Saint Joseph of Cupertino

In a small village in southern Italy called Cupertino, there lived a young boy named Joseph.
Joseph never seemed to know the right thing to do.

He wanted to help his mother around the house, but he was too clumsy.
If he washed the dishes, he broke them.
If he swept the floor, more dust appeared.
If he hung the clothes to dry, it would rain.

At school, things were even worse.
He never learned the lessons the teachers tried to teach him.
He failed every test and never knew why.
Other children called him names and said he was stupid.

Through it all, Joseph tried hard.
He wanted to make his mother proud.
He wanted to graduate from school.
But nothing ever seemed to go his way.

One day, he decided to make a fake diploma to prove to his mother that he had finished school.
When he showed it to her, she knew it was false.
She was angry and said, “Joseph, you disappoint me. You will never amount to anything.”

Her words stung deeply.
Joseph’s heart filled with anger.
He got into fights with those who teased him and cursed at people who mocked him.
But none of it helped.
No one would hire him, and when someone finally did, he always made a mistake and was sent away.

Joseph felt lost, unwanted, and tired of failing.

A New Beginning

One day, a Franciscan friar saw him sitting by the road.
The friar looked at him kindly and said, “My son, would you like to work with us? We could use help in our stables.”

Joseph had nowhere else to go, so he agreed.
He began caring for the animals—feeding them, cleaning their stalls, and keeping them warm.
It wasn’t easy, but he felt peace for the first time in his life.

He began to pray while he worked.
At first, he didn’t know what to say, so he simply spoke from his heart.
“Lord,” he prayed one night, “if You have a plan for me, I will follow it.
I know I am not strong or smart, but I believe You can use me.”

Little by little, Joseph’s heart changed.
He grew calmer, gentler, and more patient.
He began to understand that God’s love was already at work in him.

The Bishop’s Question

One morning, a bishop came to visit the friary.
Jespe was in the field helping a sheep give birth to a tiny lamb.
The bishop stopped and watched the scene quietly.
When the lamb finally stood up on its wobbly legs, Jespe smiled and whispered, “Thank You, Lord.”

The bishop was moved by his kindness and said,
“My son, I have studied the faith my whole life, but there is one mystery I still struggle to understand.
How can God be one, and yet Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?”

Joseph thought for a moment.
He picked up a folded wool blanket nearby and held it out.
“Your Grace,” he said, “it’s like this blanket.
It is folded in three parts, but it is still one blanket.
Each part has its own place, but together they are one and the same.
That is how I think of God—three Persons, but one love that keeps us all warm.”

The bishop smiled softly.
“Thank you, Joseph,” he said. “Your answer has given me peace.”
He never forgot the humble young man in the field who helped him see God more clearly.

The One Question

As time passed, Joseph longed to serve God more deeply.
He wanted to become a priest.
Many people doubted him because of his poor memory, but Joseph had faith.
He knew God wanted him to be a priest, and he trusted that God would help him do it.

When the day came for his examination, Joseph walked calmly into the room.
He carried no notes, only his faith.
The examiner said, “Brother Joseph, please recite and explain Luke 11:27.”

Joseph closed his eyes and began,
“‘Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You.’”
Then he opened his eyes and continued,
“This verse honors the Blessed Virgin Mary, who loved God so deeply that she carried His Son.
And it reminds us that anyone who hears the Word of God and keeps it in their heart is blessed too.
That is what Mary did, and what I hope to do.”

When he finished, the room was silent.
The bishop who had once spoken with him in the field was there.
He smiled and said, “This man’s wisdom comes not from books, but from the Spirit of God.”

That day, Joseph was ordained a priest.
From then on, everyone called him Father Joseph of Cupertino.

The Miracle

Father Joseph prayed with great joy.
When he celebrated Mass, he gave his whole heart to God.
One day, while praying, he felt filled completely with the Holy Spirit.
The joy was so strong that it lifted his heart—and his body—toward Heaven.

The friars around him watched in awe as he prayed with tears of love.
When the prayer ended, he slowly returned to the floor.
He said quietly, “It was not I who lifted myself. The Holy Spirit carried me.”

A Saint for Us All

Saint Joseph of Cupertino never became clever or graceful,
but he became holy.
He learned that when you open your heart to God,
the Holy Spirit can lift you higher than you ever thought possible.

Today, Saint Joseph is known as the patron saint of students, exam-takers, and anyone who struggles to learn or stay calm.
He reminds us that even when we fail or feel small, God’s plan is still unfolding in our lives.

A Child’s Prayer to Saint Joseph of Cupertino

My dear friend, Saint Joseph,
Sometimes I feel lost and angry.
I do not know the answers, and my heart feels heavy.
Through your power of prayer,
help me find peace and clarity.
Keep my hand steady and my thoughts kind.
Help me love God the way you did.
Fill my heart with His Spirit,
so that I may fly too.