You’ve probably read or heard stories about people who have bleeding wounds mysteriously appearing on certain parts of their bodies. The phenomenon is called stigmata and is mostly known to occur in the Roman Catholic culture.  

It is said that the wounds correspond to those suffered by Jesus. There is the forehead wound because of the crown of thorns placed on Jesus; wounds on the hands and feet because of the cross’s nails; and wounds across the back because of Jesus’ flogging. The belief is that in this way, the stigmatic victim honors Jesus because the pain suffered is to help pay the penalty for others’ wrongdoing.

It is God Himself, so the belief goes, who is supernaturally inflicting the wounds. But why would God do that—and especially for the purpose expressed? If humans continue to be needed to pay for our sins, then that renders God as a liar. For in His Word, it is said that Jesus died once for all (Hebrews 10:10).

So what gives, since we know that God doesn’t lie? Satan gives! In a few cases, science has identified stigmatic sources as a normal medical issue, but most occurrences can’t be naturally explained. That’s because it’s Satan inflicting the wounds through supernatural, deceptive signs and wonders; the goal of which is to destroy the belief that Jesus, alone, is enough to save us. With these manifestations, Satan gets to reinforce and perpetuate, worldwide, the Catholic mindset that salvation is earned through self-works.