The devotion of Pope Francis to the sleeping Saint Joseph

Papa Francesco, who for decades has kept the statue of sleeping St. Joseph on his desk, brought the statue he had in Argentina when he was elected pope with him to the Vatican. He told the story of his devotion during his January 16 meeting with the families a Manila, saying that he puts sheets of paper under his statue of Saint Joseph who sleeps when he has a special problem.

The devotion of Pope Francis

The Pope's devotion a San Giuseppe meant that he chose to celebrate the inaugural Mass of his pontificate on March 19, the feast of St. Joseph. “Even when he sleeps, he takes care of the church! Yup! We know it can do it. So when I have a problem, a difficulty, I write a little note and put it under St. Joseph, so that he can dream it! In other words, I tell him: pray for this problem! Pope Francis said. “Don't forget St. Joseph who sleeps! Jesus slept with the protection of Joseph “.

"The Scriptures they rarely speak of Saint Joseph, but when they do, we often find him at rest, as an angel reveals to him the will of God in his dreams, ”Pope Francis said. "Joseph's rest revealed God's will to him. In this moment of rest in the Lord, as we stop our many daily obligations and activities, God is also speaking to us."

The Franciscan saint Florian Romero, who often visits his family in the Philippines, said that devotion to St. Joseph emphasizes Pope Francis' attention to the importance of the family, citing his January 16 address: “But how St. Joseph, once we have heard the voice of God, we must rise from our sleep; we have to stand up and act. "" Pope Francis said on that occasion that faith does not distance us from the world. On the contrary, it brings us closer. For this reason, Saint Joseph is a model father for the Christian family. He overcame the difficulties of life because he rested with God, ”Romero said.

Prayer to the sleeping Saint Joseph

Oh Saint Joseph, whose protection it is so big, so strong, so ready before the throne of God. I put all my interest and my desires in you. Oh Saint Joseph, help me with your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that having engaged here under your heavenly power, I can offer my thanks and homage to the most loving Fathers. Oh Saint Joseph, I never tire of contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I don't dare approach while He rests close to your heart. Press him in my name and kiss his beautiful head for me and ask him to kiss back when I take my last breath. Saint Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for me and for my loved ones. Amen