Saint Teresa of Avila, great Carmelite mystic and Doctor of the Church, had the custom of asking Saint Joseph for a special favor on his feast day. In her autobiography she states:
"Would that I could persuade all men to be devoted to this [St. Joseph], for I know by long experience what blessings he can obtain for us from God. I have never known anyone who was truly devoted to him and honored him by particular services who did not advance greatly in virtue: for he helps in a special way those souls who commend themselves to him. It is now very many
years since I began asking him for something on his feast, and I have always received it. If the petition was in any way amiss, he rectified it for my greater good . . . I ask for the love of God that he who does not believe me will make the trial for himself-then he will find out by experience the great good that results from commending oneself to this glorious Patriarch and in being devoted to him . . ." -Autobiography, VI, 11-12 (from st.-joseph-medal.com)Therefore, as today is Saint Joseph's feast day, and seeing that God the Father entrusted to Joseph the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ, should we not too entrust a prayer-petition to this great saint to honor God and to thank God for Saint Joseph.
Here is a charming and fascinating story about a novena to Saint Joseph that was answered in a miraculous manner on the ninth day regarding a chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico. If you have any wood-working skills, you will want to read this! St. Joseph and the Staircase.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
~By Tom Mulcahy
Thank you for sharing the delightful information with us, Tom! God is at work in you.
