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Catholic sprouts

The daily podcast for Catholic kids

that strives to plant seeds of faith.

Hello sprouts. Today Sprouts, today is Tuesday, October 22, 2024. Today is also the feast of Pope St. John

Paul II. I'm Kelly Mantone, the founder of accepting the gift, a ministry which supports

the parents of children with disabilities. I'm here as a guest host on the Catholic Sprouts podcast to talk about the first of the first of the first of ministry which supports the parents of children with disabilities.

I'm here as a guest host on the Catholic Sprout's podcast to talk to you about some of my favorite saints, all of whom just happened to have disabilities. Today, I want to tell you the

story of St. Joseph Cooperino. Joseph was born in Italy in the early 1600s. Like Jesus, he was born in a stable,

because his parents were so poor. As a child, he was considered a slow learner and had a notoriously

bad temper. He was always very easily distracted, and it was said he couldn't finish any story he started for lack of words or attention.

But even at an early age, he developed a love of God and the Blessed Mother.

He built a little altar in his home where he would pray every day.

Soon after this started, he got religious visions. He gave up eating meat and fasted

several times a week. When he got older, he decided to learn to become a shoemaker, but failed.

He tried to enter two religious orders, but was turned away by one and kicked out of the other after only

eight months when he kept failing at his duties due to distraction and forgetfulness.

Finally, after his mother pleaded with the superior, he was accepted by an order of Franciscans

to work in their stables and tend to their mule. After working patiently

in the stables with humility and yet a joyful heart for many years, he was allowed to study

for the priesthood. And it was a lot of hard work. Learning hadn't gotten any easier for Joseph as an

adult, but eventually he was ordained.

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