Although cases of Christian stigmatization have become rare, general interest in this unusual physical phenomenon endures. Yet, a study of the cases of Madeleine Lebouc and Yvonne-Aimée de Jésus has revealed that their stigmata proceed either from self-mutilation or fraud. However, that’s not the main point. Research into this peculiar form of relationship between a subject and his body proves to be quite rewarding, mainly because the phenomenon is sustained by a mystic relation to Jesus. Based on Freud’s and Lacan’s theories and on clinical elements, the present paper describes the two main functions of stigmata for these subjects, i.e. the processing of uncontrollable jouissance assigned to the body itself and the development of a process of representation that enables the subject to accept it and to deal with it.
Key words:
Christian mysticism; stigmata; simulation; femininity; psychosis; jouissance