Feast of St. Joseph of Cupertino, Confessor: Missa “Diléctio Dei”
St. Joseph was born in 1603 at Cupertino, in the diocese of Nardo in the Kingdom of Naples. After spending his childhood and adolescence in simplicity and innocence, he finally joined the Franciscan Friars Minor Conventual. After his ordination to the holy priesthood, he gave himself up entirely to a life of devotion to the Lord and his church. His deep devotional life led him to the kind of holiness which is forged through humility, voluntary mortification, and obedience. He was consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and promoted devotion to her among all classes of people as wonderful path to a deeper Christian life and love for Jesus Christ.
It is said that his mother often considered him a nuisance and treated him harshly. Joseph was purported to be slow to learn and absent-minded. He was said to frequently wander aimlessly, with his mouth gaping open. And, he had a bad temper, so, he was not at all popular. He tried to learn the trade of shoemaking, but failed. He asked to become a Franciscan, but they initially would not accept him. Finally he did join the Capuchins. However, for a very short period of time. Eight months later, they sent him away. Sources say it was because he could not seem to do anything right.
He dropped piles of dishes and kept forgetting to do what he was told. His mother was not at all pleased to have the eighteen-year-old Joseph back home again, so she finally got him accepted as a servant at the Franciscan monastery. He was given the friars habit and put to hard work taking care of the horses.
About this time, Joseph began to change. He grew in humility and gentleness, fruits of the Holy Spirit at work in a person. He became more careful and successful at his work. He also began to pray more do more voluntary acts of penance. Finally, he was able to enter the Franciscan order and, eventually, study for the priesthood. Although he was a good and holy friar, he had a very hard time with studies. During his seminary exams, the examiner happened to ask him to explain the only thing he knew well, and so he was ordained a deacon, and later a priest.
After this, the Holy Spirit began to work many amazing miracles through St. Joseph. Over seventy times, people say they saw him rise from the ground while offering mass or praying. Often he went into ecstasy and would be caught up in talking with God. He fell so deeply in love with God that everything he saw only drew him into a deeper union. He said that all the troubles of this world were nothing but the “play” battles children have with popguns. St. Joseph became so famous for the miracles that he was finally kept hidden from the public, but he was happy for the chance to be alone with his beloved Lord. On His part, Jesus never left him alone and one day came to bring him to Heaven. Pope Clement XIII canonized him in 1767. He is the patron saint of air travelers, pilots and learning disabled.
The life of this saint was marked by ecstasies and levitations. The mere mention of God or a spiritual matter was enough to take him out of his senses; at Mass he is said to have frequently floated in the air in rapture. Once as Christmas carols were being sung, he soared to the high altar and knelt in the air, in ecstatic prayer. The people flocked to him in droves seeking help and advice in the confessional, and he assisted many in living a truly devout Christian life. However, this humble man had to endure many severe trials and terrible temptations throughout his life. He died on September 18, 1663.
INTROIT Ecclus. 1: 14, 15
The love of God is honorable wisdom, and they to whom she shall show herself, love her by the sight, and by the knowledge of her great works. ( Ps 83: 2 ) How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts my soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord. V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Repeat The love of God …
COLLECT
O God, Who did it? Why did it go to the world? Thy Son when he was lifted up from the earth, mercifully grant that we, by the merits and example of Thy seraphic confessor, Joseph, being able to deserve, may be worthy to come unto Him. Who with Thee livest and reignest, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, Forever and ever. R. Amen.
EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 13: 1-8
Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians. Brethren: If I speak with tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity, I am becoming a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And if I should have prophecy, and if I should have all faith, and have not charity, I am nothing. And if I should distribute all my goods to the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not; dealeth not perversely; is not puffed up; is not ambitious; seeketh not her own; is not provoked to anger; thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, all things, endureth all things.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Psalm 20: 4-5
O Lord, Thou hast prevented him with blessings of sweetness: Thou hast set on his head a precious stones. V. He asked life of Thee, and Thou hast given him length of days forever, and for ages of ages. Alleluia, alleluia. V. ( Eccles 11:13 ) The eye of God hath looked upon him for good, and hath lifted him up from his low estate, and hath exalted his head. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Matthew 22: 1-14
At that time, Jesus spoke to the chief priests and the Pharisees in parables, saying: call to the marriage. And his servants going forth into the ways, all together they found, both bad and good and the marriage was filled with guests. And the king went on to a person and did not have a wedding garment? but he was silent. Then the king said to the waiters: Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the exterior darkness: there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. ” how are you in hither, not having a wedding garment? but he was silent. Then the king said to the waiters: Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the exterior darkness: there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. ” how are you in hither, not having a wedding garment? but he was silent. Then the king said to the waiters: Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the exterior darkness: there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. “
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 34: 13
But as for me, when they were troublesome to me, I was clothed with haircloth. I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer shall be turned into my bosom.
SECRET
We offer Thee sacrifices of praise, O Lord, in commemoration of Thy saints, by whom we trust to be delivered both from present and from future evils. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who is liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R. Amen.
PREFACE of the Common
It is truly meet and right, for salvation, that we give to thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God: through Christ our Lord. Through Whom the Angels Praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the Heavenly Hosts Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with them we are going to be thee, that you can not be admitted, while we say in lowly praise:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth! Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory! Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
Oh my Jesus,
I believe that Thou art present in the Blessed Sacrament.
I love Thee above all things, and I desire Thee in my soul.
Since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
As though Thou were already there,
I embrace Thee and unite myself wholly to Thee.
Permit not that I should ever be separated from Thee. Amen.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Psalm 68: 30-31
I am poor and sorrowful: Thy salvation, O God, hath set me up. I will praise the name of God with a canticle and I will magnify Him with praise.
POSTCOMMUNION
Refreshed with celestial food and drink, O our God, we humbly beseech Thee that we may be defended by the prayers of the saint whose feast we commemorate, and of whom we have these blessings. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever. R. Amen
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