The Flying Monk

This question has baffled churchmen and scholars for nearly 300 years: Could St. Joseph of Copertino fly in the air?

The incredible exploits of this 17th century Italian monk were seen and vouched for by nearly 100 witnesses-including a pope. And the written accounts of his flights give absolutely no clue to how they were done. Had he actually discovered the secret of how to over come gravity?

By any standards, St. Joseph was an extraordinary man. From the age of 12 he wore a hairshirt next to his skin and a heavy iron chain drawn tightly around his waist. Frequently he fasted for long periods. As he grew older he became even more serious and strict. By the time he joined the Order of St. Francis in 1625 he was no longer content just to wear an iron chain about his waist. He attached a large metal plate to it, which tore at his body.

Stories began to circulate that he possessed super natural powers. These tales became so widespread that he was ordere to Naples for questioning by the Holy Office. He was examined three times. The fourth time,he begged to be allowed to say Mass in the Inquisition's own church of St Gregory of Armenia. After the ceremony, Josephknelt to pray. A few moment later,startled onlookers were hardly able to believe their eyes.

Rising in the air, Joseph floated over the amazed congregation. Then he flew to the altar and alighted amid the flowers and burning candles.

Nuns who were present called out: "The candles! The candles-he'll catch fire!

But Joseph robes did not catch fire, although the flames from the candles licked them several times. After a few minutes, he rose into the air again and flew back into the body of the church.

The courth of the Inquisition rushed him off to Rome to have an audience with the Pope.

As he entered into the presense of the Pontiff and before a word had been spoken, Joseph drifted up into the air and remained suspended for fully a minute.

 Later, Joseph was sent to a monastery in Assisi. One Christmas Eve, a party of shepherds was invited to his church to play music upon their pipes. They had barely started when Joseph "began to dance and suddenly he gave agreat sigh and flew like an angel onto the High Altar." He remained there for about 20 minutes, again in the midst of flaming candles. Then he flew down again and bless the shepherds.

 On another occasion, Joseph was walking with the priest Antonio Chiarello when he suddenly flew across the garden in which they were walking and came to rest on top of an olive tree. Chiarello was amazed to see that the branch that bore Joseph's weight was hardly as thick as a man's finger.

Not content with "solo flights," Joseph began to take other people wit him. His first "passenger" was the father confessor of the Convent of Santa Chiara in Coper tino. During a festival, Joseph grasped his fellowpriest by the hand and rose up with him into the air.

One of the most extraordinary demontrations of Joseph's strange gift occured when he cama upon ten laborers who had collapsed exhausted upon the ground after hauling a huge cross of solid walnut.

 Joseph asked, "What is the matter, my matter, my children?" The men explained that they were so tired that they found it completely impossible to drag the great cross the last yards to the spot on the crest ofa hill where they had to erect it.

The monk took off his cloak and ordered them to stand aside. "I am here! he cried, rushing towards the cross. Then, as though it weighed only a few pounds, he flew with the cross carrying it right over their heads, and set it down in the hole that had been prepared for it

 Even on his deathbed, on September 17th, 1663, Joseph amazed everyone-including his doctors-by rising from the bed and flying as far as the little chapel of the monastery.

 The story of his ability to fly was vouched for scores of times, by the most eminent and respectable of witnesses. All were satisfied that he used no mechanical tricks. Joseph went to his grave taking his secret with him.