St Joseph of Cupertino

 Sep 18 - Feast of St Joseph of Cupertino

 


A simple, humble and almost illiterate Franciscan friar, known for his mystical experiences, numerous miracles, and above all, for levitating during prayer. 
 
This is Saint Joseph of Cupertino, born Joseph Desa on June 17, 1603, in Copertino, Apulia in southern Italy. He came into the world in extreme poverty, in a stable, and his childhood was marked by hardship, illness and no access to education. 
 
His father secured an apprenticeship for him with a shoemaker, but he longed to enter religious life but with little formal education he was rejected by several religious orders.
 
Finally, he was accepted as a tertiary at the convent of the Conventual Franciscans at La Grottella. His cheerful spirit, willingness to perform humble tasks, and holiness soon convinced his superiors that he was called to religious life. He flourished in his devotion and service, often found engrossed in tasks like gardening, tending to animals, and assisting in the kitchen. 

Although Joseph found studying difficult, he successfully completed the examinations required for ordination, trusting entirely in God’s Providence and he passed two crucial examinations thanks to providential coincidences that allowed him to answer precisely the questions he knew. Asked randomly by the bishop to elaborate on “Blessed is the womb that bore thee,” Joseph’s response was so profound that he was ordained. Thus his patronage to test-takers. 
 
He had a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary and Saint Francis of Assisi, dedicating his life to prayer, penance, and helping the poorest.

As a priest, his intense love for Christ—especially in the Eucharist—often led him into ecstatic prayer. Joseph’s extraordinary mystical experiences came to the fore on October 4, 1630, during a procession celebrating Saint Francis of Assisi. To the astonishment of onlookers, Joseph levitated, floating above them. 
 
Overwhelmed by the experience, he retreated to his mother’s residence in embarrassment. But these miraculous levitations persisted. Simple triggers like hymns, mentions of Jesus or Mary, or the euphoria of Mass would often find him airborne. 
 
So profound was this phenomenon that even an audience with      wasn’t exempt. As he knelt to revere the Pope, Joseph found himself lifted off the ground, only to descend on the order of his superior. Church authorities investigated these events and gathered documentation from numerous credible eyewitnesses. 
 
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 to control the public circus like atmosphere that was detracting from the tenets of the faith. 

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. Joseph did not celebrate Mass in public or eat in the communal dining halls for much of his final 35 years.


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. The city of Cupertino, California, is named after Saint Joseph of Cupertino.

References

  1. Giorgi, E. (2026, September 18). September 18: Saint Joseph of Cupertino. Home Page Di Vatican State. https://www.vaticanstate.va/en/state-and-government/general-informations/saint-of-the-day/2584-september-18-saint-joseph-of-cupertino.html
  2. uCatholic, & uCatholic. (2026, September 18). Saint Joseph of Cupertino. uCatholic. https://ucatholic.com/saints/joseph-of-cupertino/
  3. EWTN. (2026b, September 2). St. Joseph of Cupertino | EWTN Mission. EWTN Mission. https://ewtnmission.com/dailysaint/st-joseph-of-cupertino/

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