September 18: Feast Day of St. Joseph of Cupertino

St. Joseph of Cupertino

The town of Copertino (Cupertino in English) lies in the southeast of Italy on the Apulian Peninsula, not far from the Gulf of Taranto. Founded in the middle ages, it is the birthplace of St. Joseph, the famous levitating Franciscan. St. Joseph of Cupertino was born on June 17, 1603 to an impoverished mother. His father - a carpenter by trade - had died before his birth.

St. Joseph of Cupertino's reputation today and when he was alive was that of a difficult individual. A slow learner, Joseph could not easily relate to people. He had a bad temper and was rather absent minded. His devotion to God, however, and need for prayer were pure and complete. When he was eight years old and in school he had his first vision.

Copertino, Italy

In his teenage years, Joseph worked as an apprentice to a cobbler. Deep down, he knew that this was not what God wanted him to do; which is why at 17 years of age, he attempted to join the Conventual Franciscans. The Conventuals rejected him because he was not a learned man. The Capuchins took Joseph on as a lay-brother only to dismiss him some time later. Their reason for his dismissal were his frequent ecstasies.

Derided by his mother and other family members for not being able to get his life in order, Joseph did not despair. He managed to obtain a position as a stable hand at the La Grotella Franciscan Convent, not far from Copertino. While working there he changed from a rowdy young man to a thoughtful, loving, and penitent individual. This positive change helped him enter the priesthood in 1628.

St. Joseph of Cupertino experienced many visions

Never a bookish person, Joseph was completely devoted to God. The mere mention of God or Jesus, even the din of a bell sent him into a deep meditative state from which only his superior could extract him. So strong was Joseph's faith that he was often found levitating in the air. To keep the community around him undisturbed by this, he was barred from attending choir or saying Mass in a church. His superioers told him to stay in his room and celebrate Mass there. At one point, Joseph's enemies even turned him over to the Inquisition. Very little transpired of this, but Joseph ended up moving from one friary to another, his love for God never wavering. On September 18, 1663, he died in the city of Osimo, which is where he is buried. Pope Clement XII canonized Joseph on July 16, 1767.

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