"I took for my advocate and lord the glorious St. Joseph and earnestly recommended myself to him. I saw clearly that as in this need so in the other great ones concerning honor and loss of soul this father and lord of mine came to my rescue in better ways than I knew how to ask for. I don’t recall up to this day ever having petitioned him for anything that he fails to grant. It is an amazing thing the great favors God has granted me through the mediation of this blessed saint, the dangers I was freed from both of body and soul. For with other saints it seems the Lord has given them grace to be of help in one need, whereas with this glorious saint I have experience that he helps in all our needs and that the Lord wants us to understand that just as He was subject to St. Joseph on earth—for since bearing the title of father, being the Lord’s tutor, Joseph could give the Child commands—so in heaven God does whatever he commands."
( Life, from The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, ICS Publications, p. 53)
"Would that I could persuade all men to be devoted to this glorious Saint (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 in 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 Patriach and in being devoted to him..."
-Autobiography, VI, 11-12
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