Feast of Our Protector, St Joseph

As Lay Carmelites we live in gratitude for the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ!

We are in Lent of 2026. During Lent on March 19th, we will commemorate the Solemnity of our Principal Protector of our Carmelite Order and Community, Saint Joseph. As a review, remember that this celebration has profound Biblical roots; Joseph is the last Patriarch who receives the communications of the Lord through the humble way of dreams [cf. Gn 28, 12-14; Mt 1, 20-24]. Like the ancient Joseph, he is an upright and faithful man [Mt 1, 19] whom God had placed as guardian of his household. He connects Jesus, the Messianic King, to the descent of David [Mt 1, 1-16; Lk 3, 23- 38]. Joseph, Spouse of Mary and foster father, guide of the Holy Family in their flight to and return from Egypt, retracing the way of the Exodus [Gn 37; 50, 22-26; Mt 2, 13-21].

The liturgical feast of the Saint Patriarch already appeared in the Carmelite Order in the second half of the XV century. In 1680 the General Chapter unanimously elected Saint Joseph as the principal protector of the Order. In 1847 Pius IX declared him as Patron of the Universal Church and John XXIII inserted his name in the Roman Canon.1 St. Teresa of Avila: “St. Joseph gave me everything I asked for…I took for my advocate…the glorious St. Joseph and commended myself earnestly to him, and I found that this my father…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.”

March Carmelite Saints and Blesseds Venerable Seraphina di Dio, Religious (17); Venerable John Dominic Luchessik, Priest (18); Saint Joseph, Principal Protector of the Order (19); Blessed Francis Palau y Quer, Priest (20).

March Birthdays remembered Holy Mass at the Annunciation Hermitage: Susan Smith (d.)-2 nd; Bob Robak- 4 th

Pray for Ruth in her Temporary Profession!