The Dunce

1 corinthians 12:12-14,27-31; Ps 100 we are his people: the sheep of his flock; Luke 7:11-17

Today in the church we celebrate the memory and life of Joseph Cupertino.

He was considered a Dunce as he grew.  He was absent-minded, awkward, and nervous.  He could not learn very well and was so forgetful that people thought him to be a queer child.

He was clumsy, often breaking things or knocking things over.

He was sickly, often found with one contagious infection after another.  A constant trial was he for his parents and for his neighborhood.

A Dunce!

At the age of 17 he decided he was going to joined the Franciscans since he had two uncles who were friars.

Shortly after jointing he was asked to leave on account of his inability to learn.  THey thought him too stupid to be part of the order.

He later joined the Capuchins but after 8 months was asked to leave because of his clumsiness, he broke everything in the monastery.

Eventually he was accepted into a Franciscan order as a stable boy. He would tend to the animals.

He developed quite a light heartedness that seem to attract people to him, though he remained a trial to those of his order.

Eventually after much difficulty he learned to read. After some time, he was invited to study for the priesthood, though he not very clever.

As he study scripture he seemed to only recall one particular passage Luke 11:27, "Blessed is the womb that bore you."

while standing before the bishop to be examine to see if he was fit for the holy orders, the bishop open up the scriptures and his eyes fell to a particular passage Luke 11:27 and asked joseph to expound on it.

Joseph passed and was later ordained.

Shortly after, miraculous things began to happen to him and around him.  He began to receive mystical visions and the like.

The order often kept him secluded and away from others less the curious people disturb the peace.

Throughout his life he was  trial, harshly treated by his superiors, seldom understood by his peers, and often mistreated by others.  He never lost his joy not did he complain.

He accepted who he was and knew who he was not.

He remains an awkward example of holiness, yet nonetheless Gods chosen vessel.

He was raised to the rank of sainthood shortly after his death.

God chooses who he wills, when he wills it.  I suppose it is important for us to remember that it is not for us to make saints but for God.

Like into day's gospel, Jesus approaches a widow whose only son had died.  Moved by pity he stepped forward and touched the coffin and the young man was brought back to life.

The widow did not ask for the miracle, but Jesus chose to give it nonetheless.

Who are we to begrudge his generosity.  Such is the story and life of St. Joseph Cupertino, the unlikeliest of saints, the dunce of holiness, the reluctant saint, the man of God.

Perhaps we should keep our eyes open and remember that saints are not who we would choose but who God has chosen to bear his visitation to the world.

The stable boy, the dunce of Cupertino pray for us.