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<\/figure>\n\nIn Toulouse<\/strong>, we know well how Juana Josefa, still a child, in the parish of St. Mary, before the image of St. Ignatius, expressed“My Saint, I want to do what you say in that book”.<\/em><\/p>\n\n Well, next to that of St. Ignatius, on the right, is the altar dedicated to St. Joseph. On it is an image of St. Joseph, carrying his flowery staff and accompanied by the Child Jesus. How many times, even as a child, would you not stop before that image! Would you also say something to him? <\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n\n What we do know is provided by a brief report which states the following: <\/p>\n\n “During the stay at the Palace there were no classes other than St. Joseph’s for boarders and half boarders and St. Ignatius, for free eternals.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n That is to say, later on, as a foundress, she gave the first classes in Toulouse the names of St. Joseph and St. Ignatius. Nice relationship, isn’t it? <\/p>\n\n In the book “Spirituality of the Mother Foundress” we find:<\/p>\n\n “The saints occupy an important place in her life, we find here again her basic spiritual position following the Church. The saints for her are her intercessors, her protectors, they are also models for her imitation in her degree, as were Christ and the Virgin. As a result of these devotions comes a whole set of acts of worship with the profusion typical of the time. The devotion to St. Joseph is the one that lives with greater intensity. It thus responds to the mind of the Church, which then especially patronized and spread it.” (pg. 108)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n And among the pages of the “History of the Congregation” that speak of Toulouse, after speaking of the delay with which the work on the chapel was progressing, we can read these beautiful words about the altarpiece that M. Candida herself commissioned for the main altar and which represents the death of St. Joseph:<\/p>\n\n “The beautiful images of the altarpiece that would preside over the main altar had arrived well in advance. It was April 29, 1902. A group of three sculptures representing the death of St. Joseph. Let us gather from the diary of the house the impression that they experienced when they received it: <The images of the death of St. Joseph came; precious…; we were taking them out of the drawers… the first one they took out was that of the Virgin…, we liked it very much; then they took out that of the Lord, we also liked the same, but above all when they took out St. Joseph we were enchanted with him; then we formed the group and it was magnificent. Father Vicar came and could not get tired of seeing it…>” (History of the Congregation. Vol I.page 280)<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n <\/p>\n\n St. Joseph was also found:<\/p>\n\n – In the second first name of our beloved Saint Candida.<\/p>\n\n – In the Rosarillo Altarpiece, on the right, looking towards Jesus. This beloved altarpiece contemplated so many times by Juana Josefa in her daily and intense prayer, until she experienced the light of the foundational inspiration. <\/p>\n\n – In the niche on the fa\u00e7ade of the house where the congregation of the Daughters of Jesus was born and which is called “Casa de San Jos\u00e9” (St. Joseph’s House).<\/p>\n\n – In more than 30 letters, in which Sr. Candida alludes to St. Joseph, especially by commending him, thanking him, encouraging her to trust him or asking for his intercession for some difficult situation.<\/p>\n\n – She named several schools founded by her after St. Joseph: Tolosa (Guipuzcoa), Pitillas (Navarra), Coca (Segovia) and Medina del Campo (Valladolid).<\/p>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/hijasdejesus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Portadas-web-8-1024x726.png\")
<\/figure>\n\nSt. Joseph: a living presence in history and in our hearts<\/h2>\n\n
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Let us continue our journey to St. Joseph’s side through the “gaze” of M. Candida. Candida.<\/h2>\n\n
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