Those who give themselves to prayer should in a special manner

The words of Saint Teresa of Avila, “Those who give themselves to prayer should in a special manner have always a devotion to St. Joseph; for I know not how any man can think of the Queen of the angels, during the time that she suffered so much with the Infant Jesus, without giving thanks to St. Joseph for the services he rendered them then,” echo with the reverence of one who knew the mysteries of faith deeply. In this utterance, the great mystic unveils the hidden truth of gratitude and devotion, teaching that those who seek God in prayer must also honor those whom He chose as guardians of His mysteries. She draws our eyes not only to Mary and the Christ Child, but also to the quiet figure of St. Joseph, who bore the weight of service in silence, unseen but indispensable.

Saint Teresa speaks of those who give themselves to prayer, the seekers of divine intimacy. Prayer is not merely words but surrender, the soul opening itself to the eternal. Yet, she insists that such souls must have devotion to St. Joseph, the earthly guardian of Jesus and Mary. Why? Because to pray is to love, and to love is to give thanks. If one contemplates the suffering of Mary, “the Queen of the angels,” as she bore exile, poverty, and the peril of protecting the divine Child, one cannot forget the steadfast labor of Joseph, who sheltered them both. To forget Joseph is to neglect gratitude for the vessel of God’s providence.

In lifting up St. Joseph, Teresa reminds us of the sacredness of hidden service. Joseph spoke no recorded word in Scripture, yet his actions resound louder than speeches: guiding his family to Egypt under the shadow of Herod’s wrath, laboring as a carpenter to sustain them, and offering to Mary the strength of companionship. In a world enamored with power and glory, Joseph embodied humility, obedience, and devotion. Teresa knew that the prayerful soul must mirror this humility, for God’s mysteries are preserved not only by the mighty, but by the meek who serve without acclaim.

History confirms the enduring strength of this devotion. In Spain, where Teresa reformed the Carmelite order, devotion to St. Joseph was a wellspring of protection and inspiration. She herself attributed many blessings to his intercession, often saying she never prayed to him in vain. In one instance, when founding her convents, she prayed earnestly for his help, and resources miraculously arrived to sustain her mission. To her, Joseph was not a distant saint of antiquity, but a living protector of those who gave themselves to prayer and holy labor.

Her quote also teaches the necessity of gratitude. Just as one cannot think of Mary’s suffering without remembering Joseph’s protection, so too must we not think of our own blessings without acknowledging those who supported us along the way. To be ungrateful is to dishonor the chain of service through which God’s gifts reach us. The ancients taught this as well: Cicero said gratitude was the foundation of all virtue, and the Scriptures declare that to honor one’s father and mother is to honor the divine order itself. Gratitude sanctifies memory, turning the unnoticed sacrifices of others into treasures of the soul.

The lesson for us is profound: in prayer, do not forget the unseen hands that have carried you. Give thanks to God, but also to those through whom His mercy has flowed. Be devoted to the quiet ones, the protectors, the servants, the unseen laborers. As St. Joseph was to Jesus and Mary, so are many to us: silent guardians whose sacrifices sustain our journey. To forget them is to pray with pride; to remember them is to pray with humility.

As practical action, cultivate gratitude in your devotions. When you pray, recall not only the blessings of heaven but also the human vessels of grace — parents, mentors, friends, even strangers who have sheltered and sustained you. Offer thanks for them before God. And like St. Joseph, strive to serve quietly, faithfully, without demand for recognition. In this way, your prayer will not be words alone, but life lived in harmony with divine love.

Thus, Saint Teresa’s words, filled with reverence and wisdom, remain timeless: those who give themselves to prayer must honor Joseph, the silent guardian of Mary and Jesus. For in honoring him, we honor all hidden service, all unseen sacrifice, all love that labors without recognition. And in this, our prayers become not only petitions but acts of gratitude, and our humanity grows nearer to the divine.