Stigmata
The first and most famous of the hysterics to experience
the stigmata was St. Francis of Assisi in the year 1224. Once provided with an example of
stigmatisation, the minds of later religious mystics and hysterics fastened on the phenomena
with great enthusiasm. From 1224 until today stigmatisation has made sporadic appearances
amongst the ultra-devout and has been aclaimed a miracle by those who claimed to have
experienced it and by most of those who heard of the event.
Over 340 cases of stigma have been recorded after the time of St. Francis, the great majority
are women.
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