It is a commonplace in devotional literature, historical scholarship, and papal writings that Saint Teresa of Ávila played a key role in the development of veneration of Saint Joseph. Saint Joseph and the Carmelite Reform of Saint Teresa of Ávila unpacks this commonplace by recovering the often-overlooked back story to Teresa’s story, namely, the extraordinarily rich liturgical cult of Saint Joseph in the Ancient Order of Carmel which fully flowered in the Teresian Carmel and beyond, to the universal Church. This volume charts a narrative arc from the liturgical cult of Saint Joseph in the Carmelite Order of Ancient Observance; to Saint Joseph’s vital formative presence in Saint Teresa’s life and reformed Carmel as father, teacher of prayer, and intercessor in every need; to the Carmelite family as a whole giving liturgical expression to its privileged relationship with Saint Joseph by the establishment of the Feast of the Patronage of Saint Joseph; to this feast becoming widespread outside Carmel and ultimately extended to the Universal Church (1847); and, finally, to Saint Joseph’s proclamation as Patron of the Universal Church (1870). An epilogue considers the absence of Joseph’s title “Patron of the Universal Church” in the post-Vatican II liturgical calendar and books, while the papal magisterium has consistently insisted that this patronage is ever necessary for the Church as not only a protection against all dangers, but also an impetus for its mission of evangelization and re-evangelization. An appendix reprints the letter, “Saint Joseph, Patron of Carmel,” jointly issued by the Prior General of the Order of Carmelites of the Ancient Observance and the Superior General of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, to mark the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. "Fr. Chorpenning's book offers us an erudite and richly illustrated presentation of the role of St. Joseph in the life and reform of St. Teresa, rooted in the liturgy of Carmel and opening the way to a greater devotion in the universal Church."―André Brouillette, SJ, Boston College "The contemporary picture of the Holy Family was not always featured in Christianity, because for almost fourteen centuries the figure of Saint Joseph received little attention. Joseph grew in importance around 1400 CE, and, as Father Chorpenning’s stimulating book shows, it was the Carmelite Order, and especially Teresa of Ávila, who was responsible for much of the spread of devotion to Joseph and the notion that he received a universal spiritual mandate. This elegant and concise book sets out the story of devotion to Joseph, especially in the Carmelite Orders, both in word and picture."―Bernard McGinn, Divinity School, University of Chicago "Engagingly written, concise yet substantive, and brimming with insights, Joseph Chorpenning's new book reveals how and why St. Teresa of Ávila, and in her wake both branches of the Carmelyte family, came to embrace St. Joseph as an incomparable ‘father, teacher of prayer, and intercessor in every need.’ Chorpenning demonstrates that just as Teresa's conception of Joseph issued from her familiarity with the liturgy of the saint codified by the Carmelyte Order of the Ancient Observance, so the later Feast (Solemnity) of the Patronage of St. Joseph and his eventual proclamation as Patron of the Universal Church (1870) were consequences of the Teresan veneration of the saint as parent, patron, and contemplative."―Walter S. Melion, Emory University "Joseph Chorpenning, OSFS is uniquely qualified to write about Saint Joseph, a silent man who listens to God with faith. Chorpenning brings together years of scholarly research studying devotion to Saint Joseph in the Church. His expertise includes a familiarity with the development of this devotion in the Carmelite family. Saint Teresa of Ávila had a special relationship with the saint, first attributing to him a cure of a debilitating physical condition, and then crediting him with enabling her reform of the Carmelites. Chorpenning complements his text with beautiful illustrations from the visual arts. A rich feast celebrating the emergence of Saint Joseph from a quiet man of faith and protector of Mary and Jesus to Patron of the family of Carmel and the Universal Church."―John Welch, O. Carm., author of Carmel Notes: A Compendium of Carmelite Scholarship "A rich feast celebrating the emergence of Saint Joseph from a silent man of faith and protector of Mary and Jesus to Patron of the family of Carmel and the Universal Church."― The Sword "Presents a concise and comprehensive overview of the development of the cult of Saint Joseph in the reforms of Teresa of Avila and in the modern history of the Church, starting from the commonplace that the spread of devotion to Saint Joseph in the Christian West is primarily attributable to the Carmelite Order. Academically impeccable."― Teresianum Joseph F. Chorpenning, OSFS, is the Editori