Joseph of Cupertino is fascinating just by his patronage as a saint: patron of astronauts, aviation, air travelers, pilots, students in general, students with learning disabilities, and test takers. What an interesting range. He was born in 1603 in to a poor family. He was born in a shed because his father had to put their house up for sale due to his financial difficulties. When Joseph was young, his father died. His widowed mother was very abusive to him. As a child, Joseph was angry and absent-minded. He grew in his faith, but failed as a shoemaker’s apprentice and was refused entrance by several monasteries. The Capuchin Franciscan order accepted him on a trial basis as a lay brother, but he was inept in any responsibility they gave him, so he was thrown out. His uncle, a Franciscan friar, accepted him as a servant, where he was given the task of cleaning out the monastery’s stables. He was diligent at the duties given to him and devoted to his prayers. He had a very humble kind disposition. Although he did not excel in his studies in seminary, he was ordained as a Franciscan priest in 1628. After his ordination, he experienced ecstasies and visions and was able to perform miracles. In his ecstasy state, he could not be awakened. He was known for his great kindness to animals. During Mass or prayer, he was observed levitating more than 70 times, which is why he is that patron saint of aviation, pilots, astronauts, and air travelers. He moved to the Franciscan monastery in Assisi and attracted attention from many well-known political figures and religious leaders due to his reputation for levitating and performing miracles. This caused many distractions in the monastery, so he was forbidden to pray or celebrate mass in public. He lived the rest of his life in isolation. He died at the age of 60 in 1663.
In the 7th chapter of Luke’s Gospel, which comes right before today's Gospel, we hear about different people who come to Jesus for help: a centurion who has a sick slave, a widow who mourns her deceased son, the disciples of John the Baptist who want to get to know Jesus, and a sinful woman who anoints Jesus feet with costly ointment as a symbol of her repentance and sorrow for her sinful past . Each of them comes to Jesus out a desperate, harsh reality, out of pain, sorrow, and suffering. In today’s Gospel from the 8th chapter of Luke, we hear about some women who follow Jesus. They came to Jesus for healing and renewal; they chose to become his disciples. Out of the healing and strength that they find in their identity as disciples, they generously give to Jesus and to others. These women came to Jesus in the midst of their reality. Let us also come to Jesus in the midst of own reality, with any brokenness or struggle that we have.
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