www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Why are there no Eastern Catholic/ Orthodox Stigmatists?

no.

It is hidden in my pocket.

Well, one is all right . . .

Alex

I remember when I was younger that my grandparents had befriended a Maronite family and there was a reputed stigmatist at their church. I never knew whether or not this was approved by the local Maronite ecclesiastical authorities in Los �ngeles...

As for the Latin Church, until recently, the only wide-spread devotion to a stigmatist was to St. Francis of Assisi. So much so that there is a feast for his Stigmata on the traditional Roman Calendar.

Alex,
I have associated with a lot of Blue Army members and NEVER did I hear anything about Russia "converting" specifically to Catholic. The request of Our Lady of Fatima has been granted with the fall of atheistic communism and the freedom of the (Orthodox) Church.

I don't think even the "far-out" Father Gruener said that the conversion had to Catholicism. (I must admit that I haven't read any of his writings for years.)

Anyone who clings to the belief that our Heavenly Mother had said that conversion must be to Catholicism is seriously misled by locals and in disagreement with Popes JPII and Benedict. These references to 'conversion' should not be construed by any of the readers on this forum as widespread or acceptable!

Instead we should rejoice and be thankful that God is so Merciful. And yes, now is the time to pray for the conversion of the West!

Fr. Deacon Paul

Alex,

Fasting like you mean it? I wonder what percentage of baptized Orthodox in this world "fast like they mean it"? I'd bet on it being fairly low, like I'm sure it is with Catholics.

And, sorry, I don't think the East has much to teach the West on veneration of Our Lady. I think each has a venerable tradition and the Theotokos is gloriously honored as much in the West, I think, as in the East.

BUT, we are in agreement about the number of Signs of the Cross! We could do with some more of that!

Alexis

I remember that some of the Greek girls in college would look at Lent as a time to "diet and lose weight" before going back home to Greece for the summer and you saw them eat nothing but salads and steamed veggies in the cafeterias. LOL. Not exactly the spirit of the law, buy at least they had a Lenten practice as opposed to many Catholics I knew.


BTW, Alexis, you could always adopted the practice of bowing your head at the Holy Names of Jesus & Mary (and the Saint of the day, and the Holy Father) during the Mass. As well, there are all those additional Signs of the Cross and strikings of the breast at the Traditional Latin Mass. I usually import these when I attend a Novus Ordo Mass...

Byzantophile,

I indeed already do bow my head at the Holy Name. I do only strike my breast once, though, while at a Novus Ordo since that is all that is prescribed.

Alexis

There are actually three places where you could do so if private devotion strikes you so:

1.) Thrice at the modern Confiteor at the beginning of Mass if it is said (I think the option is to eliminate it if the Kyrie eleison is said, no?).

2.) Thrice at the the Agnus Dei.

3.) Once at the Domine non sum dignus said by the congregation.

In Philadelphia you will see many older folk (and sometimes, though rarely, a whole parish) do these, which is what inspired me to do so.

Resurrecting this thread.. but I just found this - An authenticated Malankara Orthodox stigmatist, MOTHER SUSAN KURUVILLA [youtube.com].

More on Mother Susan, along with the Mar Gregorios Ashram and photographs can be seen here [margregoriosashram.org].

Dear Alexis,

One of the most significant Eastern Catholic stigmatics of our time is Myrna Nazzour of Damascus, a married Melkite laywoman. Her stigmata includes the wounds of Christ in her hands and feet, and the wounds of Our Lord's crown of thorns. The wounds in her hands gush healing oil.

Myrna's stigmata is not constant, but occurs only during the Holy and Great Week whenever Catholic and Orthodox Pascha coincide. Hence her stigmata occurred last year, disappearing on the Day of Resurrection.

Here is a website with detailed information:

http://www.soufanieh.com/menuenglish.htm

Please keep praying the Rosary, which Our Lady has asked also through Myrna for Orthodox-Catholic unity.

Gabriel

Those who think that the Christian East has no tradition of a Stigmatic would do well to read the Synaxarion for the Second Sunday of Great Lent. I promise you a surprise!

Fr. Serge

For the benefit of all of us, please Father tell us where we can find and read the Synaxarion for the Second Sunday of Great Lent.

Thanks.

Respectfully in Christ,
Elizabeth

Try this Elizabeth Maria


linky [orthodox.net]

hope this is what Fr Serge meant

Wow! Simply fascinating!

Peace and God bless!