[Antoninus]

When Catholics pray, particularly Catholic mystics, they often focus intently on the five wounds of Christ. The stigmata are the result of profound empathy for the sufferings of Christ. If Padre Pio felt empathy for being nailed to the cross by the palms -- believing Christ was crucified in this manner -- it makes sense to me that the stigmata would appear there.

Someone once suggested to Padre Pio that perhaps he willed himself the wounds because he always stared at a crucifix. In response, the Saint replied, "Tell your friend to go stare at a cow and see if he grows horns on his head."

[dangus]

>>When Catholics pray, particularly Catholic mystics, they often focus intently on the five wounds of Christ. The stigmata are the result of profound empathy for the sufferings of Christ. If Padre Pio felt empathy for being nailed to the cross by the palms -- believing Christ was crucified in this manner -- it makes sense to me that the stigmata would appear there.

>Someone once suggested to Padre Pio that perhaps he willed himself the wounds because he always stared at a crucifix. In response, the Saint replied, "Tell your friend to go stare at a cow and see if he grows horns on his head."

That person was asserting that Padre Pio was the source of the wounds. I did not intend to assert that, but that he received the wounds from Christ, as a gift given to him so that he may be closer to Christ - a desire I termed "empathy." But my understanding of the stigmata is quite basic. If you would like to elaborate on something, please do.