The Flying Friar

Fr. Scott Haynes

St. Joseph of Cupertino (1603–1663), known as "The Flying Friar," is one of the most extraordinary saints in the history of the Church. His life was marked by a profound simplicity, humility, and miraculous events that left his contemporaries in awe. Through his levitations during prayer, healing miracles, and deep union with God, St. Joseph became a living witness to the virtues of the Gospel. His life story reveals the beauty of obedience, humility, love of God, and childlike faith, offering Catholics a powerful model of how to live in the spirit of the Beatitudes.

 

Early Life and Humble Beginnings

 

Joseph was born on June 17, 1603, in Cupertino, a small town in the Kingdom of Naples. His early life was fraught with difficulties. His father died before he was born, leaving his mother, Francesca Panara, to raise him in extreme poverty. His childhood was marked by frequent illness and a reputation for being somewhat absent-minded, earning him the nickname "Bocca Aperta" or "the gaper" due to his habit of staring into space with his mouth open. Despite his challenges, Joseph showed an early devotion to prayer and had a natural inclination toward piety, although he struggled academically.

 

Joseph's desire to become a Franciscan friar was met with rejection at first. He was turned away due to his lack of education and inability to perform simple tasks. Eventually, he was accepted as a lay brother at a Franciscan monastery in the town of Grotella. His humility and willingness to do even the most menial jobs impressed his superiors, and after some time, he was ordained a priest. The road to ordination was not without its trials; Joseph’s academic struggles meant he had great difficulty passing the necessary exams. However, through divine intervention, he was asked to explain a passage of Scripture he knew well and passed the exam miraculously.

 

Levitation and Ecstasies: Witnesses to His Union with God

St. Joseph is most famously known for his ability to levitate during prayer. His deep union with God would frequently transport him into ecstatic states, during which he would physically rise into the air, often remaining suspended for long periods. These levitations were witnessed by numerous people, including his fellow friars, laypersons, and even high-ranking Church officials. One of the most well-known instances of levitation occurred during a visit from Pope Urban VIII. When Joseph was brought before the pope, he fell into an ecstasy and rose several feet off the ground. The pope, struck by the miracle, remarked, "If Brother Joseph dies during my pontificate, I will myself testify to his sanctity."

 

The numerous levitations of St. Joseph led to increasing scrutiny, and some even accused him of being a fraud. Yet, his unwavering humility and love for God were unmistakable. He is known to have said, "God gives me wings to fly toward Him"—a reflection of his simple, childlike trust in God's providence. His levitations were not a source of pride for him but a sign of his intense mystical union with Christ.

 

Miracles of Healing and Intercession

 

In addition to his levitations, St. Joseph was known for his miraculous healings. People from far and wide would come to him, seeking cures for various ailments. Joseph, in his humility, always attributed these miracles to God's power, never claiming any credit for himself. One notable instance involved the healing of a young girl who had been paralyzed for several years. After praying over her and making the sign of the cross, Joseph told her to rise, and she immediately stood up, completely healed.

 

Another documented miracle occurred when Joseph healed a deaf man. The man had come to Joseph during one of his ecstasies, hoping for a cure. Joseph, still absorbed in prayer, laid his hands on the man, and instantly, his hearing was restored. As with many other miracles in his life, Joseph offered no explanation, simply continuing his prayers as if nothing had happened. His quiet acceptance of the miraculous was a testament to his profound trust in God's will.

 

Humility in Obedience

 

Despite the great signs and wonders that followed Joseph, he remained intensely humble. In fact, his miraculous gifts became a source of personal suffering. His superiors, concerned about the attention his levitations and miracles were attracting, often transferred him to different monasteries to avoid scandal. For 35 years, Joseph lived under strict supervision, subjected to countless tests and interrogations to prove the authenticity of his mystical experiences. He never resisted or complained, embodying the Gospel virtue of obedience.

 

As he once said, "Obedience is my only guide; I desire only to follow the will of my superiors, for they are the voice of God to me." His total submission to the will of his superiors, even when it meant suffering and isolation, mirrors Christ’s obedience to the Father, particularly during His Passion.

 

St. Alphonsus Liguori, a Doctor of the Church, admired Joseph's humility, remarking, "He was a soul wholly resigned to the will of God, living as if dead to the world, and inflamed with the love of Jesus Christ."

 

Simplicity and Childlike Faith

 

St. Joseph of Cupertino exemplified the Gospel virtue of simplicity. His deep and childlike trust in God permeated every aspect of his life. He took the words of Christ in Matthew 18:3 to heart: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Joseph's childlike faith was expressed not only in his trust in God's providence but also in his lifestyle. He lived in poverty, taking joy in the simplest things and remaining detached from worldly honors and goods.

 

When asked about his ecstatic experiences, Joseph responded with humility: "The little bird flies into the air because it feels the warmth of the sun, but when the sun is hidden, it returns to the earth. So, too, do I rise when the warmth of divine love lifts me, and I return to the ground when it departs."

 

This image of the little bird is a perfect analogy for Joseph’s relationship with God—a relationship marked by absolute dependence on divine love. Like the bird who is sustained by the warmth of the sun, Joseph’s entire life was sustained by his love for Christ.

 

Exemplifying the Gospel Virtues

 

1. Humility: St. Joseph’s life was characterized by his deep humility. Despite his miraculous gifts, he remained profoundly aware of his own nothingness. In every instance of his mystical experiences, he gave all credit to God. As St. James writes, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:10). Joseph lived this commandment, allowing God to elevate him spiritually and, at times, even physically.

 

2. Obedience: Throughout his life, Joseph practiced perfect obedience to his superiors, even when it caused him suffering. In this, he imitated Christ, who was "obedient unto death" (Philippians 2:8). Joseph’s willingness to accept transfers, interrogations, and isolation without complaint speaks to his interior detachment from worldly recognition and honors.

 

3. Poverty: Joseph embraced material poverty and spiritual poverty of heart. He owned nothing and desired nothing, fully trusting in God’s provision. This reflects the Beatitude, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3).

 

4. Love of God: Above all, Joseph's life was marked by an intense love for God. His ecstatic states and levitations were physical manifestations of his soul's longing to be united with the Divine. This love for God spilled over into his interactions with others, as he healed the sick and comforted the afflicted.

 

5. Simplicity: Like Christ, who said, “Let the little children come to me” (Mark 10:14), Joseph possessed a childlike simplicity and trust in God. His life exemplifies the Gospel ideal of living simply and relying on God for all things.

 

Quotes from St. Joseph Cupertino

 

In addition to the quote about his "wings to fly toward God," St. Joseph is known to have said, “The closer we are to God, the more intense is our suffering; it is, however, a suffering full of peace, a suffering full of consolation.”

 

This statement reflects Joseph’s deep understanding of the paradox of the Christian life: that suffering, when united to Christ, becomes a source of peace and consolation. This is reminiscent of St. Paul’s words in Romans 5:3-4, “We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

 

Death and Legacy

 

St. Joseph of Cupertino died on September 18, 1663. His reputation for holiness had already spread throughout Italy, and after his death, devotion to him grew. He was canonized by Pope Clement XIII in 1767. Today, he is the patron saint of aviators, students, and those suffering from mental disabilities—an ironic tribute to a man who struggled with academic learning but soared in the knowledge of God.

 

St. Joseph’s life remains a powerful testimony to the fact that God chooses the weak and humble to accomplish His greatest works. As Jesus said in Matthew 11:25, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”

 

Conclusion

 

St. Joseph of Cupertino exemplifies the Gospel virtues of humility, obedience, poverty, love of God, and simplicity. His life reminds us that true holiness consists not in worldly success or human recognition but in a heart completely surrendered to God. His miracles of levitation and healing are signs of God’s power at work in those who are humble and obedient. However, the true miracle of St. Joseph’s life is found in his profound humility and childlike trust in God. He serves as a model for all Catholics, reminding us that holiness is not about extraordinary accomplishments but about ordinary faithfulness to God's will. By embracing humility, obedience, and a simple love of God, we, too, can become instruments of His grace, as St. Joseph of Cupertino so beautifully demonstrated throughout his life.

 

St. Joseph's unwavering faith and miracles testify to a life fully lived in union with God, where even the impossible becomes possible for those who believe.