Happy St. Joseph's Day!!

  The feast of St. Joseph is such a special day during Lent of such a humble Saint.  He was so humble in life and still is even in heaven!  Besides being the spouse od the Blessed Virgin, Foster Father of Christ, he is the patron of the Universal Church and of fathers and families.  He is especially beloved by the Sicilians.  One way they express their devotion to St. Joseph is through the tradition of tavola di San Giuseppe (St. Joseph's Table or Altar).
  The St. Joseph Altar comes from a legend that many years ago there was a famine in Sicily.  The famine was severe and the people had to sustain themselves on fava beans (which were used mainly for caddle fodder).  The people prayed for St. Joseph's intercession to end the famine and these prayers were answered.  In thanksgiving they had a celebration which over the years has become the St. Joseph Table.
  Some of the things found on the table include:  the table is made up of three tiers of tables representing the Trinity and the three members of the Holy Family.  Then it is furnished with pastries and breads representing a Monstrance, chalice, cross...etc...  The fava bean, Mudica (bread crumbs representing the sawdust of carpenter St. Joseph), 12 fish (the apostles), wine, and many other foods except meat.  A feast day compatable with obstaining from meat on Fridays, yeah!

  We made a 3D St. Joseph's Table this year.  We got the idea from the St. Joseph's Altar website and it was a lot of fun for us to do!  I hope you do one too!  God bless and Happy St. Joseph's Day!