Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-09-24
Blessed with the stigmata

Mrs. Mary s,GokeGberg, q youpg Sopau
who lives viii her huBband, at LOUISVILLE
XIV, claims TO bs "blessed With the s!ie'
mata." or the marks of the wounds OF the
Saviour.
On every Friday since May last ahe has
fallen Into trance. A spot appears in the
calm OF each OF her bands. the insteps Of
each OF her feet end on her left side. Drops
of blood oozs from the unbroksD skin. The
young woman is davout Catholic, end her
family believe that sbe has been marked az
was ST. Francis of Assissi, and tha celebra-
ted Louise Mary Lateau, che Belgian peasant
girl ie 1868.
The young woman las been Catholic
Hince May, 1890, previous to which time che
belonged to no church. The frat trance
into which she entsred lasted for four hours.
The only warning of the manifestations was
the appearance of the red spots on the
hands, iustep and the left side. The marks
are reported to be similar 10 the wounde,
described So suffered By Christ during His
oruclfxion. The affair has created quite q
sensation among the Catholics, although
Bishop McCloskey cbsrsoteIizes the senss-
tion as tooiishnsss. He has never met Mrs.
Stuckenberg; knows nothing about the
peculiar manifestations, and will make no
Investigation. Fathers Rsffo and Mack!n,
the woman's spiritual directors, refuse to
speak.
Mr. Stuckenberg, her husband, said that
the priests would make thorough and pos.
sibly final investigation next Friday, when
the trance comes 20 his wife. He desired
that the matter be suppressed until then,
when, If the manifestations we're found to be
genuine end the sanction of the church &c.
cured, bis vile might be visited by as many
as desired to come. She would be subject
TO the most rigid examination by scientists
who. he declared, would certainly find 1t
similar case TO that OF Louise Mary Lateau
A large crowd was present lest Friday
during the trance. One OF these, q lady, was
seen by reporter, and TO bis suggestion
that any fraud ought to be exposed, she an
swered quickly:
LET me assure you, cir, there is no fraud.
things have soon be supernatural or not
| there is no imposition being praotioed, snd
| II Father Ratio would permiS it. could tell
you some wonderful thipgs-things that yoU
would not believe Walt until next Friday
and thsp go sad see for youEeeii. Tnss h
| the better way"
| II seems that the Transports are preceded
| By no extraordinary religious exercises or
| her past, but gradual feeling OF weakness
forces her to take to her bed. This Is fol
loved by unoonsciousness to her worldls
surroundings, and then, after seeming to al
:ntents and purposes dead, she face assumes
9 radiant expression, bat intense suffering
can be read 10 every lineament, and finally
the body ls selzad with what appears to the
ordinary person convu sions. The length o.
time varies, and Is followed by q gradual re-
taxation OF the muscles, aud a return to con
| solousness: Yesterday morning she was as
| usual, healthy and strong, and able to be
about her Work as though nothing had hsp
pened.
4 dazsn or more Witnesses we're visited
apd asked about the matter, bat every ore
refused to talk, and while they would ncl
deny the facts when confronted with them
sll refused to sey snyshing that would lead
TO sny furIhsr description.