In the autumn of 1224, two years before his death, St. Francis of Assisi withdrew to Mount La Verna for a time of prayer and fasting. His retreat was in preparation for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. By then, Francis had already spent years living in poverty and penance, drawing others to a life centered on the Gospel. What occurred on the mountain would mark his body for the rest of his life and become one of the most extraordinary events in the history of Christian sanctity.
A Request to Share in Christ’s Suffering
During his time at La Verna, Francis prayed with intensity. He asked for the grace to participate in the suffering of Christ in his own body, as much as he could endure. He desired to be united with the Passion in a real and personal way, not only through contemplation but through participation.
While praying, he received a vision of a seraph with six wings, bearing the image of the Crucified Christ. When the vision ended, physical wounds appeared on his body: piercings in his hands, feet, and side, mirroring those of the crucifixion. This became the first confirmed instance of the stigmata in Church history.
Witness Accounts and Church Recognition
Francis attempted to keep the wounds hidden, but those close to him began to notice. His companions observed how he moved, the blood that would occasionally appear, and the cloth wrapped around his side. After his death, they gave detailed testimony to what they had seen.
Thomas of Celano, one of Francis’s earliest biographers, described the wounds in these words:
“His wrists and feet seemed to be pierced by nails… Moreover, his right side had a large wound as if it had been pierced with a spear, and it often bled.”
The Church conducted an investigation after his death in 1226 and found the evidence credible. Pope Benedict XI later approved public devotion to the wounds of St. Francis, recognizing the event as authentic.
A Mark Shared by Other Saints
Though rare, the stigmata has also been documented in the lives of other saints. Among them are St. Padre Pio (Capuchin), St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Rita of Cascia. Each case involved physical wounds that could not be explained by natural causes, and each was marked by a deep spiritual life oriented toward union with Christ crucified.
The Stigmata and the Passion of Christ
The stigmata is a visible reminder of the Passion of Jesus Christ. It recalls the wounds that Christ bore out of love for us, and it draws our attention to the reality of His suffering on the cross. St. Francis, in bearing these wounds, points beyond himself to the Crucified Lord.
The story of St. Francis and the stigmata offers an opportunity to reflect more deeply on the Passion of Christ. As we enter into Holy Week, we are invited not only to remember the events of Good Friday, but to consider their meaning for our lives today.
The crucifixion was not an abstract idea. It was real. It left visible wounds. And those wounds, once again made visible in the body of a saint, remind us of the cost of our salvation and His love for us.
