Mystical Church - Gift of transportation - Saint Raymond of Penafort:

Saint Raymond of Penafort was a Spanish Dominican friar who lived during the period 1175-1275. He was well educated and earned his doctorates in both civil law and canon law. He joined the Dominican Order and after his ordination laboured for the salvation of souls. Additionally, in 1230 Pope Gregory IX appointed him the chaplain and grand penitentiary. At the request of the Pope, he compiled the canon law which was scattered in several publications till then and his work was published under the title ‘Decretals of Gregory IX’. It remained the standard of canon law till it was replaced by the 1917 Code of Canon Law. He is the patron saint of canon lawyers. He was also abundantly blessed with several mystical gifts of which one of the most famous was the gift of transportation.

Saint Raymond served as confessor to King James I of Aragon. Though the King was a devout Christian, he lived a scandalous life, giving in to his lustful temptations. Saint Raymond knew of this and often advised the King to give up his sinful ways. He was once taken by King James to the island of Majorca to preach and propagate the faith among the people on the island who were mostly Moors. On this noble mission the King brought his concubine too. This irked Saint Raymond who reprimanded the King and asked him to dismiss his concubine. When the King refused to send his concubine away, Saint Raymond asked his permission to leave the island. The King was furious at this and refused him permission to leave. He also declared the death penalty for anyone who would attempt to help the Saint to leave the island. But the King’s order did not disturb Saint Raymond. He said to his companion with full faith in God “An earthly king withholds the means of flight, but the King of Heaven will supply them.”

He then walked to the seashore and removed his long black cloak and spread it upon the water. He then tied up one corner of it to a staff for a sail, and having made the Sign of the Cross, stepped upon it confidently. He invited his companion too onboard but fearing the worst, his companion declined to step onto it. Saint Raymond then waved at him and set sail.

As his companion watched in fear and amazement, Saint Raymond rapidly sailed upon the sea. There were many boats and other sailors at sea who watched him in astonishment as he passed them by. In six hours he crossed 160 miles and reached the harbour of Barcelona!! The miracle was witnessed by thousands of people and he was welcomed with a loud applause at the harbour. On arriving at the harbour he gathered his cloak which was surprisingly dry and quietly made his way through the crowd and entered his monastery.

The King later learnt about the miraculous transport of the Saint and this time he had a true conversion of heart. He sought the Saint and repented for his errors and from thereon gave up his wayward life. This incident is narrated in the bull of the canonization of Saint Raymond. A chapel and a tower were later built at the place of his landing to commemorate the miracle.