Joseph Moscati was born in Benevento, Italy, on July 25, 1880.
He was born to virtuous Catholic parents being the seventh of
nine children. His father was a lawyer and President of the
Court of Assize in Naples. He was a very friendly and well-liked
person. He was extremely intelligent, pious and prayerful. He
went to medical school at the University of Naples. He studied
rigorously and frequented daily Mass. He suffered much grief
when his beloved father died during his first year in medical
school. He pressed on and graduated with a degree in Medicine
and Surgery, summa cum laude, when he was only 23 years old in
1903. In 1906, he heroically saved many patients who could have
died in the hospital when the roof was collapsing during the
eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. He also was known to save many during
a cholera epidemic in 1911. Later that same year, he became
holder of the Naples University Chair in Chemical Physiology.
Around 1912 or 1913, he made a vow of chastity, consecrating
himself to a life of celibacy