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As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
June 17, 1603–September 18, 1663
Patron Saint of students, test takers, pilots, aviators, astronauts, and those with learning difficulties
St. Joseph of Cupertino is one of the Church’s most beloved mystics, remembered for the extraordinary phenomenon of levitation during Mass and prayer. Yet those who knew him best recognized that his true greatness was not found in miraculous gifts but in his humility, obedience, and profound love for God.
Born in Cupertino, Italy, in 1603, Joseph faced many hardships from an early age. Coming from a poor family, he had no access to education. His father secured an apprenticeship for him with a shoemaker, but he longed to enter religious life. Because of his challenges, several religious communities refused to admit him. Finally, the Conventual Franciscans accepted him as a servant. His cheerful spirit, willingness to perform humble tasks, and holiness soon convinced his superiors that he was called to religious life.
Although Joseph found studying difficult, he successfully completed the examinations required for ordination, trusting entirely in God’s Providence. As a priest, his intense love for Christ—especially in the Eucharist—often led him into ecstatic prayer. Witnesses reported that during these moments, he would sometimes rise from the ground. Church authorities investigated these events and gathered documentation from numerous credible eyewitnesses.
To protect both Joseph and the faithful from excessive public attention, his superiors frequently transferred him between friaries, where he spent years living quietly under obedience. He accepted these restrictions without complaint, viewing them as opportunities to grow closer to Christ.
St. Joseph died peacefully on September 18, 1663. He was canonized in 1767 and is honored today as the patron saint of students, test-takers, pilots, astronauts, and people with learning difficulties.
St. Joseph is renowned for experiencing hundreds of recorded ecstasies and levitations while praying. Because of these occurrences, he earned the nickname “The Flying Saint.” He frequently hovered or soared into the air during Mass or when in deep prayer. Eyewitnesses claimed his flights sometimes lasted for hours. One account says he even levitated during his meeting with Pope Urban VIII. Numerous accounts state he miraculously cured sick children and touched the blind, restoring their sight. In one well-known story, workmen were struggling to plant a massive wooden cross, and Joseph reportedly flew up and effortlessly slotted the heavy beam into its base. Like St. Francis of Assisi, he was said to command birds and animals, with a flock of sheep once gathering around him during prayer.
Joseph’s reported levitations and ecstatic states attracted enormous crowds, making careful investigation necessary. Church officials interviewed numerous eyewitnesses, including fellow Franciscans, bishops, and civil authorities, to determine whether these events were authentic and spiritually sound. They were concerned by the public spectacles and disruption caused by his levitations. They pursued an investigation by the Inquisition, which thoroughly examined the claims but found no evidence of witchcraft. They concluded that Joseph lived a life of genuine humility, obedience, and virtue. His willingness to submit to every decision of his superiors became one of the strongest signs of the authenticity of his mystical life. Although he was officially declared innocent, Church authorities restricted his public life. Joseph did not celebrate Mass in public or eat in the communal dining halls for much of his final 35 years.
After his death, Joseph was buried in the Franciscan church in Osimo, Italy. Today, the primary shrine housing the preserved relics of St. Joseph of Cupertino is located in Osimo, Ancona, Italy, at the Basilica di San Giuseppe de Copertino. His relics are encased within a gilded bronze urn in the basilica’s crypt. In addition, the Sanctuary of Saint Joseph in Cupertino, Italy, his birthplace, houses his original stable home and other secondary relics. Pilgrims from around the world come to pray and seek his intercession. He is invoked by students, educators, pilots, and others asking for God’s help through the prayers of this humble Franciscan, whose life continues to inspire many hearts.
The Blessed Virgin Mary bore extreme pains throughout her life. And as the mother of the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53), she witnessed her Son’s Passion and Death on the Cross. This is why, as we face our own pains and temptations, we should turn to Our Lady of Sorrows and meditate on her Seven Dolors, or Sorrows.
This free eBook will encourage you to meditate on these Sorrows that pierced Mary’s Immaculate Heart. Use the form below to tell us where to send your free eBook, The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
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