Joseph was born on June 17, 1603 in a small Italian village called Cupertino. As a youngster he was slow witted, unmanageable at home and scorned by his companions who nickname him “The Gaper” for being a day-dreamer and consequently for staring aimlessly into the sky. After failing in the trade of a cobbler, at the age of seventeen he applied to join the Friars Minor Conventuals but was rejected. However, he managed to join the Capuchins only to find himself dismissed after a period of eight months due to his inability to do anything right. In spite of frustrations from every angle, his perseverance finally paid off as he got himself admitted in the Franciscan Order of his hometown. Despite his learning disability, Joseph turned to God in prayer and strangely enough he was ordained priest in 1628. He led a life of prayer and austerity and advanced in holiness performing the menial works of the monastery. In the meanwhile God’s miraculous powers began to unfold in his life. He was blessed with the supernatural gift s of healing and ecstasies. But Joseph is remembered more for his “levitations” which seem to have occurred at least 70 times before the general public. Often he was seen to rise from the ground while at Mass or in prayer and would remain suspended over the ceiling “like a star atop a Christmas tree.” The most sensational incident took place during a procession at Cupertino in honour of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4, 1630, when he was seen suddenly soaring into the sky where he remained hovering over the crowd. Embarrassed at these phenomena, which disturbed the prayer life of the Friars and aroused controversy among the public, he was sent on a semi-exile to Sacro Convento in Assisi. Though no major miracles were recorded at the site of his new assignment, people of all ranks flocked to Assisi to seek healing both physical and spiritual. “The flying Friar’s” end came on September 18 in 1633 when his final flight took him to heaven, far beyond the ceilings and the sky where he was wont to hover. Cupertino was proclaimed a saint in 1767.
Reflection: Joseph, who was unwanted at home, abused at School and rejected by more than one Religious Community, suddenly became a powerful instrument in the hands of God. Holiness and intimacy with the Lord is a free gift from on high and no amount of human skill or ability can merit it.
Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12; 10)
