Stigmata are wounds or tattoo-like skin markings that have appeared on certain individuals in the same bodily locations as the wounds inflicted on Jesus at the time of his crucifixion. Some people think that the sudden appearance of these wounds or markings is a supernatural sign of piousness.
This article mentions that ancient people used the word "stigmata" for identification marks branded onto slaves, and also for tattooed images used to show a person's membership in a particular religious cult. The apostle Paul used the same word to refer to some marks on his body, but the exact nature of those marks is unknown.
The first reported case of a spontaneous appearance of stigmata is that of St. Francis. The spontaneity of the phenomenon was regarded as proof that it was a divine sign from God. According to the article, in some modern cases people have said that they entered a trance in which they thought they were nailed on a cross, and then discovered the stigmata on their bodies after they came out of the trance.
The article points out that many people doubt the claims about the supernatural nature of the phenomenon. It also describes various natural causes, including the possibility that the wounds or markings can be faked.
To read the complete article, go to Stigmata - Real or Fake?. It gives several examples of how the markings can be artificially created.
