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 JOSEPH

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JOSEPH

the old university in 1657. Under the direction of Father Remy de Sadeleer, the congregation made great progress and, on 23 Sept., 1S63, obtained a laud- atory Brief from the Holy See. In 1869 the father general sent a few members of the congregation to England, where they opened a large college at Croy- don. On 21 Sept. of the same year, Father Felicien Campe was elected superior general for twelve years and, in accordance with the general desire of the mem- bers of the congregation, set to work to obtain from Rome the honour of the priesthood for his spiritual sons. Re-elected in 1881, Father Campe, in 1884, bought from Lord Petre a property of 110 acres, at Weybridge, in the County of Surrey; St. George's College, Croydon, too small for the ever-increasing number of boys, was sold, and the students transferred to Weybridge.

The congregation was declared sacerdotal in March, 1897, by Leo XIII, who appointed Cardinal Svampa protector of the institute. The sixth superior general. Father Felix de Vlieghe, named in January, 1899, opened at the mother-house a "little novitiate", for the training of boys from the age of fourteen, who feel themselves calletl to the rehgious life. On 9 July, 1901, Leo XIII solemnly approved of the institute, and in 1907 Cardinal Merry del Val was named pro- tector of the congregation.

J. O. Turner.

Joseph o£ Arimathea. — .\11 that is known for certain concerning him is derived from the canonical Gospels. He was born at Arimathea — hence his sur- name — "a city of Judea" (Luke, xxiii, 51), which is very likely identical with Ramatha, the birthplace of the Prophet Samuel, although several scholars pre- fer to identify it with the town of Ramleh. He was a wealthy Israehte (Matt., xxvii, 57), "a good and a just man" (Luke, xxiii, 50), "who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God" (Mark, xv, 43). He is also called by St. Mark and by St. Luke a PovXevT-qs, literally "a senator", whereby is meant a member of the Sanhedrin or supreme council of the Jews. He was a disciple of Jesus, probably ever since Christ's first preaching in Judea (John, ii, 23), but he did not declare himself as such "for fear of the Jews" (John, xix, 38). On account of this secret allegiance to Jesus, he did not consent to His condemnation by the Sanhedrin (Luke, xxiii, 51), and was most likely absent from the meeting which sentenced Jesus to death (cf. Mark, xiv, 64).

The Crucifixion of the Master quickened Joseph's faith and love, and suggested to him that he should provide for Christ's burial before the Sabbath began. Unmindful therefore of all personal danger, a danger which was indeed considerable under the circumstances, he boldly requested from Pilate the Body of Jesus, and was successful in his request (Mark, xv, 43-45). Once in possession of this sacred treasure, he — together with Nicodemus, whom his courage had likewise emboldened, and who brought abundant spices — wrapped up Christ's Body in fine linen and grave bands, laid it in his own tomb, new and yet unused, and hewn out of a rock in a neigh- bouring garden, and withdrew after rolling a great stone to the opening of the sepulchre (Matt., xxvii, 59, 60; Mark, xv, 46; Luke, xxiii, 53; John, xix, 38- 42). 'Thus was fulfilled Isaias's prediction that the grave of the Messias would be with a rich man (Is., liii, 9). The Greek Church celebrates the feast of Joseph of Arimathea on 31 July, and the Roman Church on 17 March. The additional details which are found concerning him in the apocryphal "Acta Pilati",are unworthy of credence. Likewise fabu- lous is the legend which tells of his coming to Gaul A. D. 6;i, anfl thence to Great Britain, where he is supposed to have founded the earliest Christian ora- tory at Glastonbury. Finally, the story of the

translation of the body of Joseph of Arimathea from Jeru.?alem to Moyenmonstre (Diocese of Toul) origi- nated late and is unreliable.

.\ssEMANi, Bibliotheca Orientalis. Ill (Rome, 1725); LlCB- TEMBERGER, Encyclop. des sciences religieuses, VII (Paris. 1S80) ; Anie-Nicene Fathers. VII (Buffalo, 1886): Vig., Did. de la Bible, s. V. 15. Joseph d'Arimathie; Le Camus, Life of Christ, III (tr., New York, 190S).

Feancis E. Gigot.

Joseph of Cupertino, Saint, mystic, born 17 June,

1603; died at Osimo IS Sept., 1663; feast, 18 Sept. Joseph received his surname from Cupertino, a small village in the Diocese of Nardo, lying between Brindisi and Otranto in the Kingdom of Naples. His father Felice Desa, a poor carpenter, died before Joseph was born and left some debts, in consequence of which the creditors drove the mother, Francesca Panara, from her home, and she was obliged to give birth to her child in a stable. In his eighth year Joseph had an ecstatic vision while at school and this was renewed several times; so that the children, seeing him gape and stare on such occasions, lost to all things about him, gave him the sobriquet " Bocca Aperta". At the same time he had a hot and irascible temper which his strict mother strove hard to overcome. He was apprenticed to a shoemaker, but at the age of seventeen he tried to be admitted to the Friars Minor Conven- tuals and was refused on account of liis ignorance. He then applied to the Capuchins at Martino near Tar- ento, where he was accepted as a lay-brother in 1620, but his continual ecstasies unfitted him for work and he was dismissed. His mother and liis uncles abused him as a good-for-nothing, but Joseph did not lose hope. By his continued prayers and tears he suc- ceeded in obtaining permission to work in the stable as lay help or oblate at the Franciscan convent of La Grotella near Cupertino. He now gave evidence of great virtues, humility, obedience, and love of penance to such an extent that he was admitted to the clerical state in 1625, and three years later, on 28 March he was raised to the priesthood. Joseph was but little versed in human knowledge, for his biographers relate that he was able to read but poorly, yet by infused knowledge and supernatural light he not only sur- passed all ordinary men in the learning of the schools but could solve the most intricate questions.

His life was now one long succession of visions and other heavenly favours. Everj'thing that in any way had reference to God or holy things would bring on an ecstatic state: the sound of a bell or of church music, the mention of the name of God or of the Blessed Virgin or of a saint, any event in the life of Christ, the sacred Passion, a holy picture, the thought of the glory in heaven, all would put Joseph into contem- plation. Neither dragging him about, buffeting, piercing with needles, nor even burning liis flesh with candles would have any effect on him — only the voice of his superior would make him obey. These condi- tions would occur at any time or place, especially at Mass or during Divine Service. Frequently he would be raised from his feet and remain suspended in the air. Besides he would at times hear heavenly music. Since such occurrences in public caused much admira- tion and also disturbance in a community, Joseph for thirty-five years was not allowed to attend choir, go to the common refectory, walk in procession or say Mass in church, but was ordered to remain in his room, where a private chapel was prepared for him. Evil- minded and envious men even brought him before the Inquisition, and he was sent from one lonely house of the Capuchins or Franciscans to another, Ijut Joseph retained his resigned and joyous spirit, svilmiitting confidently to Divine Provitlence. He practised mor- tification and fa.'iting to such a degree, that he kept seven Lents of forty days each year, imd during many of them tasted no food except on Tlunsdays and Sun- days. His body is in the clmrch at Osimo. He was