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Saint Joseph of Cupertino
Saint Joseph of Cupertino

Saint Joseph of Cupertino

Feast Day
Sep 18, 2012
Patronage
Aviators, Flying, Studying
<p>St. Joseph was born in Cupertino, Naples in 1603.&nbsp; He was said to be forgetful, clumsy, and just too odd for fellow Christians to tolerate him as a youn man.&nbsp; He wondered around the town, staring at everything, trying to take it all in.&nbsp; He found it very hard to learn, and was not often befriended.&nbsp; Even his mother seen him as a nuisance and treated him harshly.&nbsp; At the age of seventeen he decided to become a monk or friar.&nbsp; The Franciscans would not take him, saying he was stupid; the Capuchins threw him out after eight months because he broke everything.&nbsp; Eventually a Franciscan Order took him in as a stable boy in La Grotella.&nbsp; He had a very strong devotion to the Blessed Mother Mary, and always promoted her to everyone he met.&nbsp; His job was to take care of the horses, a lot of hard work. &nbsp;</p> <p>It was at this time that Joseph began to change, and he grew considerably, more humble, gentle, and more careful to be successful at his work.&nbsp; He began to do more penance as well.&nbsp; The Order decided that he could become a real member, and so it was, he started studying for the priesthood.&nbsp; His behavior was good, but he struggled with learning.&nbsp; Finally he became a deacon, and later on a priest.</p> <p>Once he became a Deacon and Priest, God starting working amazing miracles through St. Joseph of Cupertino.&nbsp; Many times multitudes of people witnessed his rising from the ground while saying Mass or praying.&nbsp; He would levitate sometimes for long periods of time, and would fall into ecstasy and would be completely wrapped up in conversation with God.&nbsp; Many times, this was witnessed.&nbsp; He became so holy that he couldn&rsquo;t focus on anything but God, seeing Him in everything and everywhere.&nbsp; He also became so famous for his multitude of miracles that he had to be kept in hiding. &nbsp;</p> <p>The people would come to him in masses seeking help and advice.&nbsp; They would meet him in the confessional and he converted many.&nbsp; His life was marked by numerous and long periods of ecstasies and levitations.&nbsp; Some of the reported miracles were that he would float high into the air at Mass in rapture; during some Christmas carols being sung he soared to the high Altar and knelt in the air in prayer; and he floated with a huge cross that measured thirty-six feet high through the air as if it were nothing.&nbsp; This humble man had to endure many trials, and even meals were a constant souce of extraordinary, miraculous behaviors for his fellow religious.&nbsp; He passed away on September 18<sup>th</sup>, 1663.&nbsp; Pope Clement XIII canonized him in 1767 and he was made parton of air travelers and pilots in the twentieth century. &nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Practical Take Away&nbsp;</strong></span></p> <p>St. Joseph of Cupertino was a very humble man, and as a boy seen as a nuisance.&nbsp; He was clumsy, forgetful, and not well liked as a child, and had a very hard time learning.&nbsp; His odd behavior was sometimes mistaken as being dumb, but it was later seen as a complete communion with God.&nbsp; He would go into ecstasy and levitate high into the air, at the mention of God or spirituality.&nbsp; Many times he would float to the top of the high-altar during Mass, and just kneel on the air in ecstasy with God.&nbsp; He drew huge crowds from all around because of his Holiness and ability to perform many miracles.&nbsp; His life teaches us a true lesson in humility, that with profound spiritual humility, we too, can be in union with God and his will for us. &nbsp;</p>