Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi: What Happened at Mount La Verna?
In 1224, St. Francis of Assisi went to Mount La Verna in Italy for a 40-day fast.
During this time of intense prayer, Francis asked for something very specific: to physically share in the suffering of Christ.
What happened next has been remembered for centuries as the first recorded case of the stigmata.
What Are the Stigmata?
The stigmata are the wounds of Christ’s crucifixion—typically appearing on the hands, feet, and side.
These wounds are not symbolic. In rare cases throughout Church history, they have appeared physically on the bodies of certain saints.
St. Francis of Assisi is the first known person to receive them.
What Happened at Mount La Verna?
While in prayer, Francis saw a vision: a six-winged seraph, radiating the image of the Crucified Christ.
When the vision ended, the wounds remained.
Marks appeared on his hands and feet as if pierced by nails. A wound opened in his side, and it bled regularly.
Francis tried to keep this hidden, but those closest to him witnessed it firsthand.
“His wrists and feet seemed to be pierced by nails… his side had a large wound, and it often bled.”
— Thomas of Celano
Did the Church Investigate the Stigmata of St. Francis?
Yes. After Francis’s death in 1226, the Church examined eyewitness accounts of what had happened. These accounts consistently described physical wounds that matched the crucifixion of Christ. The stigmata were recognized as an authentic and miraculous sign of divine grace. Later, Pope Benedict XI formally approved public devotion to the stigmata of St. Francis.
Other Saints Who Received the Stigmata
St. Francis was not the only one. Other saints throughout history have also received the stigmata, including:
- Padre Pio
- St. Catherine of Siena
- St. Rita of Cascia
Each case is unique, but all point back to the same mystery: a deep union with the suffering of Christ.
Why Did St. Francis Receive the Stigmata?
Francis did not receive the stigmata by accident. He asked for it.
Not out of curiosity, but out of love. He desired to share in Christ’s suffering — not just spiritually, but physically. The stigmata became a visible sign of that desire.
What the Stigmata Still Point To
The stigmata are not about spectacle. They point to something deeper.
They remind us that Christ’s suffering was real. And for the saints, love for Christ was not abstract — it took shape in their lives, their choices, and sometimes even their bodies. St. Francis did not just follow Christ. He asked to become like Him.
