Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-09-22
ssSrIGMATA."
st. Cecilia's Parish, Louisville Excited
Over q Reported Case.

LOUISVILLE, September 2l.-In this
age OF enlightenment it will be matter
of astonishment to the citizens Of Lou
IsvIle to learn that, in the opinion OF
number of people, miracle is taking
place here.
A young woman has been found who
for five months, it is claimed, has been
"blessed with the stigmata," or who
wears the marks of the five wounds suf-
fered by Christ during His Passion.
Her name is Mary Stuckenburg, a
convert to the Catholic faith. Many OF
the priests Of the city have been aware
for months Of the alleged manifesta-
tions, but the secret has been guarded
with the utmost care and every effort
has been made TO keep the sensational
stories out of the papers.
On every Friday without intermission
since May IL Is alleged that the woman
has fallen into a trance, while from a
small spot in the palm OF each OF her
hands, from other spots on the instep or
her feet and from spot on her left SIDE,
the exact location of the wounds made on
the body of Christ when crucifed, drops
OF blood ooze from the unbroken skin.
The young woman, as well as her fam
fly and most of the few Catholics who
have been let into the secret, believe
firmly that she has been marked with
the stigmata, as was ST. Francis OF AS
sissi and the celebrated Louise Mary
Lateau, the Belgian peasant girl who
created sensation the Catholic world
over and baflled the scientists Of Europe
in 1868.
The young woman who Is already an
object OF wonder to many Catholics In
this city, lives in neat little frame
cottage, at 1854 st. Cecilia street, al
most opposite ST. Cecilla's church. or
her past life but little can be learned,
owing to the remarkable reticence OF
herself and family. 1t was only after
innumerable inquiries and Investigations
that the following facts have been as
certained:
Previous to her marriage she had not
been a member OF any church. when
she espoused Henry Stuckenburg, she
attended services with him several
times at ST. Bonaiacius' church, on
East Green street, and finally became a
convert to the Catholic faith. Sac has
been married for about two years and
has been Catholic since May, 1890.
She was OF a gay and hopeful dispo-
sition and her conversion made no
change in her manner. She wes the
same happy, lIght-hearted person, and
her affection for her husband seemed
doubled on her advent into the Catholic
faith. Her husband, OF course, reJolced
that she was won over TO his faith, and
gave here every opportunity TO go to
church, which she gladly availed her
self Of. attending mass almost daily.
Her home is in ST. Cecilia's parish, Out
it was Father Ratio, of ST. Charles Bor-
romeo's parish, she chose for her spirit
ual director. She became more and more
earnest in her religious deyotions, until,
It is said, the manifestations took
place. One Friday afternoon she was
seized with trance, during which there
appeared upon her hands, insteps aud
over the heart marks corresponding to
the wounds the Savior suffered during
his crucifxion. From these marks, al
though the skin was unbroken, IL was
alleged that blood oozed during the
trance. Every Friday since then, 1t is
claimed, these frances have been re-
peated, the marks have reappeared and
blood has oozed forth.