Memorial of Saint Joseph of Cupertino

So who is this saint? Let's turn to Wikipedia:

- born Giuseppe Maria Desa on June 17 1603 at Copertino, Puglia, Italy
- was remarkably slow witted and clumsy as a child- had little formal education- unsuited for scholarship as had a learning disability
- attempted to join the Friars Minor Conventuals at 17 years of age but lack of education prevented him from gaining admittance- was soon after admitted as a Capuchin, but removed from the organization shortly thereafter when his constant fits of ecstasy proved him unsuitable- was admitted into a Franciscan friary near Cupertino in his early twenties
- on October 4 1630 he was assisting in the procession on the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi when he suddenly soared into the sky, where he remained hovering over the crowd- after that on hearing the names of Jesus or Mary, the singing of hymns, during the feast of St. Francis, or while praying at Mass, he would go into dazed state and soar into the air, remaining there until a superior commanded him under obedience to revive
- other paranormal abilities: could smell the bad odor of a sinful person, had the gift of healing
- in 1653 the church authorities transferred him to a Capuchin friary in the hills of Pietarossa and kept him completely out of sight - was ordered to live in seclusion and not speak to anyone except the Bishop, the Vicar General of the Order, his fellow friars, and, in case of a health crisis, a doctor
- on August 10 1663, became ill with a fever- died on the evening of September 18 1663 after receiving the last sacraments, a papal blessing, and reciting the Litany of Our Lady
- was canonized on July 16 1767- because of his many 'flights', he is the patron saint of those traveling by air, astronauts, and pilots who fly for the NATO Alliance- also the patron saint of those undergoing examinations of any kind and of students, having struggled with being a poor student himself

Bible Readings for today (18 Sep, Thu - 24th Week)

1 Corinthians 15: 1-11
It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, the kind of immorality that is not permitted even among the Gentiles, so that someone is cohabiting with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you have been deeply sorrowful instead and removed the one who did this from among you? For even though I am absent physically, I am present in spirit. And I have already judged the one who did this, just as though I were present. When you gather together in the name of our Lord Jesus, and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of our Lord Jesus, turn this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast affects the whole batch of dough? Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch of dough – you are, in fact, without yeast. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. So then, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of vice and evil, but with the bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.
I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. In no way did I mean the immoral people of this world, or the greedy and swindlers and idolaters, since you would then have to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who calls himself a Christian who is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or verbally abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person.

Luke 7: 36-50
Now one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. Then when a woman of that town, who was a sinner, learned that Jesus was dining at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfumed oil. As she stood behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfumed oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” So Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He replied, “Say it, Teacher.” “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then, turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house. You gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss of greeting, but from the time I entered she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfumed oil. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”