subject to St. Joseph in the land of exile, recognizing in him the authority of a foster-father and guardian, so He is still pleased to do His will in heaven by hearing and granting his requests. . . .
"Therefore the number of souls who honor him begins to be great, and the happy effects of his mediation every day confirm the truth of my words. Knowing now by my own experience the amazing influence of St. Joseph with God, I would wish to induce every one to honor him by a particular cultus. Hitherto I have always seen that persons who had a real devotion to him, sustained by works, made progress in virtue; for that heavenly protector favors in a special manner the spiritual advancement of souls who recommend themselves to him. I will content myself, then, with conjuring, for the love of God, those who do not believe me to make the experiment. They shall discover for themselves how advantageous it is to honor that glorious Patriarch with a special devotion."
And this testimony of the great Carmelite is, in fact, the testimony of the ages, that St. Joseph never refuses to aid those who confide themselves and their affairs to his patronage. As expressed on one occasion by a contemporary preacher, this saint has been set over the human race in the character of father and head of the family; so that temporalities may be recommended to him with all confidence, in the certain hope that, if the thing asked for be not prejudicial to the petitioner, it will be granted; or, failing that, something of greater value shall be given in its stead. Were it possible to set down here the numberless favors granted through the mediation of that saint, even in temporal concerns, by religious who best know how to
