Joseph of Cupertino facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Joseph of Copertino O.F.M. Conv.
St. Joseph of Copertino is lifted in flight at the site of the Basilica of Loreto, by Ludovico Mazzanti (18th century)
Confessor
Born	Giuseppe Desa 17 June 1603 Copertino, Terra di Otranto, Kingdom of Naples
Died	18 September 1663(1663-09-18) (aged 60) Osimo, Marche, Papal States
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church (Franciscans)
Beatified	24 February 1753, Rome, Papal States by Pope Benedict XIV
Canonized	16 July 1767, Rome, Papal States by Pope Clement XIII
Major shrine	Basilica of St. Joseph of Copertino, Piazza Gallo, 10, Osimo, Ancona, Italy
Feast	18 September
Patronage	The City of Copertino and the City of Osimo, aviation, astronauts, mental handicaps, examinations, students

Joseph of Copertino (born Giuseppe Desa) was an Italian Conventual Franciscan friar. He is honored as a Christian mystic and saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Joseph was known for his amazing experiences, including levitation (floating in the air) and ecstatic visions.

Joseph was born in 1603. He was not considered very smart by others. Despite this, he had many spiritual experiences throughout his life. These experiences sometimes made people make fun of him. He wanted to join the Franciscan friars, but they first said no because he did not have much education.

He then asked if he could work in their stables. After several years, the friars were so impressed by his dedication and simple life. Because of this, he was finally allowed to join their Order in 1625. He later became a Catholic priest.

Early Life and Calling

Joseph was born on June 17, 1603, in a small village called Copertino. This area was then part of the Kingdom of Naples in Italy. His father passed away before Joseph was born. Because of his father's debts, their family home was taken away. Joseph's mother had to give birth to him in a stable.

From a young age, Joseph started having ecstatic visions. These visions continued throughout his life. Sometimes, his strong emotions and visions made him difficult to understand. He also had frequent outbursts of anger. His uncle later arranged for him to work as a shoemaker.

Joseph felt a strong desire to live a religious life. In 1620, he tried to join the Conventual Franciscan friars. However, they turned him down because he did not have much schooling. He then tried to join another group of Franciscans, the Capuchin friars. They accepted him as a lay brother. But he was soon asked to leave because his constant visions made it hard for him to do his duties.

Joining the Friars

After being sent away, Joseph returned to his family. They were not very kind to him. He then went back to the Conventual friars near Copertino. He begged them to let him work in their stables. He worked there for several years. During this time, he showed great devotion and lived a very simple life.

The friars were very impressed by him. In 1625, they finally allowed him to join their Order. He was trained to become a priest. On March 28, 1628, he was ordained as a priest. After becoming a priest, he lived at the Santa Maria della Grotella convent near Copertino for 15 years.

Miraculous Experiences

As Joseph got older, his experiences of ecstasy became more frequent. People said that he would sometimes float in the air, or levitate, during Mass. He was also said to levitate during the Divine Office, which is a set of daily prayers. Because of these events, he became very well-known for his holiness. People from all over the region came to see him.

However, these unusual events caused problems for Joseph. His religious leaders and church authorities found his levitations disruptive. They eventually kept him in a small room. He was not allowed to join in public gatherings with the other friars.

Some people thought that flying or levitation might be connected to witchcraft. Because of this, Joseph was reported to the Inquisition. The Inquisition was a church court that investigated religious matters. They ordered him to be moved from one Franciscan friary to another. This was so they could watch him closely.

He lived in Assisi from 1639 to 1653. Then he briefly moved to Pietrarubbia and finally to Fossombrone. In Fossombrone, he lived with Capuchin friars from 1653 to 1657.

Joseph lived a very strict life. He practiced asceticism, which means he denied himself many comforts. He usually ate solid food only twice a week. He would also add bitter powders to his meals. He followed this strict routine for 35 years of his life.

Finally, on July 9, 1657, Joseph was allowed to return to a Conventual Franciscan community. He was sent to the friary in Osimo. He passed away there shortly after, on September 18, 1663.

Joseph was later recognized for his holy life. He was beatified in 1753 and then canonized as a saint in 1767.

See also

In Spanish: José de Cupertino para niños

• List of Catholic saints
• Saints and levitation
• Padre Pio – another saint with similar spiritual experiences
• Religious ecstasy
• The Reluctant Saint – a 1962 movie about Joseph of Copertino
• San Giuseppe da Copertino, a church in Rome