At the time that the Apostolic Letter, Patris Corde, was published on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis announced the start of a year dedicated to St. Joseph, with the intention that, in these difficult times for mankind, we might know how to turn our attention to “ordinary” people who, though far from the limelight, exercise patience and offer hope every day. In this, they resemble Saint Joseph, “the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence,” who nonetheless played “an incomparable role in the history of salvation”.
Joseph, who loved Jesus with a father’s love, is the tender, obedient and accepting servant; a courageous and hard-working father, who, in the shadows, works without seeking the limelight.
For the Teresian Carmel, the year dedicated to St. Joseph is one of special joy, which gives us the opportunity to deepen this dimension of our charisma, just as St. Teresa of Jesus and other prominent figures in the Order, such as Fr. Jerónimo Gracián of the Mother of God, affirmed.
In fact, the same day that the Holy Father’s Apostolic Letter was published, the Superiors of the Carmelite and Discalced Carmelite Orders published a joint letter to the Carmelite Orders entitled: St. Joseph, Patron of Carmel, A Letter from the Prior General, O.Carm. and Superior General, O.C.D. to the Carmelite Family on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church.
