God Doesn't Care How Smart You Are - The Life of The Flying Friar, St Joseph of Cupertino

All CRUSADER Knights can all learn humility through Saint Joseph of Cupertino

The New Christendom Daily is FREE for all to read BUT my work here and on The CRUSADE Channel Talk Radio Channel is completely, listener and reader supported. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber and supporting this vocation of mine. You can also make a 1 time Donation in ANY AMOUNT, here. God bless and Our Lady of Sorrows keep you!

Today, the town of Cupertino, Italy and indeed the world, revel in the blessed memory of Saint Joseph i.e. Giuseppe—of Cupertino “The Flying Friar. In surrendering his every possession and indeed his life to the Blessed Virgin Mary and by extension, God, St Joseph was granted the most stunning Graces including ecstasy and in those ecstasies, flight.

Joseph was born of pious parents at Cupertino, in Nardo, Italy in 1603. When he was a boy, he was afflicted with a malady that nearly killed him but he was spared death after offering himself up to the Blessed Virgin Mary whom he called his mother for the rest of his life. He was a man of simple and innocent mind, some called him an imbecile, who was first admitted and then dismissed by the Capuchins and later accepted by the Conventuals.

Through sheer childlike simplicity he managed to learn enough theology to be ordained a priest. While saying Mass or praying the Rosary, he was witnessed dozens of times levitating and on some occasions had to be commanded by his superior to return to Earth. On his deathbed he told his superior that he would die as his patriarch St Francis of Assissi and Our Lord died, with no possessions to give away. Joseph died at the place and time he had foretold, namely, at Osimo in Picenum, in the sixty-first year of his age.

The town of Cupertino California, is named for him. He was famous for miracles after his death; and was enrolled among the Blessed by Benedict XIV, and among the Saints by Clement XIII in 1767. He is the patron saint of aviators, air-travelers and students.

The Church recounts his life, thus.

His burning charity shone forth most remarkably in the sweet ecstasies which raised his soul to God, and the wonderful raptures he frequently experienced. Yet, marvelous to tell, however rapt he was in God, obedience would immediately recall him to the use of his senses. He was exceedingly zealous in the practice of obedience; and used to say that he was led by it like a blind man, and that he would rather die than disobey. He emulated the poverty of the seraphic patriarch to such a degree, that on his deathbed he could truthfully tell his superior he had nothing which, according to custom, he could relinquish. Thus dead to the world and to himself Joseph showed forth in his flesh the life of Jesus. While in others he perceived the vice of impurity by an evil odor, his own body exhaled a most sweet fragrance, a sign of the spotless purity which he preserved unsullied in spite of long and violent temptations from the devil. This victory he gained by strict custody of his senses, by continual mortification of the body, and especially by the protection of the most pure Virgin Mary, whom he called his Mother, and whom he venerated with tenderest affection as the sweetest of mothers, desiring to see her venerated by others, that they might, said he, together with her patronage, gain all good things.

Gentlemen, let us commend ourselves to the honor and emulation of this most wonderful and courageous Saint, who overcame every obstacle the Evil One placed in front of him, just to become a friar, what humility!

Saint Joseph of Cupertino, ora pro nobis!