The Healing Journey

August 5, 2023

“There are many saints to whom God has given the power to assist us in the necessities of life, but the power given to St. Joseph is unlimited: It extends to all our needs, and all those who invoke him with confidence are sure to be heard.”

— St. Thomas Aquinas

After Kathy’s father died, she found herself spending afternoons going through his personal effects. And there were many. He was a “junk collector,” his wife Josephine always said. He was also a recovering alcoholic, who got into Alcoholics Anonymous at 50, and lived the last 25 years of his life sober.

Kathy knew the “old” Joe because she grew up with him, but she wasn’t entirely familiar with the “new” Joe, even though he was a lot easier to deal with after he put the plug in the jug.

One day, when she was cleaning out his bedroom, she discovered he had set up a votive candle on one of the bureaus. He must have burned a lot of candles because there was a black smoke stain on the ceiling.

Near the candle was a statue of his patron, St. Joseph, who is also the patron of a happy death. She had never seen a statue of St. Joseph sleeping, but that’s exactly what it was. He was reclining with his eyes closed, and underneath him were small pieces of paper with names on them, dozens of names, which she didn’t recognize.

When she finally put two and two together, she realized they were people from the recovery program who had died. He was praying for them and burning a candle for the repose of their souls. At that moment, she decided to do the same for her father.

Only later, did she discover that an angel always appeared to St. Joseph while he was sleeping to give him directions … and St. Joseph listened. She found out that Pope Francis has a similar statue, and whenever he has a special intention, he writes it down and puts it under the sleeping St. Joseph because the pope is sure his prayer with be answered.

***

St. Joseph, the patron of the dying, pray for us.