St Francis receives the Stigmata 1224

The other day I posted about the eighth centenary of the establishment of the Franciscan Order in England. At the same time in Umbria St Francis became the first recorded follower of Christ to receive the Stigmata. That was on this day in 1224. Such a configuration to the Passion emphasised the apparently unique status of St Francis, and the sense of a New Age having dawned with his movement.. Later bearers of the Stigmata were sometimes shown to be fraudulent, but others were deemed to be genuine recipients. Probably the most celebrated recognised Stigmatist of recent years was the Capuchin St Pio of Pietrelcina,  

The New Liturgical Movement has an illustrated article about the history of its liturgical commemoration at The Stigmata of St Francis

May St Francis pray for us all