Stigmata & St. Francis of Assisi

I was asked a question by a work colleague yesterday, he asked me "who was the first person to receive stigmata?"I replied (via e-mail) that stigmata was not in the bible.He came back and said it was St. Francis of Assisi.I have begun to tell him the gospel but I said I would look into St. Francis of Assisi's claim of stigmata, has anyone got any insights into him or the claims of stigmata?

Hi NasherI see this has had 37 views and no takers! I have had no personal experience of this kind of thing so I waited to see what others might say.Francis of Assisi sounds a good character but this phenomena sounds highly suspect to me. The 'legends' say that his wounds grew iron nails. I cannot believe this, but the way that his name and character have become a place for intercession makes me suspicious of the legends. It is impossible, I think, to separate the nonsense from the occult and even from the true; there is such a mixture of stuff all told with the same credulity.

The only verse that even hints at this is in hebrews where it says that we have not .. "strived with sin unto blood". I am interested to hear from anyone else who has more insight into the history of stigmata and how that idea was started.Hi GregI think some would also look to From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. (Gal 6:17 KJV) for support.

From what I have learnt about Roman Catholocism 'it' seems to always want to partake in the sufferings of Christ as if it 'adds' something to his sacrifice or something.These verses suggest otherwise:For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:19 KJV)By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10 KJV)

Nasher,i've never given much credence to stigmata, but your post made me re-research something that i have found interesting, that being the Catholic prophets of the past, and the more recent Catholic apparition experiences of Fatima (early 1900's) and Garabandal (in 1961) ... To keep your thread pure to it's subject i've posted one similar St. Malachy, Fatima & Garabandal?https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=3921&forum=35 Had you not posted your thread i would not have thought of mine ... Thanks!

Is stigmata a demonic manifestation?Grace,Doug

Hello,I'am pretty familiar with Catholicism. I need to do more research on this one, but i want to quickly give a little info on what i know. One of the doctrines of the catholic church has been and is, for those who dont know. It is taught by the catholic's that you are saved by grace and works. The bible teaches other wise.Ephesians 2:8 " By grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God."Galations 1:8 " As we said before so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received , let him be accursed."Such who preach any other gospel are not in christ, nor of god, they are false teachers, and are decieved. If man could attain salvation by any good work, then christ would not have had to come. But the bible says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of god. The word of god says that none are righteous, that the heart is decietfully wicked who could know it.So finally any catholic, who believe this doctrine, was and is not saved. He would be trusting in his own righteousness to save himself, and not truly repenting, believing in another christ. ( For those who have not read or own, get John Foxes book of Martyers, This will fill you in on alot of the history of the catholic church and those whome were persecuted by the catholics for standing on the word of god)There is many different rituals that one in the catholic faith would have to do in order to be saved. Self hatred was done, as a means of salvation. As a means of trying to pay some of the penalty, it was done out of a wrong outlook on God and that one may find favor or God would look upon you only when this self brutality was done. ( Go to this site if you want a greater understanding of the catholic mindset and doctrines, and such www.biblicalperspectives.com and get the book passion of christ in scripture)To conclude, would it not be so easy for the devil, to inflict such marks on ones body where our Lord was marked, that such a person who believed in this false gospel, would be even more led astray seing a supernatural physical mark on himself. Thinking he can pay the price with Christ. Christ died once for all. He has given us life and it more abundantly, that by his stripes we are healed. The sharing in the sufferings of christ, seem to me to be more, for his names sake, by persecution for righteousness sake. We must be very careful in this areagtg, hope this helped any,blessings

I don't know anything about this stigmata and St. but probably God is the only one who knows all. I just read some of Watchman Nee's writings, and he (Watchmen Nee) said that he too would not listen to the Watchmen Nee that so many were against, meaning the "Watchmen Nee" who was gossipped and slandered and lied about publicly disgraced. We can't believe everything reported, and only God knows the truth. Evil wants the good to be slandered. I myself have been disreputed and slandered by church people and others for the sake of Christ, we should be careful and be glad to know the one knows all, that is God through our Lord Jesus Christ.