunting dreams & warned him not to put this man on the cross! So, He was beaten nearly to death with skin & tissue torn to bone! He was mocked so horribly and tortured so cruelly that no normal man would have been able to bear such treatment! You would have died of shock, horror and pain! I believe the reason why God allows stigmatism to happen on the people he did in the areas he did (as many have it just slightly different) is because of how God wants to "touch" the people that do view or experience it. We most certainly couldnt bear the full weight of his cross or his beatings for we can never be Jesus! You could also ask why some stigmatists, only get little "red, Puffy" spots where his wounds were and they only bleed slightly and why others like Therese Neumann suffered it so badly, profusely, and profound! She even bled through her eyes, yet I dont remember hearing a story of our Lord bleeding through his eyes and her pictures look so unbelievable. But just because I didnt hear or read of such a story, doesn't make it not true. Jesus was punched in the face, they shoved cruelly the thorns on his head so did it puncture his eyes, did his blood vessels break from the beatings etc.? I think our father has his stigmatics with different styled wounds for his own good reasons. Maybe his faithful servent has a weak left lung or right lung so he has the wound slightly different, it doesnt change Gods message or calling does it? Maybe God puts the wounds in the hands because so many pictures potrayed Jesus as having it in his hands, so to reach many of his children whom dont know him, he puts it where they can relate to it.. God knows his reasons, but his message & calling will always be the same! It's trully sad there are fakes out there who'd go at lengths for attention even betraying our trust when it comes to religion & God, but we must keep in mind what God said, "You will know me by my works" and you will also know I "false" prophet or person by this... God reveals the fakes in time.. It's the whole picture you must view of the person you are asking about, not just a small part. Padre Pio never waivered from his goodness & holiness or from the messages of God, that's how you know he was a real stigmatic & Saint! He always pointed to God and not himself! Those wounds, were as God intended, for his greater purpose to reach as many as he could. Some people wouldn't be able to handle viewing Therese Neuman as it may be too scary! Those people needed Padre Pios type of wounds to bring them closer to Jesus. God knows what we can handle, and what attracts whom, and I just believe he does accordingly. May God Bless you and all who read this.

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