St. Joseph of Cupertino – Patron of Aviators – September 18th
Joseph was born in a small village in Italy of poor parents. He was very unhappy as a boy and a teenager. His mother considered him a nuisance and treated him harshly. Joseph soon became very slow and absent-minded. He would wander around, going nowhere, his mouth gaping open. But he had a bad temper, too, and so, he was not at all popular. He tried to learn a trade of shoe-making, but failed. He asked to become a Franciscan, but they would not accept him. Next, he joined the Capuchins, but eight months later, they sent him away because he could not seem to do anything right. He dropped piles of dishes and kept forgetting to do what he was told. His mother was not at all pleased to have the eighteen-year-old Joseph back home again, so she finally got him accepted as a servant at the Franciscan monastery. He was given a monk’s habit and put to work taking care of the horses.
About this time, Joseph began to change. He grew more humble and gentle, more careful and successful at his work. He also began to do more penance. Now, it was decided that he could become a real member of the Order and start studying for the priesthood. Although he was very good, he still had a very hard time with studies. But the examiner happened to ask him to explain the only thing he knew well, and so he was made a deacon, and later a priest. After this, God began to work many amazing miracles through St. Joseph. Over seventy times people saw him rise from the ground wile saying Mass or praying. Often he went into ecstasy and would be completely wrapped up in talking with God. He became so holy that everything he saw made him think of God, and he said that all the troubles of this world were nothing but the “play” battles children have with popguns!
St. Joseph became so famous for the miracles that he was kept hidden, but he was happy for the chance to be alone with his beloved Lord. On His part, Jesus never left him alone and one day came to bring him to heaven.
Maybe our parents, our teachers and even we ourselves may feel that we are hopeless…because we make mistakes and get into much trouble! But it is never too late! With a strong will let us keep on trying…We, too, are called to become saints.
This is a link to an excellent movie on St. Joseph's story which is sadly being taken out of movie shelves:
(please note that after St. Joseph and his monks leave out of the catacombs the part where they process back to their monastery is not in the VHS movie. That part may have just been a deleted scene.)