Saint Joseph of Cupertino, Priest
Patron saint of Aviators,
Flying and Studying
Feast day – September 18
St. Joseph was born at Cupertino, in the diocese of Nardo in
the Kingdom of Naples, in 1603. After spending his childhood and adolescence in
simplicity and innocence, he finally joined the Franciscan Friars Minor
Conventual. After his ordination to the holy priesthood, he gave himself up
entirely to a life of humiliation, mortification, and obedience. He was most
devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary and promoted devotion to her among all
classes of people.
His mother considered him a nuisance and treated him
harshly. Joseph soon became very slow and absent-minded. He would wander
around, going nowhere, his mouth gaping open. But he had a bad temper, too, and
so, he was not at all popular. He tried to learn the trade of shoemaking, but
failed. He asked to become a Franciscan, but they would not accept him. Next,
he joined the Capuchins, but eight months later, they sent him away because he
could not seem to do anything right. He dropped piles of dishes and kept
forgetting to do what he was told. His mother was not at all pleased to have
the eighteen-year-old Joseph back home again, so she finally got him accepted
as a servant at the Franciscan monastery. He was given the monks habit and put
to hard work taking care of the horses. About this time, Joseph began to
change. He grew more humble and gentle, more careful and successful at his
work. He also began to do more penance. Now, it was decided that he could
become a real member of the Order and start studying for the priesthood.
Although he was very good, he still had a hard time with studies. The examiner
happened to ask him to explain the only thing he knew well, and so he was made
a deacon, and later a priest. After this, God began to work many amazing miracles
through St. Joseph. Over seventy times, people saw him rise from the ground
while saying mass or praying. Often he went into ecstasy and would be
completely rapt up in talking with God. He became so holy that everything he
saw made him think of God, and he said that all the troubles of this world were
nothing but the "play" battles children have with popguns. St. Joseph
became so famous for the miracles that he was kept hidden, but he was happy for
the chance to be alone with his beloved Lord. On His part, Jesus never left him
alone and one day came to bring him to Heaven. Pope Clement XIII canonized him
in 1767. He is the patron saint of air travelers and pilots.
It is said that the life of this saint was marked by
ecstasies and levitations. The mere mention of God or a spiritual matter was
enough to take him out of his senses; at Mass he frequently floated in the air
in rapture. Once as Christmas carols were being sung, he soared to the high
altar and knelt in the air, rapted in prayer. On another occasion he ferried a
cross thirty-six feet high through the air to the top of a Calvary group as
easily as one might carry a straw.
The people flocked to him in droves seeking help and advice
in the confessional, and he converted many to a truly Christian life. However,
this humble man had to endure many severe trials and terrible temptations
throughout his life. He died on September 18, 1663.
Sources
for this article were taken from
Wikipedia
Prayer
O Great
St. Joseph of Cupertino who while on earth did obtain from God the grace to be
asked at your examination only the questions you knew, obtain for my son a like
favour in the examinations for which he is now preparing. In return I promise
to make you known and cause you to be invoked. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
St. Joseph of Cupertino, Pray for us.
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