St. Joseph of Cupertino, Sept 18th

 

Today, we offer a votive Mass in honor of St. Joseph of Cupertino, a Franciscan saint. Perhaps some of you may be familiar with the excellent movie about him called the Reluctant Saint. His father was a humble carpenter, who had contracted very heavy debts and so the family lived in great poverty. His mother was very strict, so much so that he would tell people years later, that he had his novitiate when he was a child. Despite the way his mother treated him, he did additional penances and mortifications.

He attempted to learn a trade, but later discovered it wasn’t his vocation. He was invested with the Franciscan habit among the Capuchin Franciscans, but was dismissed due to his awkwardness. Because of his dismissal from the Franciscans, his relatives considered him a disgrace to the family, and was turned away.

The Conventual Franciscans took pity on his humble pleading and admitted him into their order and asking him to care for the convent mule. His virtues, especially his humility, obedience, and piety, shone forth with such brilliance, that his superiors received him among the clerics, and within three years was ordained a priest. His efforts to study were never successful, but soon people became aware that he possessed infused knowledge.

His life was an uninterrupted union with God. Everything seemed to lift his mind to heaven, such that his body was frequently raised above the earth and remained in the air for such a long time, that his biographer declared he spent more than half of his religious life above the earth.

On a hill near the convent were three crosses. Repeatedly when he looked at them, he would rise in the air with a cry, and flee to the cross in the center embracing it. On another occasion, when he visited the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, he saw a painting of the Mother of God high in the vault of the church, at once his body rose into the air, and he kissed the image with tender devotion. At the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, he was usually lifted in the air and remained there swaying over the altar for hours at a time. For that reason, he usually said Mass in the convent chapel rather than in the church.

Once a Duke from Brunswick was so impressed with by St. Joseph’s ecstasy, that he was convinced of the truth of the Catholic faith and two years later became Catholic.

Because of these visions and ecstasies, he was also severely tested by the devil. In addition to this, he suffered from dryness of heart and felt completely forsaken by God. Despite all of this, he continued to have peace of mind and had no other wish than to do the will of God.

He died in a convent on Sept. 18^th, 1663 and many miracles occurred at his grave. He was canonized in 1753 and would later be known as a patron saint of those who travel by air.

Today, let us pray that we may have the humility of heart of St. Joseph of Cupertino. May we show our devotion for the sacrifice of the Mass by our reverence and may we gaze upon holy images with the love.