Joseph of Cupertino

Joseph of Cupertino, born Giuseppe Desa (1603–1663), was an Italian Conventual Franciscan friar revered as a Christian mystic and saint. Despite being described as "remarkably unclever" and facing significant educational hurdles, his life was marked by profound spiritual experiences, including miraculous levitation and ecstatic visions. These phenomena, while making him an object of scorn and scrutiny, ultimately led to his canonization and established him as a significant figure in Catholic hagiography.

Life and Historical Context

Born in Cupertino, in the Kingdom of Naples, Joseph's early life was characterized by poverty and hardship, with his birth taking place in a stable. From childhood, he experienced ecstatic visions that continued throughout his life, often leading to social ostracism and outbursts of anger. He was apprenticed to a shoemaker but felt a strong calling to religious life. His initial attempts to join the Conventual Franciscan friars were unsuccessful due to his lack of education. He was briefly accepted by the Capuchin friars but dismissed due to his continuous ecstasies rendering him unfit for duties.

Returning to his home region, Joseph pleaded to serve in the stables of the Conventual Franciscans near Cupertino. After several years, his devotion and simple life impressed the friars, and he was admitted to their order in 1625, with the intention of becoming a priest. His ordination journey was fraught with academic challenges; he could only comment on one scripture passage, "Blessed be the womb that bore Thee" (Luke 11:27). Miraculously, during his exam for the diaconate, the bishop randomly selected this verse for him to expound upon. For his ordination to the priesthood, the bishop, satisfied with the excellent responses of other candidates, did not question Joseph, assuming his preparedness, and he was ordained on March 28, 1628.

Joseph spent fifteen years at the convent of Santa Maria della Grotella. It was during this period that he began to levitate during Mass and communal prayer, earning him a reputation for holiness. However, his superiors deemed him disruptive, leading to confinement in a small cell and prohibition from public gatherings. The phenomenon of levitation, often associated with witchcraft, led to him being denounced to the Inquisition. He was subsequently transferred between various Franciscan friaries for observation, including Assisi, Pietrarubbia, and Fossombrone, where he lived under the supervision of the Capuchin friars. He practiced severe asceticism, subsisting on solid food only twice a week for thirty-five years.

Finally, on July 9, 1657, Joseph was permitted to return to a Conventual community in Osimo, where he died on September 18, 1663. He was beatified in 1753 and canonized by Pope Clement XIII on July 16, 1767.

Legacy and Patronage

Much of the knowledge about Joseph comes from testimonies gathered in posthumous canonization inquests. His life and alleged miracles, particularly his levitations, have inspired devotion and led to his patronage of various causes. Saint Joseph of Cupertino is the patron saint of the city of Cupertino, the city of Osimo, aviation and pilots, astronauts, those with mental handicaps, examinations, and students. His story was also the subject of the 1962 film "The Reluctant Saint."