Bilocation is a phenomenon associated with a saint being in two places at the same time, whereas miraculous transport involves unusual forms of travel. These miraculous transport cases have been associated with religious figures like saints.
St. Ammon the Great 350
St. Athanasius relates a story of St. Ammon the Great who was traveling with Theodore, a disciple. The two had come across a river that had risen so high that they would have to swim across it.
Separating in order to undress, St. Ammon was feeling uncomfortable with this lack of modesty. But before he had a chance to even think about it, he looked up and found he had been miraculously transported to the other side the river.
When the disciple asked him how he had done this, St. Ammon finally told him it had been a miracle but asked that he not retell this story until after his death.
St. Dominic (Founder of the Dominicans) 1221
In the company of a Cistercian monk, St. Dominic (who received The Holy Rosary in a vision of Mary) and he arrived at a church where St. Dominic had hoped to pray before the altar for the night. But when they had come, the church doors were closed and locked.
Accepting that they would not get in, St. Dominic and his companion resigned themselves to praying before the church instead and fell to their knees in prayer. Within moments, they were miraculous transported inside the church before the high altar where they prayed for the remainder of the night.
St. Hyacinth 1257
St. Hyacinth had a profound love of the Blessed Virgin and often had received requests from her in visions.
When the Tartars were close enough by that a convent was at risk of being destroyed, St. Hyacinth rushed into the church to gather up the Blessed Sacrament and hide it so that it would not be desecrated. He heard the voice of the Blessed Virgin telling him not to leave her statue behind to be desecrated, either.
But it was a very large and heavy statue and St. Hyacinth knew that under any normal conditions, he would not be able to lift it. She told him, “I will lighten the load.” Picking up the huge statue in one hand easily, he escaped with both and walked across the Dneiper River with them.
There are at least two other instances in the life St. Hyacinth where he is said to have walked on water. Witnessed by over 400 people, St. Hyacinth was going to preach at Wisgrade and had to cross the Vistula.
Three companions were with him and the waters were so rough that the boats refused to go out due to storms and weather. According to reports, St. Hyacinth made the sign of the cross and began to walk as if he were on ‘firm land.’ The multitude on the other side of the bank saw him do this.
A similar story is related of him in Russia later in his life.
Others who Experienced Miraculous Transports
Others who were known to have had Miraculous Transports included St. Seraphin of M ontegranaro, St. Anthony of Padua, Blessed Bentivolgia de Bonis, Pere Lamy, St. Colette, St. Germaine Cousin, St. Martin De Porres, St. John Joseph of the Cross, St. Paul of the Cross, St. Anthony Mary Claret, St. Peter Regalado, St. Peter of Alcantara, Blessed Catherine of Racconigi.
Saints Known to Have Ridden in Unusual Vessels
St. Gerard Majella in 1755 produced an extraordinary miracle of this kind. At the seashore of Naples, a huge ship could be seen in the distance which was about to capsize. Many people were screaming. St. Gerard Majella made the sign of the cross and shouted, “In the name of the Most Holy Trinity, pause!”
Throwing his mantle into the water, he rode it out to the foundering ship and with his own hand stabilized and dragged it back to shore.
Others who also produced Extraordinary Vessels included St. Francis Solano, St. Francis of Paola, St. Raymond of Penaford, Blessed Alvarex of Cordova and Blessed Jane of Signa.
Related Reading
Readers may also enjoy reading about Transverberation and the Multiplication of Food.
Sources:
Mysteries, Marvels and Miracles: In the Lives of the Saints, By Joan Carroll Cruz.
