Shrine to Sleeping St. Joseph

By Sister Jeanne Marie Akalski

In his 2020 apostolic letter titled “Patris Corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis describes St. Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows.       
The pope’s letter marks the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s declaration of St. Joseph as patron of the universal Church. To celebrate the anniversary, Pope Francis has proclaimed a special “Year of St Joseph,” that began on Dec. 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and extending to the same feast in 2021.
I told my fourth graders and their parents, “How wonderful that we celebrate Catholic Schools Week this year during the Year of St. Joseph, especially since our parish and our school are dedicated to St. Joseph. In our classroom is a St. Joseph shrine to remind us of the Year of St. Joseph.  St. Joseph is definitely watching over our school and our Catholic Schools Week celebration and he will ask God for many blessings upon our students and their parents.”
The St. Joseph shrine in the fourth-grade class is unique. It is based on the devotion to the “Sleeping Saint Joseph.” The shrine has a pillow and the statue is on the pillow. In the background is a poster showing St. Joseph. In front of the pillow are intercessory prayers offered to St. Joseph.
In 2015 Pope Francis visited the Philippines and shared with the people his personal devotion to St. Joseph.
Pope Francis, who has had a statue of a sleeping St. Joseph on his desk for decades, brought the statue he had in Argentina with him to the Vatican when he was elected pope. He told the families in the Philippines that he places slips of paper under his statue of a sleeping St. Joseph when he has a special problem.
The pope’s devotion to St. Joseph meant he chose to celebrate the inaugural Mass of his pontificate on March 19, 2013, the saint’s feast day.
Pope Francis told the people, “Even when he is asleep, he is taking care of the Church! Yes! We know that he can do that. So, when I have a problem, a difficulty, I write a little note and I put it underneath St. Joseph, so that he can dream about it! In other words, I tell him: Pray for this problem!” Pope Francis said. “Do not forget St. Joseph who sleeps! Jesus slept with the protection of Joseph.”
We also must rest in prayer and dream; the pope told the families in the Philippines.
The Lord spoke to Joseph three times through dreams. First, when Joseph had decided to quietly divorce Mary after learning of her pregnancy — itself a merciful decision that defied custom — an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said:
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She is to bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:20-21).
The Scripture emphasizes, “When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home” (Mt 1:24).
Twice more “the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.” Once, when God told Joseph to flee to Egypt to protect the infant Jesus from Herod (Mt 2:13-14). Another time was when the Lord called Joseph to bring Jesus
back to the land of Israel (Mt 2:19-21).
Immediately after God spoke to Joseph, he responded exactly as he was told.
Based on this reflection, the “Sleeping Saint Joseph” devotion teaches us two valuable lessons:  God calls us to rest and reflect in our lives – to break away from our busy lives.  And when God gives us a message, we must act on it.
Pope Francis said he can sleep peacefully at the end of the day after he entrusts his special intentions to St. Joseph, and happily told a conference of religious superiors that now St. Joseph “sleeps on a mattress of notes!”

– Sister Jeanne Marie and her fourth-grade class are praying to St. Joseph during this Year of St. Joseph. They are asking God to hear St. Joseph and answer their prayer requests.

  Prayer to the Sleeping St. Joseph
Oh St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God. I place in you all my interest and desires. Oh St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
So that having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving Fathers. Oh Saint Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while he reposes near your heart.
Press him in my name and kiss his fine head for me and ask him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath.
St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for me and my loved ones. Amen.