Saint
Saint Joseph of Cupertino
Priest of the Ordine dei Frati Minori Conventuali, Cupertino and Osimo, 1603-1663
Early life
Joseph of Cupertino, whose family name was Desa, was born on 17 June 1603 in the small town of Cupertino, in the province of Lecce.[1] His father, Felice, had been caught up in the financial ruin of an acquaintance to whom he had lent money and had fallen into poverty, so the boy came into the world in a stable, like Jesus, and from childhood worked as a shop boy to help the household.[1] He tried to attend school but was struck by a gangrenous ulcer that kept him from his studies for five years, and his mother, Franceschina Panaca, gave him a basic formation by telling him the lives of the saints, such as Saint Francis.[1]
Vocation
At 16 he asked to enter the order of the Frati Francescani Conventuali at the convent of the Grottella.[1] His poor schooling did not help him and he had to turn back; he then approached the Francescani Riformati and the Cappuccini of Martina Franca, but the answer was the same: his lack of instruction, together with the first ecstasies during which he let everything fall from his hands, made him unsuited to community life.[1] Meanwhile the Supremo Tribunale of Naples ruled that on coming of age he would be obliged to work without pay until his late father's debt was paid, and faced with this the young man again asked for admission to the convent of the Grottella, where the friars took his situation to heart and helped him undertake a course of studies.[1] At the examination for the diaconate he knew in depth only one passage of the Gospel, and it was that very passage the examining bishop asked him to comment on; three years later, at the examination for the priesthood, the bishop questioned some candidates, found them well prepared and admitted all the others, and in 1628 he was ordained a priest.[1]
Ministry
Aware of his cultural limits, he did not disdain the simplest manual work, devoted himself to the service of the poorest, and even nicknamed himself 'Fratel Asino'.[1] The phenomena of ecstasy and levitation grew more marked in him, particularly when he pronounced the names of Jesus and Mary.[1] These episodes drew the attention of the Inquisition of Naples, which summoned him; before the judges in the Monastero di San Gregorio Armeno he had a levitation, was acquitted of every charge, and was confined by the Sant'Uffizio in isolation, far from the crowds.[1] He passed from one convent to another, Rome, Assisi, Pietrarubbia, Fossombrone, until in 1656, by the will of Pope Alexander VII, he reached Osimo, near Ancona, where he remained until his death.[1]
Death and recognition
He died on 18 September 1663 at the age of 60.[1] Benedict XIV beatified him in 1753, and Clement XIII proclaimed him a saint on 16 July 1767.[1] His remains rest in a gilded bronze urn in the crypt of the church of Osimo dedicated to him, and a sanctuary has also been built in his honour at Cupertino, above the stable in which he was born.[1]
Follow the evidence
Sources and notes
- Giuseppe da Copertino
Dicastery for the Causes of Saints · Italian
Accessed 2026-09-05
Editorial notes
Translated and condensed from the Dicastery's official Italian profile by an automated pass on 2026-09-09; identity matched on the death date and name; editorial review pending.
This is an AI-assisted draft prepared from the sources above. Its citations identify its evidence; they do not replace a historical review.
The inherited biography
The earlier biography for this record.
Read the inherited biography
Saint Joseph of Cupertino, also known as Giuseppe da Copertino, Joseph Desa, Joseph of Copertino, the Flying Friar, and the Gaper, was born on June 17, 1603, in Cupertino, in the kingdom of Naples, Italy. His father, Felice Desa, was a poor carpenter who passed away before Joseph's birth. Sadly, creditors forced his mother, Francesca Panara, out of their home, and Joseph was born in a stable. From a young age, Joseph began experiencing ecstatic visions that would leave him gaping and staring into space. Despite his extraordinary spiritual encounters, he also possessed a hot temper, which his strict mother worked tirelessly to help him overcome. At the age of eight, Joseph started receiving these visions that were triggered by different stimuli like church bells, music, and even specific events related to Christ and the saints.
As Joseph grew older, he was apprenticed to a shoemaker. However, his desire to embrace a religious life led him to apply for admission to the Friars Minor Conventuals at the age of 17. Unfortunately, he was turned away because of his lack of education. Undeterred, he then applied to the Capuchins and was accepted as a lay-brother in 1620. However, his frequent ecstasies made him unsuitable for work, and he was eventually dismissed. Despite facing rejection, Joseph persevered in his prayers. Eventually, he was accepted as an oblate at the Franciscan convent near Cupertino. His virtuous character and devotion to the faith led him to become a cleric at the young age of 22. Just three years later, at 25, he was ordained as a priest.
Although Joseph had limited literary skills, he possessed an incredible gift of spiritual knowledge and discernment that allowed him to unravel intricate theological questions. Joseph's life became a series of remarkable visions and ecstasies. The triggering factors could be anything related to his faith, such as the sound of a church bell, music, or even the mention of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or a saint. Nothing could bring him out of these trances except the voice of his superior in the order. During his ecstasies, he would often levitate and float, which is why he became the patron saint of people involved in air travel. Even in the 17th century, Joseph's ecstatic experiences in public stirred both admiration and disturbance within the community.
This led to strict regulations imposed on him for 35 years. He was prohibited from attending choir, going to the common refectory, participating in processions, or saying Mass in the church. In order to prevent making a spectacle out of his ecstasies, Joseph was confined to his room, which included a private chapel. As time went on, Joseph was brought before the Inquisition and was continuously moved between various Capuchin and Franciscan houses. However, despite facing these challenges, he remained joyful and submitted himself to Divine Providence. He never allowed his faith to be shaken and continued to observe seven Lents of 40 days each year. Saint Joseph of Cupertino passed away on September 18, 1663, in Ossimo, Italy, from a severe and rapidly developed fever.
He was laid to rest in the Crypt of the Sanctuary in the Church of Saint Francis in Ossimo. Recognizing his extraordinary holiness and spiritual gifts, Pope Benedict XIV beatified Joseph on February 24, 1753. Later, on July 16, 1767, Pope Clement XIII canonized him as a saint. Saint Joseph of Cupertino is revered as the patron saint of air crews, Air Forces, air travelers, aircraft pilots, astronauts, aviators, flyers, paratroopers, students, and test takers. He is also recognized as the patron saint of Cupertino, Italy, and Ossimo, Italy. His life serves as a testament to the power of faith and the extraordinary ways in which God can work through humble and unlikely individuals.
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