Saint of the day, September 18
His struggles never kept him from seeking God, and St. Joseph of Cupertino found in prayer the strength to follow wherever the Lord called him.
September 18 - St. Joseph of Cupertino
Born: June 17, 1603
Died: September 18, 1663
Nationality: Italian
Vocation: Conventual Franciscan priest
Patronage: Air travelers, pilots, and students taking exams
Canonization: 1767 by Pope Clement XIII
St. Joseph of Cupertino faced many struggles on his path to the priesthood, but through prayer and perseverance, he continued following the Lord.
Born in Italy in 1603, Joseph found academics difficult and encountered setbacks as he discerned religious life. He eventually entered the Conventual Franciscans and continued toward the priesthood. Study never came easily to him, but his life of prayer deepened, and he was ordained in 1628.
Joseph became especially known for extraordinary moments during prayer, including numerous reported instances of levitation. The attention they attracted brought difficulties of its own, and Joseph spent periods of his life away from public view. Through it all, he sought to remain humble and obedient.
Even through periods of spiritual difficulty, Joseph remained devoted to prayer and faithful to his vocation. The extraordinary events associated with his life may have drawn attention, but his holiness was rooted in something much simpler: a desire to love God and serve Him faithfully.
Joseph’s life offers encouragement for the moments when we feel limited by what we cannot do. His weaknesses did not keep him from answering God’s call or growing in holiness. Like Joseph, we can bring our struggles to Jesus in prayer and trust Him to work through us as we are.
St. Joseph of Cupertino, pray for us!
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