Saint Joseph as a "Carmelite Saint"
Father Vojtěch of St. Hedwig, OCD
In the monastery of the Incarnation in Avila (more precisely, today in the convent museum) stands a statue of Saint Joseph, known as San José, el Parlero ("Talkative Saint Joseph"). Where did this designation come from?
When Teresa of Avila became the prioress there in 1572 against the will of many local nuns, she brought this statue with her. She then placed it in the choir in the position of the sub-prioress (while placing another statue of the Virgin Mary in the position of the prioress). And since Saint Teresa openly venerated the Foster Father of the Lord and simultaneously "mysteriously" knew everything that was happening in the convent, the sisters concluded that it was this saint who always "sounded everything out" for her. Moreover: the mentioned statue has somewhat large ears and slightly open lips, so it indeed gives the impression that it hears everything and immediately passes it on!
This is one of those charming "flowers" that fill the lives of all saints. But when we want to seriously consider the figure of Saint Joseph, we must state that in the little that the Gospel tells us about him, Christ’s Foster Father leaves quite a different impression.
It is primarily the Gospel of Matthew that speaks of Joseph, and although it does so very briefly (cf. Mt 1:18–2:23), it can be said without exaggeration that it sketches out the essentials of "Joseph's spirituality": namely, the art of listening in silence and acting. When Joseph discovers that Mary is with child and intends to dismiss her quietly (which was certainly a well-intentioned but overly human intention), an angel instructs him in a dream to take her as his wife, and he does so (cf. 1:18–14). This pattern (situation–angel's instruction–fulfillment of the command) then repeats itself twice more: Herod's schemes are thwarted by an angel's revelation in a dream, after which the Holy Family flees to Egypt (2:13–15), and after Herod's death, Joseph, along with Mary and Jesus, returns to Israel again on the angel's instruction in a dream (2:19–23).
Thus, according to Matthew's account, Joseph always acts this way: he has his own intention and plan, but under the influence of "God's instruction," given to him in a dream, he does something quite different! Joseph first thinks, then also listens to God, and ultimately acts accordingly! When one reflects longer on these texts (and especially on Joseph's attitudes), it indeed leaves a very strong impression, and what especially stands out is Joseph's obedience and submissiveness.
However, one must not interpret this as a lack of activity or personal initiative. Saint Joseph is not some "doormat" and certainly not someone who would say "wherever you put me, that’s where I'll stay"! On the contrary, he has his own plan that he thinks through well and wants to carry out (1:19n.).
But at the same time, he is receptive to God's voice and is willing to act according to it. Once he knows what he needs, he does not discuss and acts! In this, he can be a tremendous model for all believers, particularly for the Carmelite community. For while all Christians are indeed called to listen to God's voice and to act according to it (as it is said: to fulfill God's will), for Carmel, this is something entirely typical! After all, it is about the spirituality of contemplation, which inevitably includes listening in silence, total and as perfect attention to God, as well as action (those "works, works" that should arise from contemplation, as Saint Teresa writes; cf. 7H 4:6). It is thus about the callar y obrar ("to be silent and to act") of Saint John of the Cross (cf. K 8). And this is precisely how Saint Joseph appears in the Gospel of Matthew!
But let us return once more to the "Talkative Saint Joseph" in Avila. Saint Teresa honored him not because he would inform her what the nuns were doing wrong, but because she was healed of a serious illness through his intercession (cf. Ž 5:9–6:8), that it was he who requested the grace of conversion for her (cf. Ž 6:6; R 30), and who (by Jesus' decision) became the patron of the first convent and the entire emerging reform (cf. Ž 32:11).
And Saint Joseph himself? Yes, he has somewhat large ears, but not to "eavesdrop" and try to find out what the nuns are not doing as they should, to later report everything back to Prioress Teresa, but rather to hear what God tells him! And what about his slightly open mouth? I would say it is in amazement at the great things God is doing and of which he himself is a witness!
