A comprehensive study of sacred stigmata augmented with the teachings of the Magisterium, scientific discussion, and biographical stories of authentic stigmatists. -- Dust jacket.

From a bestselling Catholic author! A handbook of brief profiles of famous victim souls known as stigmatists from the past few centuries: stigmatics who bore the wounds of Christ internally (invisible stigmata) or externally (visible stigmata). Dozens of profile examples of those modern victim souls who are recognized throughout the world for their lives of sanctity and heroic virtue. Examples include lay people, sisters, brothers, priests, and saints. A recent endorsement: "I have to say that of the many books I have read (having multiple degrees in theology -including my Doctorate from Columbia University) your "They Bore the Wounds of Christ: The Mystery of the Sacred Stigmata..." is one of my all time favorites. In fact not only do I continue to refer to it, but there are certain passages that you explain that could only be attributable to infused divine inspiration. Please continue to write ... Peace, Deacon Mike Vicinanza."

From a bestselling Catholic author! A handbook of brief profiles on the lives of famous stigmatists from the medieval centuries: stigmatics who bore the wounds of Christ internally (invisible stigmata) or externally (visible stigmata). Numerous profile examples of those 12th-17th century victim souls who are recognized throughout the world for their lives of sanctity and heroic virtue. Examples include lay people, sisters, brothers, priests, and saints. Includes a detailed Appendix covering theological discussions concerning Jesus, Mary, and St. Paul as victim souls of the Father's love. A recent endorsement: "I have to say that of the many books I have read (having multiple degrees in theology -including my Doctorate from Columbia University) your "They Bore the Wounds of Christ: The Mystery of the Sacred Stigmata..." is one of my all time favorites. In fact not only do I continue to refer to it, but there are certain passages that you explain that could only be attributable to infused divine inspiration. Please continue to write ... Peace, Deacon Mike Vicinanza."

From a bestselling Catholic author! The mystical way of the interior life as experienced by God's chosen victim souls: atonement, reparation, expiation, and co-redemption. This work on victim souls covers both the interior and exterior wounds of the stigmata. References on mysticism and the mystical life from Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the Church. A recent endorsement: "I have to say that of the many books I have read (having multiple degrees in theology -including my Doctorate from Columbia University) your "They Bore the Wounds of Christ: The Mystery of the Sacred Stigmata..." is one of my all time favorites. In fact not only do I continue to refer to it, but there are certain passages that you explain that could only be attributable to infused divine inspiration. Please continue to write ... Peace, Deacon Mike Vicinanza."

Whether you are an atheist, an agnostic or a true believer and disciple of Jesus Christ, you will be mystified at what you learn from The Stigmata. The Stigmata examines such other worldly phenomena, one could liken it to a spiritual X-files episode. Christ’s death and resurrection was not the end, but the beginning for us all. Jesus’ agonizing suffering, sacrifice and surrender of his own life opened the gates of heaven to all those willing to follow Him. The stigmatics serve as an earthly human reminder of the Divine Jesus’ obedient, holy and sacrificial offering to us. The Stigmata is a compilation of some 657 individuals from the 13th to the 21st centuries who have incomprehensibly borne the wounds suffered by Christ. The Stigmata discusses many of the stigmatics in biographical detail. Some stigmatics are recognized saints, such as St. Padre Pio and St. Therese Neumann. Sainted or not, all stigmatics suffer in some way like Christ, bearing evidence of nail piercings to the hands and feet, the crown of thorns and sword laceration near the heart. Have there been fraudulent stigmatics? Yes, and The Stigmata discusses the fakes, separating them like wheat from chaff. Aside from the painful and bloody wounds these individuals suffer, many stigmatics exhibit other miraculous mysteries, from levitation and bi-location to reading of souls and other human impossibilities. The pain the stigmatics have endured is real, the phenomena they’ve experienced is mystical and their complete impact on the world is known only to God.

Chronicles the life of the priest and saint Padre Pio, particularly the Vatican's investigation of his stigmata in 1921 through documents recently released by the Catholic Church.

The stigmata is the supernatural recreation of the wounds of Christ in Christians. The German spiritual writer Joseph Görres wrote this fantastic book on the subject which is simultaneously a history of the stigmata, a highly developed theory on how the stigmata comes about, and an eyewitness account of the author who saw for himself mystics who had the stigmata. This is a compelling and fascinating explanation of this famous hallmark of Christian mysticism.