St. Joseph's Feast Day

St. Joseph with the infant Jesus., my favorite Saint.

Today is St. Joseph's feast day and it is usually celebrated by having a meatless meal called St. Joseph's table. Every year we go to St. Thomas More School and share in the wonderful food prepared by the mothers.

This ancient tradition goes back to the Middle Ages. At that time there was an exceptionally severe drought in Sicily. No rain fell for an extended period of time, no crops would grow, and countless people died of famine. The peasants prayed to God for rain, and they also prayed to St. Joseph to intercede with God on their behalf. They promised that if God caused it to rain, they would have a special feast honoring God and St. Joseph.

By miracle, the rains came and the crops were planted. With the harvest, the people prepared a feast of foods from their crops. This has become known as the Tavola di San Giuseppe. Through the centuries, people who have prayed for a favor and been granted the favor use this festivity to show their thanks. The "favor" requested must not be for personal gain or benefit.

We know St. Joseph was a carpenter, a working man...he wasn't rich for when he took Jesus to the Temple to be circumcised and Mary to be purified, he offered the sacrifice of two turtledoves or a pair of pigeons, allowed only for those who could not afford a lamb (Luke 2:24). Despite his humble work and means, Joseph came from a royal lineage...descended from David, the greatest king of Israel (Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-38).

He was a compassionate, caring man of faith, obedient to God. Joseph is the patron of the dying, of the universal Church, fathers, carpenters, and social justice.


To the right is my favorite painting by Martin Feuerstein


"O glorious St. Joseph, through the love you bear for Jesus Christ, and for the glory of His Holy name, deign to hear our prayers and obtain for us our petitions.

O Jesus, Mary and Joseph come to our assistance. Amen "