“Sleeping St. Joseph” is a fast-growing devotion in which we offer our petitions to Joseph, who received God’s messages through angelic visions as he slept. When Joseph awoke from these visions, he immediately took action—no matter the time of day—to protect the Holy Family according to God’s directives.
St. Joseph (1st c.) was a descendant of Israel’s King David and a carpenter by trade. Scripture tells us that he was a just and virtuous man who was betrothed to wed the young Blessed Virgin Mary. Upon finding her pregnant with the Son of God, Joseph, after a time of uncertainty, was encouraged by an angel to continue with the marriage plans.
Because of his complete faithfulness and obedience to the will of God, St. Joseph was chosen to become the spouse of the Mother of God and the adoptive father of Jesus Christ. As the divinely-appointed earthly guardian and protector of the Holy Family, St. Joseph provided and cared for the material needs of Mary and the Child Jesus. St. Joseph is the patron saint of many causes, especially fathers, families, married couples, children, pregnant women, workers, craftsmen, against doubt, the dying, and a happy and holy death. He is also the guardian and protector of the Universal Church.
In scripture, God spoke to Joseph as he slept, and so the devotion to the Sleeping St. Joseph, made popular once more by Pope Francis, is a longstanding tradition. Each night, write down your special intention and slip it under the statue of the Sleeping St. Joseph so he can bring it to Our Lord as he sleeps.
He has two feast days: St. Joseph the Husband of Mary on March 19th, and St. Joseph the Worker on May 1st.
