St. Joseph of Cupertino: The Flying Saint Who Loved God Above All

About this sermon

Saint Joseph of Cupertino is remembered as the “Flying Saint” because he frequently levitated during prayer and Holy Mass. Yet the greatest wonder of his life was not that his body rose into the air—it was that his heart burned with an intense and enduring love of God. This traditional Catholic homily reflects upon the two outstanding marks found in the saints: love of God and closeness to the Cross of Jesus Christ. Like Saint Francis of Assisi, whose stigmata visibly reproduced the wounds of the Crucified, Saint Joseph belonged to the Seraphic Order. The Seraphim are the highest of the nine choirs of angels and are called the “burning ones” because they burn with divine love. In the same way, Saint Joseph’s entire life was ruled by love for God. From an early age, Joseph practiced prayer, mortification, fasting, and penance. After becoming a priest, he reportedly passed five years without tasting bread or wine, living instead upon herbs and dried fruits. His austere life expressed his desire to remain close to the Cross. On one remarkable occasion, a heavy cross needed to complete a Calvary scene lay far from its intended place. Saint Joseph flew from his monastery to the cross, lifted it as though it were a splinter, and placed it into the prepared opening. This extraordinary event offers a spiritual lesson for every Christian: fly toward the Cross, willingly carry it, and accept the place God has prepared for it within your life. At the names of God, Jesus, or Mary, Saint Joseph was often carried beyond himself in loving ecstasy. He prayed: “Vouchsafe, O my God, to fill and possess all my heart. O that my soul were freed from the chains of the body and united to Jesus Christ! Jesus, Jesus, draw me to Thyself. I am not able to live any longer on the earth.” His message to others was beautifully simple: “Love God. He in whom this love reigns is rich, although he may not perceive it.” The Epistle from 1 Corinthians 13 teaches that charity is the greatest of God’s gifts. Saint Joseph did not merely understand this teaching intellectually—he lived it. His holy wisdom illuminated his mind and inflamed his heart with love for God. True wisdom is not simply the possession of knowledge. It is recognizing that God is our supreme treasure, longing to possess Him, and desiring to see Him face-to-face for all eternity. May Saint Joseph of Cupertino obtain for us a seraphic heart that values God above everything else. Saint Joseph of Cupertino, pray for us. 00:00 Opening prayer 00:11 The two outstanding marks of the saints 00:22 Closeness to the Cross of Christ 00:28 The stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi 00:47 The greater interior miracle 01:15 A soul burning with the love of God 01:24 The Seraphim—the burning ones 01:46 What does “seraphic” mean? 01:53 St. Joseph and the Seraphic Order 02:09 The seraphic confessor 02:22 Love of God and closeness to the Cross For more please visit https://svfonline.org/ & remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest #Catholic #SaintJosephOfCupertino #CatholicSermon #LoveOfGod #CatholicFaith #CatholicHomily #CatholicSaints #CatholicChurch #TraditionalCatholic #CatholicWisdom #CatholicSpirituality #SaintsAndMiracles 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

Topics

• Love & Compassion