Devotion to St. Joseph was a hallmark of St. Teresa of Avila. Teresa attributed her miraculous cure to Saint Joseph. When she was living in the Incarnation Convent in Avila, she was struck with an ailment that left her half-dead. She was paralyzed and was presumed dead at one point. She prayed and prayed to Joseph and her prayers were answered. Her paralysis was cured and she was able to walk again even though her health had always been fragile after that.
Saint Joseph is an example of a life so hidden and yet so pleasing
to God. Scriptures did not record for us a word he uttered. But what
the Gospels show is that Joseph was a doer of God’s Will. He was always
on the go, always on the move to do God’s bidding- waking up from the
dream to journey to Bethlehem for the census, fleeing to Egypt with Mary
and the Infant Jesus to escape Herod and his murderous band, journeying
back to Nazareth at God’s command after Herod had died. These were
important events but nothing was recorded of Joseph’s account or words.
Even in the life of the Holy Family, the Gospel writers did not deem it
necessary to give an account of the life in Nazareth. The only
indication we have that Joseph was respected and known in the local
community is the passage in the Gospel where the townspeople were
figuring out the source of Jesus’ power, “How did this man come by this
wisdom and the miracles? Is not this the carpenter’s son?” (Matthew
13:54-55).
Saint Teresa has this to say about St. Joseph: “
“I took for my advocate and lord the glorious Saint Joseph and
commended myself earnestly to him; and I found that this my father and
lord delivered me both from this trouble and also from other and greater
troubles concerning my honor and the loss of my soul, and that he gave
me greater blessings than I could ask of him. I do not remember even now
that I have ever asked anything of him which he has failed to grant. I
am astonished at the great favors which God has bestowed on me through
this blessed saint, and at the perils from which He has freed me, both
in body and in soul. To other saints the Lord seems to have given grace
to succor us in some of our necessities but of this glorious saint my
experience is that he succors us in them all and that the Lord wishes to
teach us that as He was Himself subject to him on earth (for, being His
guardian and being called His father, he could command Him) just so in
Heaven He still does all that he asks. This has also been the experience
of other persons whom I have advised to commend themselves to him; and
even to-day there are many who have great devotion to him through having
newly experienced this truth.” “I wish I could persuade everyone to be
devoted to this glorious saint, for I have great experience of the
blessings which he can obtain from God. I have never known anyone to 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. For some years now, I think, I have made some
request of him every year on his festival and I have always had it
granted. If my petition is in any way ill directed, he directs it aright
for my greater good.”
“I only beg, for the love of God, that anyone who does not
believe me will put what I say to the test, and he will see by
experience what great advantages come from his commending himself to
this glorious patriarch and having devotion 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 that she
suffered so much with the Child Jesus, without giving thanks to Saint
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.” (Autobiography Chapter 6).
thanks to: https://carmelourladysdovecote.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/st-teresas-devotion-to-st-joseph/
