Fr. Jerry Pokorsky: Sleep and the Beatitudes

By Fr. Jerry Pokorsky, Catholic Culture, Feb 02, 2026 

Fr. Jerry Pokorsky is a priest of the Diocese of Arlington who has also served as a financial administrator in the Diocese of Lincoln. Trained in business and accounting, he also holds a Master of Divinity and a Master’s in moral theology. Father Pokorsky co-founded both CREDO and Adoremus, two organizations deeply engaged in authentic liturgical renewal. He writes regularly for a number of Catholic websites and magazines.  See full bio.

Since we spend a quarter to a third of our lives asleep, one would think that Scriptures would help us understand the mystery of sleep. It does. The beatitudes are virtues brought to perfection by the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, the crown jewel of discipleship. Among them is: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9) The peace of sleep becomes a kind of final beatitude, a daily reminder of God’s desire to give us rest from our toil.

From the beginning of Scripture, sleep is a pleasing metaphor for inescapable death. Moses is told that he will “sleep with his fathers.” (Deuteronomy 31:16) David “slept with his fathers” and was buried. (I Kings 2:10) Daniel speaks of those who “sleep in the dust of the earth.” But not all sleep is peaceful: “some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2) Every night, we rehearse our own passing, surrendering our control, consciousness, and strength, trusting that we will awaken again. …

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