Benedetta Stigmata Analysis

appeared to her with intentions of making her piety visible to the world. The text states, “ He wanted that I suffer for the duration of my life, and therefore that I arrqange myself in the form of the cross because he wanted to imprint his Holy wounds on my body” (Brown 57). According to the text, receiving the stigmata was a miracle with extreme prestige, and it brought much power to Benedetta in her convent. The second significant element in Benedetta’s reign of religious power in her convent was her mystical marriage. According to the text, “The day after Pentecost Jesus appeared to her in a vision and announced that he wanted to marry her in a solemn ceremony” (67). Mystical marriage, along with the stigmata, were extremely significant elements of a “chosen” mystics life, and therefore, placed great skepticism on Benedetta by the …show more content…
Redressive action occurs due to the investigation of Benedetta, and the results which the investigations yield. The first investigation of this mystic greatly revolved around solely her miracles. According to the text, “ The first order of business was to examine the stigmata” (Brown 76). This first investigation ended with no significant results, and Benedetta was allowed to continue her mysticism as well as being reinstates as abbess of her convent. However, between 1622 and 1623, according to the text, the papal nuncio of the area sent officials to once again re-examine the mystic and her claims to divinity. In this investigation, it is discovered that Benedetta, once on a strict diet to display her piety, “Concealed a desire for salami and Cremonese style mortadella,” and she was caught sneaking off and eating where no one would see her (Brown 109). After this came to the attention of the officials, all of Benedetta’s fellow nuns were thoroughly questioned. One nun stated regarding Benedetta’s flaggelations that she once,