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To: steve-b
It is clearly out of the question to accept an extraordinary claim (e.g. levitation) on the basis of what is at best ordinary evidence (e.g. a few people's say-so).

This saint's levitation was witnessed by hundreds of people and a pope.

He was observed to levitate on seventy separate occassions.

The Church didn't promote his gifts. In fact, the Church treated him somewhat harshly:

Unfortunately, there were some among his brethren, who did not believe in these "impossible and incredible" things. Besides, Joseph was not the kind of person to whom such things would happen... rather, he was generally a trouble in the community. Therefore he was an impostor! He was reported to the Vicar General, who believed what was said, Joseph was called to stand his trial before the inquisitors of Naples. In October 1638, he left the convent "La Grottella" and moved to Naples, to the Franciscan Conventual monastery of "San Lorenzo Maggiore". It was rumoured that a saint was living there and a huge crowd of Neapolitans gathered around the monastery. Joseph was afraid to enter the Tribunal of Inquisition, but St.Anthony of Padua appeared to him and encouraged him. He was interrogated, and he also went into ecstacy, remaining suspended in the air.

The inquisitors were unable to convict him of anything, so they sent him for further examination to the General Minister of the Order in Rome. He saw Joseph's humility, began to doubt whether all was true that was said against him, and took him to see the Holy Father. In the end, nothing could be proved against Joseph, but the Tribunal of Inquisition decided to keep him in safe custody. He was was sent from one lonely convent to another, and treated with the strictest rigor.


863 posted on 06/09/2004 5:12:48 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: Aquinasfan

Interesting that parlor tricks like levitation get less common as people get better educated about how they are done. The author of Sherlock Holmes believed in garden fairies on the basis of som double exposed photographs. William James, a scientist of sorts, believed in fortune tellers. Both intelligent people, but it makes no difference. They were fooled.


865 posted on 06/09/2004 5:18:10 AM PDT by js1138 (In a minute there is time, for decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse. J Forbes Kerry)
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To: Aquinasfan
Unfortunately, there were some among his brethren, who did not believe in these "impossible and incredible" things.

He supposedly levitated dozens of times, and yet some of the people who knew him best didn't believe it? Not very convincing, I'm afraid.

866 posted on 06/09/2004 5:19:19 AM PDT by steve-b (Panties & Leashes Would Look Good On Spammers)
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