St. Joseph of Cupertino, Franciscan Mystic and Patron Saint of Students and Aviators


In 1603, Joseph was born in the tiny farming village of Cupertino, Italy. His father, Felix Desa, a poor carpenter, died before Joseph was born and left some debts. Consequently, the creditors drove his mother, Francesca Panara, from her home, and she was obliged to give birth to her child in a stable.


Joseph was a holy child who expressed a strong love for God and his Catholic faith. He created a small altar at home, where he prayed the rosary and recited Litanies to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to the saints. From the age of 9, he experienced ecstasies. In school, he would often drop the book he was reading, his eyes would look heavenward, his lips parted his mouth would open, and his spirit would depart for a different world – the real world of heaven. In this state, he would be ridiculed and mocked by his classmates.

After several attempts to enter the religious life, Joseph was finally accepted by the Franciscans at Grotella. He was initially enrolled as a lay brother because of his "slowness"and lack of learning. He later became a cleric at the age of 22. Divine Providence favored him and he passed a difficult exam to enter the priesthood and was ordained as a priest at the age of 25.

As a religious, Joseph led a very austere life. He chastised his body with a hair-shirt, with scourging, and with all kinds of penances. He nourished his spirit continually with the food of holy prayer, as he was called by God to the highest degree of contemplation. His visions and ecstasies could be triggered any time or place by the sound of a church bell, church music, the mention of the name of God or of the Blessed Virgin Mary or of a saint, any event in the life of Christ, the sacred Passion, a holy picture, the thought of the glory in heaven, etc. Nothing would bring him out of his trances, but he would return to the world on hearing the voice of his superior in the order. He would often levitate during his ecstasies.

Well -known for his practice of the virtues of obedience and poverty, he cultivated chastity above all other virtues, and conquered great temptations. He had a strong devotion towards the Blessed Virgin Mary and a deep love for his fellow man, showing great charity toward the poor. His humility was so deep that he thought himself a great sinner and earnestly prayed God to take away the remarkable gifts he had been given. He journeyed through many places at the command of the superior of the Order and of the holy Inquisition; finally, at Osimo in Picenum, at sixty-first years of age, he made the last journey, to heaven.


Prayer to St. Joseph of Cupertino for success in examinations

Movie Recommendation: The Reluctant Saint

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