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This clip shows a series of paintings of Saint Joseph of Cupertino who was known as the Flying Friar. A voice-over narration and an interview with Brother Joseph Wood (a Franciscan friar) tell the story of the Italian saint who was believed to levitate when he prayed. The clip shows the bedroom of St Joseph of Cupertino and the three boards of wood on which he slept. The clip includes a painting that depicts St Joseph of Cupertino levitating and taking the Duke of Brunswick, a sceptical German prince, with him. It is believed that after this event, the Duke converted to Catholicism.

Educational value points

• The clip introduces St Joseph of Cupertino as part of a documentary about the process undertaken by the Roman Catholic Church to create a saint. Also known as the Flying Friar (1603–63), he was one of Europe’s famous Christian mystics. Saint Joseph received his surname from his birthplace, Cupertino, a small village in the Kingdom of Naples.

• It is believed St Joseph had the ability to levitate during the ecstasy of prayer and that this was witnessed by the general public and dignitaries of the Church. Religious communities tend to interpret metaphysical levitation as the supernatural action of the Holy Spirit. However, there is no compelling empirical evidence to suggest that it is an observable phenomenon.

• Joseph of Cupertino was investigated by the Inquisition in 1638, when he was accused of attracting undue attention with his 'flights’ and claims of performing miracles. He was released, but was kept secluded for much of his life by monastic authorities who regarded him with suspicion. St Joseph died in Osimo in 1663 and he was canonised in 1767 by Pope Clement XIII.

• In 1983, the process of making a saint, known as canonisation and the subject of this documentary, was reformed, and the four key steps were streamlined. First, the person is proclaimed a Servant of God and detailed information about his or her life is collected. Second, if the evidence produced proves that the candidate has lived a life of 'heroic virtue’, it is recommended to the Pope that the Servant of God receive the title of Venerable. Third, if the Venerable is considered to be a martyr, or if a miracle has taken place by his or her intercession, he or she becomes blessed. To then become a saint, one more miracle needs to be witnessed.

• The clip uses a series of paintings accompanied by voice-over narration and intercut with an interview with Brother Joseph Wood to effectively construct a film narrative. The historic paintings play an important role in helping to interpret the life and apparent miracles of Saint Joseph of Cupertino, including depictions of his reported acts of levitation. At least one of the paintings shown may be located in the Basilica of St Joseph of Cupertino in Osimo, Italy, which houses the saint’s body.

• The paintings used in the clip are characteristic of the Baroque Movement. This Movement developed from 1600 and was encouraged by the Roman Catholic Church as it sought to overcome the rising threat of Protestantism. At this time, the Catholic Church, the most important patron of the Arts, commissioned artists to paint biblical characters and stories that spoke to the illiterate rather than to the well-informed. Baroque art, which is characterised by drama, rich deep colour, intense light and dark shadows, was intended to evoke emotion and passion. Notable baroque artists include Caravaggio, Gianlorenzo Bernini, Annibale Carracci, Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt and Diego Velázquez.

This clip starts approximately 25 minutes into the documentary.

A church window opens to the landscape of fields and farmhouses below. We see a series of paintings of Saint Joseph of Cupertino who was known as the Flying Friar.

Narrator One of the most famous European mystics is Joseph of Cupertino, known as the Flying Friar.

Brother Joseph Wood Joseph of Cupertino was an ordinary peasant who lived in southern Italy who, with all his heart, wanted to be a priest.

Brother Joseph Wood, a Franciscan friar. Is interviewed outside a wooden door. We go into the room and see a wooden barn doors that open to a wooden shelve. Joseph shows us the broken bits of wood from the bed. We see more paintings of Saint Joseph of Cupertino.

Brother Joseph He became what we call a mystic. He would actually levitate off the ground whenever he would pray to God, whenever he would celebrate the eucharist. This is the bedroom of St Joseph of Cupertino, where he would sleep and where he spent time in prayer. This was his bed. Just three simple boards. He would have used a straw mat on which to sleep. And in those days, they would have had pillows or perhaps Joseph would have had a few logs behind his back to sit up in bed. They never slept flat like we do nowadays. Pilgrims used to be invited into this room to see the bed of St Joseph, but unfortunately the pilgrims used to also take a few souvenirs back with them. So we had to close it to the public and now we can only invite them in when we are accompanying them. In order to keep Joseph on the ground, because it became a bit of a bother to have him levitate all the time, and so many people wanting to come to see him, they put lead boots on his feet, they tied a rope around his waist, they even had a hook. But none of it seemed to work. He still levitated right up into the air. When people first saw Joseph levitate off the ground, they thought he was possessed by the devil. And so he was actually locked in these rooms here for a while so they could watch over him.

We see a painting of Saint Joseph of Cupertino floating with his head bent under the roof holding a man in a blue coat with people looking up at them.

Brother Joseph In this picture, we can see the Duke of Brunswick, the German prince, a skeptical man, who wanted to be entertained. And when Joseph of Cupertino levitated, he took the Duke with him. After this event, the Duke of Brunswick converted to the faith.

We see Brother Joseph walk down a set of stairs and exit through a courtyard with metal gates.

Brother Joseph The official church may have a problem with mystics. The official church may have a problem with anyone who, again, sees the world a little bit differently than the majority of people, and that’s understandable for all of us, not just the officials in Rome. We all have a problem with people who lead us to a different level.