St. Joseph of Cupertino September 18th “Mystic... [whose mother] was obliged to give birth to her child in a stable. He was apprenticed to a shoemaker, but at the age of 17 he tried to be admitted to the …More
St. Joseph of Cupertino
September 18th
“Mystic... [whose mother] was obliged to give birth to her child in a stable. He was apprenticed to a shoemaker, but at the age of 17 he tried to be admitted to the Friars Minor Conventuals & was refused on account of his ignorance. He then applied to the Capuchins... where he was accepted as a lay-brother in 1620, but his continual ecstasies unfitted him for work & he was dismissed. His mother & his uncles abused him as a good-for-nothing, but Joseph did not lose hope. By his continued prayers & tears he succeeded in obtaining permission to work in the stable as lay help or oblate at [a] Franciscan convent... He now gave evidence of great virtues, humility, obedience, and love of penance... [In 1628,] on 28 March he was raised to the priesthood. Joseph was but little versed in human knowledge... he was able to read but poorly, yet infused by knowledge & supernatural light he not only surpassed all ordinary men in the learning of the schools but could solve the most intricate questions.
... Everything that in any way had reference to God or holy things would bring on an ecstatic state: the sound of a bell or of church music, the mention of the name of God or of the Blessed Virgin or of a saint, any event in the life of Christ... [etc]... only the voice of his superior would make him obey... Frequently he would be raised from his feet and remain suspended in the air... Since such occurrences in public caused much admiration and also disturbance in a community, Joseph for 35 years was not allowed to... say Mass in church, but was ordered to remain in his room, where a private chapel was prepared for him. Evil-minded and envious men even brought him before the Inquisition... but Joseph retained his resigned and joyous spirit, submitting confidently to Divine Providence. He practised mortification and fasting to such a degree, that he kept seven Lents of 40 days each year, and during many of them tasted no food except on Thursdays and Sundays... (1913, Catholic Encyclopedia)
September 18th
“Mystic... [whose mother] was obliged to give birth to her child in a stable. He was apprenticed to a shoemaker, but at the age of 17 he tried to be admitted to the Friars Minor Conventuals & was refused on account of his ignorance. He then applied to the Capuchins... where he was accepted as a lay-brother in 1620, but his continual ecstasies unfitted him for work & he was dismissed. His mother & his uncles abused him as a good-for-nothing, but Joseph did not lose hope. By his continued prayers & tears he succeeded in obtaining permission to work in the stable as lay help or oblate at [a] Franciscan convent... He now gave evidence of great virtues, humility, obedience, and love of penance... [In 1628,] on 28 March he was raised to the priesthood. Joseph was but little versed in human knowledge... he was able to read but poorly, yet infused by knowledge & supernatural light he not only surpassed all ordinary men in the learning of the schools but could solve the most intricate questions.
... Everything that in any way had reference to God or holy things would bring on an ecstatic state: the sound of a bell or of church music, the mention of the name of God or of the Blessed Virgin or of a saint, any event in the life of Christ... [etc]... only the voice of his superior would make him obey... Frequently he would be raised from his feet and remain suspended in the air... Since such occurrences in public caused much admiration and also disturbance in a community, Joseph for 35 years was not allowed to... say Mass in church, but was ordered to remain in his room, where a private chapel was prepared for him. Evil-minded and envious men even brought him before the Inquisition... but Joseph retained his resigned and joyous spirit, submitting confidently to Divine Providence. He practised mortification and fasting to such a degree, that he kept seven Lents of 40 days each year, and during many of them tasted no food except on Thursdays and Sundays... (1913, Catholic Encyclopedia)