Bilocation of Saint Joseph Cupertino:

13 September 2019

Saint Joseph Cupertino was an Italian Franciscan priest who was known to be endowed with extra ordinary graces and several mystical gifts. He is most popularly known as the ‘flying saint’ because he would levitate during Holy Mass and during prayer. Several incidents of ecstasies and levitation have been recorded during his lifetime. Today we look into another mystical gift that he possessed -the gift of bilocation.

Bilocation is the phenomenon in which a Servant of God is in one place at a given time, and at the same moment by a mysterious presence, is in another distant place where impartial witnesses hear him speak and see him move in a normal fashion. This cannot be understood by human intellect but many Saints in the Church have been known to possess this extraordinary gift. Numerous instances of bilocation have been well documented and investigated by the Church authorities. It is understood as a mystical gift given by God to help the holy Servant of God to execute his duties in helping his fellow men who are located at two distant places at the same time. Today we look at two such incidents in the life of Saint Joseph Cupertino.

Saint Joseph Cupertino was once asked by an elderly gentleman who was lovingly called by all as ‘Father’ if he could assist him at the hour of his death. Saint Joseph readily agreed and prophetically promised saying “I shall assist you, even though I should be in Rome.” This proved to be true since he was indeed in Rome when the old gentleman became sick. When the last hour of the man’s life approached, those who were tending him saw St. Joseph Cupertino speaking with him! Among the witnesses was Sr. Teresa Fatali of the Third Order, who spoke to the Saint and in amazement asked, “Fr. Joseph, how did you come?” He replied, “I came to assist the soul of ‘Father’” and then suddenly disappeared.

Similarly another incident of bilocation was reported when he was living in Assisi. When his mother was on her death bed and approaching her last hour, she cried out, “Alas, my dear Joseph, I shall not see you again.” To the amazement of all who were in the room, a bright light filled the place and St. Joseph was standing beside his mother who cried out on seeing him “O Father Joseph! O my son!” At that moment while he was assisting her in her last hour, at Assisi, Fr. Custos met St. Joseph who was crying as he entered the Church. When Fr. Custos inquired about his sadness, St. Joseph replied, “My poor mother has just died.” A few days later this was certified when a letter arrived from his home informing about the death of his mother and people from his hometown testifying to the fact that the Saint was at her side at her last hour.