Alumnus John Clark ’92 has written a new book, God’s Wounds: The Remarkable Truth of Those Who Bore the Signs of Christ’s Passion. Published by Catholic Answers Press, the book provides “what may be the most thorough, honest, and faithful reckoning with the stigmata ever written,” making it an essential read for Catholics everywhere.
In God’s Wounds, Clark draws on his experience as a Catholic author and his historical and ecclesiastical studies to explore the controversy surrounding the stigmata, a phenomenon often met with skepticism by both non-believers and Christians. He examines historical accounts through the lens of tradition, reason, and science, highlighting figures such as St. Francis of Assisi, St. Padre Pio, and lesser-known stigmatists. Through these stories, Clark encourages a deeper meditation on Christ’s Passion and the miraculous ways God makes Himself known in history.
“The stigmata are a sign of contradiction to today’s unbelieving world,” says Todd Aglialoro, director of publishing for Catholic Answers Press. “Skeptics don’t want to acknowledge even nice, purely spiritual miracles; to them the stigmata are — like the Passion — also absurdly grotesque. That’s why God’s Wounds is so important: it is a clear and unyielding defense not just of the miraculous but also of the inescapable physicality of God’s saving intervention in human history.”
A Catholic newspaper columnist, author, and former political speechwriter, Clark has authored four books, including 2023’s Betrayed Without a Kiss, and written approximately 500 articles and blogs on Catholic family life and apologetics for platforms such as the National Catholic Register and the Magis Center. He also hosted the popular web series Professors on Break, which featured interviews with Christendom faculty.
Clark’s book adds to the growing list of titles written by Christendom alumni, including Know Thyself by Andrew Youngblood ’93 and Witness to Love by Mary-Rose Verret ’04.
He lives in central Florida with his wife, Lisa ’90, and their nine children, including Christendom alumni Athanasius ’18, Demetrius ’20, and Tarcisius ’23.
God’s Wounds is available for purchase through Catholic Answers Press and Amazon.