St. Joseph of Cupertino is best known as the saint who flew!
St. Joseph was born on June 17, 1603 in the small town of Cupertino in the Kingdom of Naples. Although always considered "dumb" by worldly standards and quite unintelligent, he became a great saint and mystic.
His family was poor and to make matters worse, his father, a poor carpenter, died shortly before he was born. The family property was seized by creditors and his impoverished mother was forced to give birth to him in a stable. Already in his early youth, Joseph was ridiculed by his peers for being slow and "mule-like" yet God graced him with heavenly visions. He would often stop and stare open mouthed at a supernatural vision, only to be harassed by his friends for being a 'dunce' and curelly nicknamed "Bocaperta." He was also reputed to have a hot and ill-temper. His mother treated him harshly, perhaps because he was so apparently absent-minded. She apprenticed him to a relative who was a shoemaker, but Joseph was summarily dismissed. He then applied to the Conventual Franciscan Friars, but they rejected him on account of his lack of education. His mother encouraged him to try again and this time he applied with the Capuchin Franciscan Friars (in Martino). They accepted him as a lay brother, but no less than eight months later dismissed him because his life of prayer (and mystical ecstasies) inhibited him from performing all the duties they expected of him. He broke dishes accidentally, spent much time wandering aimlessly, and forgot what he had been instructed to do.
Poor Joseph had to return home to the scorn of family and human respect. His mother was mortified to have a grown eighteen year old at home who seemed incapable of providing for his family, unable to marry, and could not even fully care for himself. She and he pleaded with the Conventual Friars of Cupertino to accept him as a lay servant and allow him to serve in the stables. The prior agreed. Left to tend the stables, Joseph was able to devote himself to mystical prayer in solitude and fulfill his duties. At this time, he began to change. He grew more humble, gentle, and careful in completing his work successfully. He also began to do more penance.
After several years, the friars were so impressed with his humility, simplicity, devotion and obedience, that they admitted him to the Order. Beyond anyone's wildest expectations, be progressed through all the studies and examinations necessary to become a Catholic priest. He received an extraordinary grace in order to complete these studies for it would have been impossible for him given his natural abilities. He read poorly and knew little of the human arts and sciences. However God infused him with knowledge and supernatural light which allowed him not only to surpass his peers, but to be able to resolve the most intricate theological, moral, and spiritual questions. To his great joy (and that of his mother) he was ordained on March 28, 1628. Despite this great honor, he remained very humble and often referred to himself as "Brother Ass."
Throughout his life, St. Joseph of Cupertino was particularly devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He had a great love for her and spent countless hours in contemplative prayer with her. He never ceased to encourage all to have an ever greater devotion to the Mother of God. This in turn led him to have a very sensitive soul and feel deep empathy and compassion for all.
Following his ordination, his mystical experiences became more frequent. He would levitate while offering the Holy Sacrifice or praying the Divine Office with his community. More than seventy times various groups of people testified to witnessing him levitate during the Holy Sacrifice. Many people even witnessed St. Joseph flying. St. Joseph became so holy that everything he saw would make him think of God. At the mere mention of the Name of Our Lord, Our Lady, the Passion, or something similar, he was liable to go into a sweet ecstasy and levitate into the air. Nothing could then affect him, including being stabbed with needles or burned with candles. He could only hear the voice of his superior calling him back to duty. Once at Christmas Mass, the hymns caused him to joyously float up well above the high altar, where he remained kneeling in prayer. He said the grave troubles of this world were as nothing before God, just as "play battles" that children have with twigs and pebbles. His fame as a holy saint spread far and many people flocked to his monastery to request his counsel, have their sins forgiven (for he was a confessor par excellence), and even seeking miracles. God worked many miracles through him.
Some in his community began to envy him and his superiors considered him disruptive to the community's religious life. Therefore, they confined him to a small cell and forbade him from joining any public gathering - of the laity or of his Franciscan community. He was only permitted to offer Holy Mass in private. He was not permitted to pray the Divine Office in choir with the other Franciscans. St. Joseph had to suffer this regimen of solitude for the last 35 years of his life! Nevertheless Christ never abandoned him and this quasi-imprisonment at the hands of his fellow brethren only resulted in him developing an even more intense life of prayer. He always found joy in being alone with God.
Sadly, his persecutions did not end there. Those particularly envious of the spiritual graces God had bstowed upon him accused him of witchcraft and of being in league with the devil. Joseph was denounced to the Inquisition. In response, he was transferred from one Franciscan friary to another for observation and to see if he could be "cured". In all these many journeys and trials, he continued to be kept in solitude. Nevertheless, St. Joseph remained humble, obedient, and full of joy! He practiced severe asceticism, including seven Lents thorughout the year. During these seven forty day periods, he would fast and only take solid food twice a week: on Thursdays and Sundays. This very simple and humble soul passed away of natural causes in the odor of sanctity and great renown on Sept 18, 1663.
St. Joseph of Cupertino's body was kept at the Church in Osimo, the Franciscan friary where he had spent the final years of his life. He was beatified in 1753 by Pope Benedict XIV and canonized by Pope Clement XIII in 1767. Pope Clement XIV extended his feast to the universal Divine Office several years later. St. Joseph of Cupertino has been declared the patron saint of aviators, astronauts, air travelers, poor students and those with mental disabilities.
St. Joseph of Cupertino, ora pro nobis.