Joseph of Cupertino

Saint Joseph of Cupertino () (June 17, 1603 – September 18, 1663) is an Italian saint. He was said to have been remarkably unclever, but prone to miraculous levitation and intense ecstatic visions that left him gaping. In turn, he is recognized as the patron saint of air travel, aviators, astronauts, people with a mental handicap, test takers, and weak students. He was canonized in 1767.

Early life

Joseph was born Giuseppe Maria Desa in Cupertino, Apulia.

His father, Felice (Felix) Desa, was a carpenter in the fortified town of Cupertino, located in the heel of the boot of Italy, on the Apulian peninsula within the then Kingdom of Naples. Known locally as a charitable man, he often guaranteed the debts of his poorer neighbors, often driving himself into debt as a result. Felix died prior to Joseph's birth, leaving his wife Francesca Panara destitute and pregnant with the future saint.

As a child, Joseph was remarkably slow witted. He suffered from painful ulcers during his childhood, but after a hermit applied oil from the lamp burning before a picture of Our Lady of Grace, Joseph was completely cured of these. He was...
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