September 18 | Saint Joseph of Cupertino

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, imagine sitting in a quiet, dimly lit church in 17th century Italy. You're deep in prayer, maybe zoning out a little bit, when suddenly you hear a gasp. You look up and see a man, a friar, in a simple brown habit, actually floating in the air.

He isn't hanging from ropes or performing a magic trick. He is completely absorbed in prayer. Hovering above the ground. This is the life of Saint Joseph of Cupertino, famously known as the Winged Friar. Let's set the scene. Joseph was born on June 17, 1603, in a small Italian town called Cupertino. His life was incredibly hard from the very beginning. His father actually died before Joseph was even born, leaving his family in total poverty. Growing up, Joseph had all the cards stacked against him.

His childhood was full of illness, instability, and social marginalization. On top of that, school was a nightmare for him. He struggled terribly to understand even the most basic subjects, and the people around him quickly labeled him as unreliable or just plain slow. When he got older, Joseph decided he wanted to dedicate his life to God. He tried to join a religious order, but he faced rejection after rejection. Imagine how crushing that must have been. Several communities took one look at his lack of practical skills and his struggles with learning, and they showed him the door.

Finally, a group called the Conventual Franciscans agreed to take him in, but only at the very bottom of the ladder. He was made a lay helper and given the simplest manual chores. But even then, things weren't easy. Joseph was notoriously absent-minded, got easily distracted, and constantly messed up his ordinary, everyday duties. But Joseph had a secret weapon that no school test could measure, an incredibly deep and humble devotion to God. Because of this intense faith, he was eventually allowed to study for the priesthood.

But his academic struggles didn't just magically disappear. In fact, there is a famous tradition about his final exams. Joseph had only managed to successfully study one single question. But by what seemed like a total miracle, or providential intervention, that was the only question his examiners asked him. He passed, not because of his natural abilities, but because of grace.

After he was ordained a priest, things got wild. During prayer, and especially during Mass, Joseph began to experience intense mystical states. He would go into states of ecstasy, becoming totally absorbed in God, even levitating. Witnesses, including church authorities, reported seeing him lift straight off the ground during prayer, especially if someone brought up Jesus, the Eucharist, or the Virgin Mary. Naturally, this caused a massive scene. The church investigated him multiple times to make sure it wasn't a trick or an illusion.

While they found his experiences to be completely authentic, the church also saw a guy who was causing major disruptions. So, what did they do with this flying saint? They hid him away. Joseph spent much of his life under restriction, being secretly transferred from one convent to another, and living in isolation just to keep the crowds away. He was even banned from public ministry for long periods of time.

Joseph's true greatness wasn't that he could levitate. His real heroism was in how he handled being hidden away. He never sought fame or tried to build a massive following. He accepted all the misunderstandings, the isolation, and his own limitations with perfect obedience and peace. The people who lived with him said he was incredibly kind, humble, and patient. Because he knew exactly what it felt like to be rejected and overlooked, he showed massive compassion for anyone else who was struggling. St. Joseph of Cupertino is the patron saint of aviators and pilots, and he is also the patron saint of students, especially those struggling academically, and anyone who feels misunderstood or rejected.

Sometime today, look around. Find someone who seems left out, misunderstood, or like they are having a really hard time. Go out of your way to show them kindness. Invite them to sit with you, or just say hello. Saint Joseph of Cupertino knew how much it hurt to be rejected, and he changed his corner of the world with his kindness. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.