The history of witchcraft and demonologySummers, Montague
History
The history of witchcraft and demonology
Summers, Montague
Demonology; Demonology -- History; Witchcraft; Witchcraft -- History
S. Francis of Assisi was often “suspended above the earth, sometimes
to a height of three, sometimes to a height of four cubits”; the
same phenomenon has been recorded by eye-witnesses in many instances
throughout the centuries. Among the large number of those who are
known to have been raised from the ground whilst wrapt in prayer are
the stigmatized S. Catherine of Siena; S. Colette; Rainiero de Borgo
San-Sepolcro; S. Catherine de Ricci; S. Alphonsus Rodriguez, S.J.;
S. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi; Raimond Rocco; Bl. Charles de Sezze; S.
Veronica Giuliani the Capuchiness; S. Gerard Majella, the Redemptorist
thaumaturge; that wondrous mystic Anne Catherine Emmerich; Dominica
Barbagli (died in 1858), the ecstatica of Montesanto-Savino (Florence),
whose levitations were of daily occurrence. S. Ignatius Loyola whilst
deeply contemplative was seen by John Pascal to be raised more than a
foot from the pavement; S. Teresa and S. John of the Cross were levitated
in concurrent ecstasies in the shady locutorio of the Encarnacion, as
was witnessed by Beatriz of Jesus and the whole convent of nuns;[51]
S. Alphonsus Liguori whilst preaching in the church of S. John Baptist
at Foggia was lifted before the eyes of the whole congregation several
feet from the ground;[52] Gemma Galgani of Lucca, who died 11 April,
1903, was observed whilst praying one evening in September, 1901, before
a venerated Crucifix, to rise in the air in a celestial trance and to
remain several minutes at some distance from the floor.[53] Above all,
S. Joseph of Cupertino (1603-63), one of the most extraordinary mystics
of the seventeenth century, whose whole life seemed one long series of
unbroken raptures and ecstasies, was frequently lifted on high to remain
suspended in mid-air. Such notice was attracted by this marvel that his
superiors sent him from one lonely house of Capuchins or Conventuals
to another, and he died at the little hill town of Osimo, where his
remains are yet venerated. For many years he was obliged to say Mass
at a private altar so inevitable were the ecstasies that fell upon him
during the Sacrifice. There are, I think, few sanctuaries more sweet and
more fragrant with holiness than this convent at Osimo. During a most
happy visit to the shrine of S. Joseph I was deeply touched by the many
memorials of the Saints, and by the kindness of the Fathers, his brethren
to-day. S. Philip Neri and S. Francis Xavier were frequently raised from
the ground at the Elevation, and of the ascetic S. Paul of the Cross
the Blessed Strambi writes: “Le serviteur de Dieu s’éleva en l’air à
la hauteur de deux palmes, et cela, à deux reprises, avant et après
la consecration.”[54] (The servant of God during Holy Mass was twice
elevated in the air to a height of two hand-breadths from the ground
both before and after the Consecration.) It is well known that in a
certain London church a holy religious when he said Mass was not unseldom
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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