Today, September 18, is the memorial of Saint Joseph of Cupertino.
Patron saint of examination-takers, students, pilots, and astronauts.
Joseph was born to a poor family. Even at age eight, he was already having ecstatic visions that left him gaping and staring into space. He had a hot temper which he overcame, and was known for having a low IQ. Thus the villagers made fun of him, but Joseph carried on with joy.
Later on, he was accepted into the Conventual Franciscans and was assigned to take care of the friary mule. Nevertheless, he went on practicing the virtues and leading an intense prayer life. He became a cleric at 22 and became a priest three years later.
The story goes that he was about to take a big exam for the priesthood. He was trying to study, but could only manage to remember one portion of the book. He prayed that that portion will be asked during the exam. The following day, that part was indeed asked in the exam and Joseph passed!
Joseph’s life was known for visions and ecstasies, all of them triggered any time or place by the sound of a church bell, 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, the sacred Passion, a holy picture, the thought of the glory in heaven, etc. Everybody tried to take him out of his ecstasies: yelling at him, beating him with sticks, pinching him, burning him with a candle, piercing with needles – all failed. Only the command of his superior would Joseph snap out of it. Not only did he levitate, he also floated (thus his association with pilots and astronauts), and heard heavenly music.
During his time, such extraordinary experiences such as levitation and ecstasy caused both admiration and disturbance in the community. For 35 years, Joseph was commanded not to go to choir, the refectory, walk in procession, or say Mass in church. He was forbidden from going out in public lest he turn into a public attraction. He was transferred from one community to another, always with the strict order to stay in his room. He endured all this with prayer, joy, and obedience.
He died in 1663 of natural causes. He was beatified in 1753 by Pope Benedict XIV. He was canonized in 1767 by Pope Clement III.