Will you join us for the 1st Annual St. Joseph Altar Blog Fest?
This is a lovely devotion, steeped in tradition, and thanks to Evann, we’ve all been given a very early reminder…providing ample opportunity to prepare for Good St. Joseph’s Feast Day!
Here’s last year’s post with a few great links to help you get started…my young ones are already coloring the mini 3-D virtual St. Joseph’s altar.
From 2009:
Pekne-li na Svatého Josefa, bývá dobrý rok…
If it is nice on St. Joseph’s Day, it will usually be a good year…
Czech proverb
Oh, that our beloved Saint’s feast day had come yesterday! The weather was beautiful…breezy, warm and sunny. By evening, the temperature had dropped significantly and light rain had begun to fall. It seems the feast of St. Joseph will be a drizzly, cold and not-so-spring-like day.
**UPDATE**Bright sunshine, not a cloud in the sky and nearly 50 degrees!! Looks to be an amazing day…
Not to fear! There are still many ways to celebrate St. Joseph and all fathers, as is customary, despite the dreary weather.
Are you familiar with the tradition of the St. Joseph Table or Altar?
The effect of the table design is dignified, solemn, yet festive, grand and inspiring. Much symbolism is contained in its shape and decoration. The “steps” represent the ascent from earth to heaven. On the topmost step is a statue of St. Joseph or a picture of the Holy Family. White linen tablecloths cover the table. Vigil lights of green, brown and deep yellow, representing St. Joseph’s attire, are profusely placed. Palms placed nearby and around the room, as well as lily plants and white carnations give the table softness and the scents together with incense used in the opening of the ceremony are suggestive of the fragrance of heaven and the sweetness of salvation.
You can read the rest here.
Our St. Joseph Altar – March 2009:
There are no end of recipes to help you get started…should you lack the time or resources to prepare a table or altar, a loaf of homemade bread, braided and shaped into a “crook” or “staff” served with the evening meal, would be a nice way to honor Good Saint Joseph.
Here are a few links to help you get started:
Traditional Recipes For the St. Joseph Table
new addition: Chocolate Crown of Thorns…thanks, Evann!
We’ll probably keep things simple. The braided bread served with Minestrone will be a big hit with the children and Verdure alla Pastella would be a delicious and delightful side dish…and a crafty way to sneak in a few green veggies! For dessert: Farfallette Dolci. All of these dishes are simple enough for the children to assist in preparing, with many of the ingredients readily available in the average kitchen.
Don’t forget to check out Catholic Cuisine for additional recipes!
Looking for a few hands-on activities? Check out the following:
Start your day with the Litany of St. Joseph
Attend Mass at a Church named for St. Joseph…follow the usual requirements and receive a plenary indulgence!
Pay a visit to the Virtual St. Joseph’s Altar
Construct a 3D paper cut-out St. Joseph’s Altar…there are a few really great coloring pages, as well!
Happy Feast of St. Joseph!
Blessings,
I am a traditional Catholic homeschooling mother of 9 children, married for 30 years to the most patient and sainted man. As converts to Catholicism in 1991, our family has only recently discovered the beauty and full expression of our beliefs in the timeless liturgy of antiquity, the Extraordinary Form also commonly referred to as the Traditional Latin Mass. An avid knitter, I also enjoy gardening, reading and immersing myself in the everyday graces of my vocation.
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Of course I will join you! Anything for cream puffs.
Thanks for the rest of the ideas too.
Thanks, Kimberly! I look forward to seeing your Altar for this year – now to go back and check out all your links!
Mmmm – cream puffs!
Evann:
Thank you so much for stopping by! Your St. Joseph Virtual Altar blog is such an inspiration…thank you for hosting this blog fest. I can’t wait to see how other families will honor our Good St. Joseph…
Dear Kimberly,
Looks great count me in. Do we just share on our blog or do we do something else and link etc???
Not sure how to do this one
God Bless
Dear Gae:
So sorry I’m so late in responding! To answer your question: simply post about your celebration of the Feast of St. Joseph and link back to Evann’s blog at the St. Joseph Virtual Altar Blog. That’s all there is to it! It will be inspirational to see how other families celebrate this feast day!