00 18/09/2012 18:48


Tuesday, Sept. 18, 24th Week in Ordinary Time

Center photo: The saint's tomb in Osimo.
ST. GIUSEPPE DA COPERTINO (Joseph of Cupertino)(Italy, 1603-1663), Franciscan Mystic, Confessor
Born in Italy's southeastern region of Apulia (Puglia), Giuseppe was ill-tempered and dull-witted as a boy. After being rebuffed many times for lack of education, he was finally admitted to the Capuchin order, where he became known both for his learning disability and for his ecstasies in which we wandered about in a daze. He was assigned menial tasks in the kitchen and with the animals. It was said that since he could learn only one thing at a time, he lucked out and became a deacon when the question he was asked happened to be the one question he had studied. And that later, he lucked out again when the other candidates for priesthood in his 'class' did so well at exams that everyone else was passed. Two years after he was ordained a priest, during a procession for St. Francis, he astounded everyone with his first 'flight' - his ecstasy sent him soaring into the air where he hovered for some time over the procession. In his lifetime, more than 70 such flights would be documented, usually touched off by the simple mention of the name of Jesus or Mary. The most famous of these flights took place at the Vatican when he was overcome by being in the presence of the Vicar of Christ (Urban VIII at the time). His 'flights', along with healing powers, brought him such fame that people tore off pieces from his habit as relics, and eventually, the Vatican had to order him exiled and 'concealed' in various places, including the Sacro Convento in Assisi, where he remained for nine years. He continued to be sought out by prominent people. His final exile was to Osimo near Ancona, where he was prohibited from talking to anyone but his Bishop and superior, and if necessary, a doctor. He fell ill in August 1963, and had another ecstatic flight during the last Mass he celebrated, on the Feast of the Assumption. He died shortly thereafter. He was buried in the Church of St. Francis in Osimo, where a marble altar was erected to hold the g;ass urn containing his remains. He was canonized in 1767. He is the patron saint of pilots, astronauts, paratroopers and also of students.
Readings for today's Mass:
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/091812.cfm



AT THE VATICAN TODAY

- No events announced for the Holy Father.

- The Press Office released the list of bishops named by Pope Benedict XVI to take part as Synodal Fathers in
the General Synodal Assembly on the New Evangelization to be held at the Vatican from Oct. 7-28.

- The following communique was also released:
The Holy See will participate once again this year in the celebration of the 'European Days of Patrimony', an annual observance promoted by the Council of Europe in which 50 states of the European continent take part.

This year's observance, on Sept. 30 is on the theme "Images of faith in the European patrimony". The Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Assets of the Church and the Vatican Museums contributed to preparing the program of events. On that day, entrance will be free to the Vatican Museums.


One year ago today...
The Vatican released the text of the Holy Father's video-message to the German people on the eve
of his apostolic and state visit. The video was played on German TV the previous night.
www.ardmediathek.de/ard/servlet/content/3517136?documentId...


I see Photobucket is 'acting up' again this morning today - I must say these episodes are getting more frequent. The first 24 hours of the Pope's visit to Lebanon,
I couldn't upload on it and was forced to use the far less wieldy Image Shack, which does not provide the image links as cleanly and directly as Photobucket does
and therefore takes up more time to use.

[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 18/09/2012 19:00]