I came upon this metal from 1941 as it could only find it in the Smithsonian. There is no information beyond that to explain why this was given or what it represents. If anyone could help me, I would appreciate that. It’s Joseph on eagles wings
I don't know what the medal is for. All I can tell you is that it represents Joseph of Cupertino, a Franciscan friar who was mentally challenged, possibly through childhood neglect. He is said to have been a mystic and he performed miracles. He claimed to be able to fly, but it is believed that his flights/levitations were more like very good jumps. Eyewitness accounts all date from after his death. Since levitation was considered a heresy, his claims didn't go down well with the Inquisition, and in the end he was confined to his monastery cell. Years after his death he was canonised, which means he is a Catholic saint. There is a theory that both Joseph and his witnesses had eaten ergot-ridden rye bread, not unusual at the time. Maybe the hallucinations from ergotism made him throw of his clothes.
"Saint Joseph of Cupertino [Copertino] is the patron saint of pilots, Air Force, flying and students with learning disabilities." https://www.patronsaintmedals.com/st-joseph-cupertino-medals/ The quotation of Exodus 19:4 is taken from the King James version of the Bible, which uses the "bare" spelling. "Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself." The same quote is used on a memorial window for a pilot killed in WWI - https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/41234
Ah, thank you for the correction. Without the rest of the line, I was reading it as being in the present tense.
I have read all about him, but and understood it was a medal during the war, but learning the attribute is awesome. Thanks so much
