The Flying Friar: St. Joseph of Copertino

Engrossing interview of "Thinking Aloud's" Jeffery Mishlove with Professor Michael Grosso on the levitating monk of the 17th century and his famed life of service despite his embarrassing knack for levitating up into the air when ecstatic. It raises the interesting issue of how real paranormal phenomena may underlie much of the religious narratives of history.

https://youtu.be/jLPdWTQZ4CQ

(Mar 9, 2025 02:29 AM)Magical Realist Wrote: Engrossing interview of "Thinking Aloud's" Jeffery Mishlove with Professor Michael Grosso on the levitating monk of the 17th century and his famed life of service despite his embarrassing knack for levitating up into the air when ecstatic. It raises the interesting issue of how real paranormal phenomena may underlie much of the religious narratives of history.

https://youtu.be/jLPdWTQZ4CQ

Vetted by the tribunal, no less: "As the phenomenon of flying or levitation was widely believed to be connected with witchcraft, Joseph was denounced to the Inquisition. At their command, he was transferred from one Franciscan friary in the region to another for observation, first to Assisi (1639–1653), then briefly to Pietrarubbia and finally Fossombrone, where he lived with the Capuchin friars (1653–1657) and under their supervision."
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Magician Dan White's reaction ... https://youtu.be/ufORgD0s2Mo ... (6-10-2011)
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/ufORgD0s2Mo

Maybe at least glue the bucket to the front of the top drawer, away from the "wall" ... https://youtu.be/vMCF1L5znoE
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/vMCF1L5znoE

Wow! Well I DO buy the first one with the buddhist monk. But that second one is fake as hell! lol!

I read some ridiculous reddit skeptic comments on that Discovery Channel episode. They confidently claim there is a pipe behind him that goes to some lifting contraption behind the curtain. But in fact there is no pipe. The camera clearly shows nothing behind him and when he sat down it was on the bare floor. Nothing has ever come out since 2011 when it aired that this was faked in any way.

Interestingly and quite typical for those with paranormal powers the friar has a serious illness as a child involving a tumor of some sort. But it just sort of vanished. Then later he finds out he has this ability along with the ability to tell the future, read minds, and heal the sick. The connection between trauma and near death experiences with paranormal manifestations is something Kripal talks about.