Beginning with Francis of Assisi (d. 1226), whose manifestation of the wounds of Christ was associated with a vision of a seraph bearing a crucifix, the phenomenon of the stigmata has typically been associated with religious visions. That is, persons who have claimed to manifest Christ's wounds on their bodies have usually received these marks in connection with some visionary experience. For many centuries, such persons, most of whom have been women, have been seen as religious virtuosi blessed with a variety of extraordinary gifts. In addition to their presumably miraculous wounds and visions—of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and various saints—they have been seen as having gifts of healing, prophecy, and the ability to read consciences. And they have been regarded as ‘victim souls’ whose suffering can make reparation for the sins of both living persons and of souls suffering in purgatory. In the centuries when the preaching of purgatory was in vogue, the perception of stigmatics as intercessors with God flourished, as public attention was directed especially to their suffering and alleged ability to intercede on behalf of sinners, and this perception of stigmatics has persisted up to the present time. In more recent centuries, however, increasing attention has been given to their reputed gifts of prophecy.