On September 17, 2024, the Franciscan Sisters of Oberzell and the friars of Würzburg held a study day on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata.
In 1224, at some time around the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, St. Francis spent several weeks in prayer and contemplation on Mount La Verna in Tuscany. It was during this period of profound closeness to God that he received the stigmata.
Friar Andreas MURK, the Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Elizabeth in Germany, was pleased to welcome a surprisingly large number of interested listeners to the first conference held at the friary in Würzburg. Those attending included the Most Reverend Franz JUNG, Bishop of Würzburg, Germany, and the Most Reverend Ulrich BOOM, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Würzburg. Friar Andreas gave a lecture entitled: “Miraculous and Enigmatic,” in which he tried to provide an overview of the phenomenon of the stigmata. He examined the Franciscan sources, which, according to Friar Anton ROTZETTER, OFM Cap., are remarkably accurate. However, shortly after Francis’ death, doubts arose as to whether the stigmata were authentic or just an invention. There are several models based on scientific research that explain and interpret the stigmata, allowing modern people to believe in their reality. In the words of the French historian André VAUCHEZ: “The stigmata are the physical sign of an interior shock that has its roots in Francis’s passionate devotion to the cross and his fervent desire to share in the sufferings of Christ himself.” Thus, they become an expression of St. Francis’ intimate relationship with God.
Afterwards, during Evening Prayer, Bishop JUNG gave a spiritual interpretation of the stigmata. He stressed that “they indicate the open wounds of a wounded humanity, even if we like to hide such wounds and do not want to recognize them.” He encouraged us to recognize those wounds and heal them in an act of common solidarity. However, the bishop also pointed out that some wounds persist, stating, “the invitation remains to take refuge in His wounds, just as St. Francis took refuge in the wounds of the Lord in order to become completely healed in Christ.” The Evening Prayer service was broadcast live on Radio Horeb and reached over 200,000 listeners.
Next, the friars invited everyone into the cloister for an aperitif. Afterwards, the Superior General of the Franciscan Sisters of Oberzell, Sister Katharina GANZ, gave a lecture on the topic: “Wounded and Vulnerable. Franciscan Impulses for a Weak Theology.” Starting from the premise that the cross of Jesus is, and remains, the unparalleled “seriousness of the incarnation of God,” Francis of Assisi contemplated the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross. His contemplation was so deep that he himself became a marked man. He entrusted his needs and concerns to the cross, knowing they were in good hands within the wounds of the Crucified. At the same time, a reverse reflection occurred within him: receiving the stigmata testifies to his compassion for the stigmatized of his time. Following Christ and the footsteps of St. Francis means recognizing one’s vulnerability and allowing oneself to be wounded.
At the end of the study day, Friar Andreas thanked all the participants and noted with a smile that there will be more Franciscan anniversaries in the coming years, providing opportunities to hold similar events.
Friar Andreas MURK
