Devotion to St Joseph

St Teresa encouraged her daughters to have confident recourse to the powerful intercession of St Joseph, the great Saint of the hidden life, and proposes him as a master of the spiritual life of all who seek intimacy with God in prayer, especially in Carmel.

“I wish I could persuade everyone to be devoted to this glorious Saint, for I have great experience of the blessing which he can obtain from God.  I have never known anyone be truly devoted to him and render him particular services who did not notably advance in virtue, for he gives very real help to souls who commend themselves to him.

“Those who practice prayer should have a special affection for him always.  I do not know how anyone can think of the Queen of the Angels, during the time she suffered so much with the Child Jesus, without giving thanks to St. Joseph for the way he helped them. If anyone cannot find a master to teach him how to pray, let him take this glorious Saint as his master and he will not go astray.”

—St. Teresa of Jesus