St. Joseph of Cupertino is one of the most extraordinary saints of the Franciscan Order. Born in 1603 at Cupertino in the old kingdom of Naples, he appeared to be lacking in even the minimum of those intellectual qualities necessary for a candidate to the religious life. Nevertheless he was accepted by the Conventual Franciscans as a lay brother and even received the priesthood. He was inspired by a tremendous love of God and his neighbor, by unfailing patience in the midst of all sorts of contradictions. His ecstasies rendered him famous. He died at Osimo in central Italy on September 18, 1663.