General Description:

Rediscover a venerable Catholic tradition!

Here's putting your Catholic Faith and confidence in St. Joseph "on the table." A coffee-table book just in time for St. Joseph's feast day on March 19 (and his second one on May 1).

This is a photographic tribute displaying the rich Catholic cultural traditions behind the St. Joseph Altar, its spiritual significance, and its accompanying delicious dishes, focusing especially on the customs of America's Catholic immigrants.

In 140 huge color photographs taken in 30 different Catholic churches, homes, and eateries, Miss Kerri McCaffety, an award-winning American photographer, shows a sparkling array of elaborate St. Joseph Altars where flowers, candles, decoration, Catholic symbols, and pictures of lost loved ones crowd around statues of St. Joseph and other saints on three-tiered shrines piled with customary delicacies.

The book includes 20 recipes collected from St. Joseph Altar aficionados, including those for baked fish and various breads to recall Christ's Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes - emblematic of the Holy Eucharist. Wines recall the Wedding Feast at Cana. Sticky buns resemble the pine cones Jesus is said to have played with as a child.

What are "fava beans," St. Joseph's promise that their keeper will never go hungry? ­A remarkably edifying text threads among the many charming and evocative photographs. Learn the history of the St. Joseph Altar and its manifestations in the Old and New Worlds. Read the prayers, blessings, and instructions associated with the best of St. Joseph's Altar. This might be your year to try the Catholic custom in your home or at your church. At least you'll enjoy knowing what it's all about.

About the tradition of St. Joseph altars -

Italy - La Festa di San Giuseppe
In Sicily, where St. Joseph is regarded by many as their Patron Saint, and many Italian-American communities, thanks are given to St. Joseph ("San Giuseppe" in Italian) for preventing a famine in Sicily during the Middle Ages. According to legend, there was a severe drought at the time, and the people prayed for their patron saint to bring them rain. They promised that if he answered their prayers, they would prepare a large feast to honor him. The rain did come, and the people of Sicily prepared a large banquet for their patron saint. The fava bean was the crop which saved the population from starvation, and is a traditional part of St. Joseph's Day altars and traditions. Giving food to the needy is a St. Joseph's Day custom. In some communities it is traditional to wear red clothing and eat a Sicilian pastry known as a Zeppole on St. Joseph's Day.

Upon a typical St. Joseph's Day altar, people place flowers, limes, candles, wine, fava beans, specially prepared cakes, breads, and cookies (as well as other meatless dishes), and zeppole. Foods are traditionally served containing bread crumbs to represent saw dust since St. Joseph was a carpenter. Because the feast occurs during Lent, traditionally no meat was allowed on the celebration table. The altar usually has three tiers, to represent the trinity.

Some villages like Belmonte Mezzagno use to burn wood and logs in squares on the day before St.Joseph, as thanksgiving to the Saint. This is called "'A Vampa di San Giuseppe"(the Saint Joseph's bonfire).

Saint Joseph's Day Celebrations in the United States
In New Orleans, Louisiana, which was a major port of entry for Sicilian immigrants during the late 19th century, the Feast of St. Joseph is a city-wide event. Both public and private St. Joseph's altars are traditionally built. The altars are usually open to any visitor who wishes to pay homage. The food is generally distributed to charity after the altar is dismantled.

There are also parades in honor of St. Joseph and the Italian population of New Orleans which are similar to the many marching clubs and truck parades of Mardi Gras and St. Patrick's Day. Tradition in New Orleans also holds that by burying a small statue of St. Joseph in your yard, your house will sell more promptly. In addition to the above traditions, some groups of Mardi Gras Indians stage their last procession of the season on the Sunday prior to St. Joseph's day otherwise known as "Super Sunday," after which their costumes are dismantled.

 
St Joseph's Day is also celebrated in other American communities with high proportions of Italians such as New York City; Buffalo; Chicago; Kansas City, MO; Gloucester, Mass. ; and Rhode Island.

 

St. Joseph

Feast Day: Roman Rite Calendar - 03/19 Tridentine Calendar - 03/19 Patron Of: Belgium, Carpenters, Confectioners, Doubt, Dying, Engineers, Families, Happy Death, Hesitation, Married Couples, Peru, Pioneers, Universal Church, Workers Also known as     Joseph the Betrothed; Joseph the Worker; Foster father of the Lord  Feast Days are both March 19 and May 1 Profile     Descendant of the house of David. Layman. Carpenter. Tradesman. Earthly spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Foster and adoptive father of Jesus Christ. Visionary who was visited by angels. Noted for his willingness to immediately get up and do what God told him. Died     1st century, prior to the Passion of Our Lord, of natural causes Name Meaning     whom the Lord adds (Joseph) All information used with permission of the Patron Saint Index.

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