Virtual St. Joseph Altar Blog

Mass capitalization

2012-01-15T14:45:00.000-06:00

The Godmother of my second daughter sent me this prayer:

PRAYER FOR THE GRACE FROM ALL THE WORLD'S MASSES

Eternal Father, we humbly offer Thee our poor presence,

and that of the whole of humanity,

from the beginning to the end of the world

at all the Masses that ever have or ever will be prayed.

We offer Thee all the pains, sufferings, prayers,

sacrifices, joys, and relaxations of our lives,

in union with those of our Lord Jesus here on earth.

May the Most Precious Blood of Christ,

all His Blood, Wounds, and Agony save us,

through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Amen.

[This prayer should be recited daily, and be made known.]

20 + K + M + B + 12

2012-01-06T08:05:00.000-06:00

It’s time for the Epiphany House Blessing. Look for blessed chalk at your Church this weekend!

Using blessed chalk, the head of the household says the following prayer while inscribing 20 + K + M + B + 12 outside, above, or near, the main door of the house:

The 3 wise men

Kaspar

Melchior

and Balthasar followed the star of God’s Son who became man

two thousand

and twelve years ago.

+ +

May Christ bless our home

+ +

and remain with us throughout this new year.

Start your new year with St. Joseph

2011-12-28T08:19:00.001-06:00

As we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, keep in mind that Consecration of the family to the Holy Family is one of the devotions associated with this feast:

Consecration to the Holy Family   O Jesus, our most loving Redeemer, who having come to enlighten the world with Thy teaching and example, didst will to pass the greater part of Thy life in humility and subjection to Mary and Joseph in the poor home of Nazareth, thus sanctifying the Family that was to be an example for all Christian families, graciously receive our family as it dedicates and consecrates itself to Thee this day. Do Thou protect us, guard us and establish amongst us Thy holy fear, true peace and concord in Christian love: in order that by living according to the divine pattern of Thy family we may be able, all of us without exception, to attain to eternal happiness.   

Mary, dear Mother of Jesus and Mother of us, by the kindly intercession make this our humble offering acceptable in the sight of Jesus, and obtain for us His graces and blessings.   

O Saint Joseph, most holy Guardian of Jesus and Mary, help us by thy prayers in all our spiritual and temporal needs; that so we may be enabled to praise our divine Savior Jesus, together with Mary and thee, for all eternity. Amen.

  Say an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be three times.

St. Joseph stocking stuffers

2011-12-14T17:17:00.001-06:00

Looking for last minute gifts or stocking stuffers?

Donations of $25 or more to the Virtual St. Joseph Altar receive a digital copy of Viva San Giuseppe, A guide for Saint Joseph Altars. With over 40 pages of recipes, stories of faith, Altar background, and history, this little out-of-print booklet is a handy reference for anyone setting up a St. Joseph Altar. Immediate delivery to your inbox -- all you need to do is print. Help keep the Virtual Altar running while spreading devotion to St. Joseph!

Prayers Needed

2011-08-15T07:44:00.001-05:00

Serious prayers needed for me and my family. Thank you so much!

St. Joseph the Worker

2011-05-01T08:06:00.000-05:00

How appropriate that the 1st day of May, a month entirely dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, is usually the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. I say usually, because since today is Sunday, Divine Mercy Sunday at that, this optional feast will not be recognized.

This weekend, we are workers and carpenters of sorts as we clear away the jungle of tree limbs left by the Good Friday tornado that destroyed many homes in my neighborhood. We were blessed to have minor house damage and major tree loss.

To St. Joseph we pray:

Prayer to Saint Joseph

Pope Pius X

O Glorious St. Joseph, model of all who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work in the spirit of penance in expiation of my many sins; to work conscientiously by placing love of duty above my inclinations; to gratefully and joyously deem it an honor to employ and to develop by labor the gifts I have received from God, to work methodically, peacefully, and in moderation and patience, without ever shrinking from it through weariness or difficulty to work; above all, with purity of intention and unselfishness, having unceasingly before my eyes death and the account I have to render time lost, talents unused, good not done, and vain complacency in success, so baneful to the work of God. All for Jesus, all for Mary, all to imitate thee, O Patriarch St. Joseph! This shall be my motto for life and eternity. AMEN!

Our Friend and Helper

2011-03-29T14:37:00.001-05:00

photo by Lisa Johnston

Wayside St. Joseph Chapel a 'labor of love'
by Barbara Watkins, St. Louis Review

Many Catholic families have a religious statue on display in their home and a crucifix on the wall. But one family in South St. Louis County has gone a step further. Jim and Pat Dolde of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish in Oakville have built a chapel in their yard.

The small wooden building is dedicated to "Our Friend and Helper, St. Joseph," explained Jim Dolde, a retired optician who's quite an accomplished carpenter. His wife of 46 years, Pat, is a retired banker, and the couple enjoys taking trips. . . . keep reading

Thanks for a wonderful 2011 feast day!

2011-03-23T09:08:00.002-05:00

The 2nd Annual St. Joseph Altar blog fest has nine altar links so far. Make a visit -- you will be amazed at the creativity that has gone into these family altars. Each one a unique homage to St. Joseph. Linking will remain open till the end of March, so if your family erected an altar this year we want to see it!

The Virtual St. Joseph Altar had over 6000 visitors and 106 offerings. Many general prayer requests and prayers for the dead were submitted. Although the Altar is now closed for offerings, you can still visit, pray, and learn even more about St. Joseph and the Altar tradition.

I was thrilled to be interviewed twice this year about St. Joseph Altars. I hope you'll listen to the podcasts:

"Live from Jasper's Kitchen" with Jasper Mirabile -- click the March 20 link
Jeff Young's Catholic Foodie episode CF110

And, we've got 136 fans on Facebook!

Thanks to all who visited, commented, and spread the word! The long-awaited feast day has come and gone, but we should remember to keep St. Joseph top of mind all year long.

Unfailing Petition

Holy St. Joseph, spouse of Mary,

be mindful of me, pray for me, watch over me.

Guardian of the paradise of the new Adam,

provide for my temporal wants.

Faithful guardian of the most precious of all treasures,

I beseech thee to bring this matter to a happy end,

if it be for the glory of God and the good of my soul.
Amen.

Catholic Foodie talks with me about St. Joseph Altars

2011-03-23T07:46:00.000-05:00

Have you ever listened to a Catholic Foodie podcast? You won't want to miss episode CF110, its all about St. Joseph Altars. Jeff Young, who is the Catholic Foodie, asked me to join him and talk about St. Joseph, the St. Joseph Altar tradition, and of course, food.

Thanks, Jeff!

"Live from Jasper's" podcast

2011-03-22T11:18:00.000-05:00

If you didn't get a chance to listen to "Live from Jasper's Kitchen" with Jasper Mirabile on St. Joseph's Day, the podcast is now available. Click the March 20 link. Enjoy!

Louisiana's Sicilian heritage

2011-03-20T09:14:00.000-05:00

In conjunction with the Feast of St. Joseph, Cay Sonnier Gibson has written a lovely article: A Sicilian Tradition in Louisiana. Photos are by yours truly! Cay really delves into the Sicilian heritage, and the St. Joseph Altar tradition, that is so much a part of Louisiana.

Goodie bag from St. Louis Cathedral

2011-03-19T16:56:00.001-05:00

Today someone brought my Mom a goodie bag from the St. Joseph Altar at the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. It was the most elaborate goodie bag we've ever come across! Here were the contents:

a little prayer book
a charming little medal in a plastic case with a prayer (shown below)
a sheet telling all about the altar
three fava beans
a slice of Italian bread (delicious and fresh)
six Italian cookies

Wow! Viva San Giuseppe!

Litany of St. Joseph

2011-03-19T15:59:00.000-05:00

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, hear us. Jesus, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Renowned offspring of David, pray for us.
Light of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Chaste guardian of the Virgin,pray for us.
Foster father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Diligent protector of Christ, pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.
Joseph most just, pray for us.
Joseph most chaste, pray for us.
Joseph most prudent, pray for us.
Joseph most strong, pray for us.
Joseph most obedient, pray for us.
Joseph most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of patience, pray for us.
Lover of poverty, pray for us.
Model of artisans, pray for us.
Glory of home life, pray for us.
Guardian of virgins,
Pillar of families, pray for us.
Solace of the wretched, pray for us.
Hope of the sick, pray for us.
Patron of the dying, pray for us.
Terror of demons,
Protector of Holy Church, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world. have mercy on us.

He made him the lord of his household. And prince over all his possessions.

Let us pray. O God, in your ineffable providence you were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother; grant, we beg you, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our Protector: You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

2nd Annual St. Joseph Altar Blog Fest

2011-03-19T12:12:00.002-05:00

March is the Month of St. Joseph and the ultimate way to give him honor is with your very own St. Joseph Altar. Sounds intimidating, but it doens't have to be. There are certain guidelines that will help you get started, but remember, it's your Altar and it should reflect you and your family. Our first home Altar was very simple: a cake, some cookies, and coloring pages by the kids! It's a family affair, so be sure to get everyone involved.

A bit of history will help you begin your planning, and here are some altar photos for inspiration. I'm giving you all an entire month to plan your Altars!

For some real inspiration, be sure to check out the 1st Annual St. Joseph Altar blog fest!

To be included, simply make a blog post about your Altar. Be sure to include details and pics, and then link it here. Linking will begin on the March 19 Feast of St. Joseph and continue till the end of the month. Simple or extravagant, we want to see it! So come back on March 19 to link your Altar post. In the meantime, head to the Virtual St. Joseph Altar for all the info you need to get started planning your Altar.

Grab the button above for your blog, link it back to this post, and spread the word!

Here is our 2011 St. Joseph Altar:

Thanks to all who participated!
See you next year!!

Viva San Giuseppe!

2011-03-19T08:59:00.000-05:00

A Blessed Feast of St. Joseph to all!

Novena to Saint Joseph - Day 9

2011-03-19T08:36:00.000-05:00

Glorious Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, to you we raise our hearts and hands to implore your powerful intercession to obtain, from the benign heart of Jesus, all the helps and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly for the grace of a happy death and this special favour we now request . . . O guardian of the Word Incarnate, we feel animated with confidence that your prayers on our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. O Glorious Saint Joseph, through the love you bear to Jesus Christ and for the glory of His name, hear our prayers and obtain our petitions. Amen.

Day 9: O good Saint Joseph, help us to be like you, gentle to those whose weakness leans on us; help us to give to those who seek our aid, succour that they may journey unafraid. Give us your faith, that we may see the right shining above the victories of might. Give us your hope that we may stand secure, untouched by doubting, steadfast to endure. Give us your love that as the years increase an understanding heart may bring us peace. Give us your purity that the hour of death finds us untouched by evil's breath. Give us your love of labour that we shirk no lot in life that calls us for honest work. Give us your love of poverty so that we live contented, let wealth come or go. Give us your courage that we may be strong; give us your meekness to confess our sins. Give us your patience that we may possess the kingdom of our souls without distress. Help us, dear Saint, to live that when life ends we pass with you to Jesus and His friends. O Glorious Saint Joseph, hear our prayers and obtain our petitions. Amen. Saint Joseph, pray for us!

St. Joseph parades in New Orleans

2011-03-18T20:49:00.000-05:00

The 41st Annual Italian American Marching Club's St. Joseph’s Parade will roll at 6 pm, Saturday, March 19, 2011 in the New Orleans French Quarter. This year’s St. Joseph’s Parade will be comprised of floats followed by a procession of marchers dressed in black tuxedos. Thousands of locals and tourists line the streets to watch this annual parade. Marchers hand out silk flowers and fava beans, and dance and sing with the bystanders. Actor Michael Badalucco is this year's National Grand Marshall.

Sharing a prayer to St. Joseph

2011-03-18T14:46:00.000-05:00

I received the following email today:

Dear Sister in Christ,

Attached is a Prayer to St. Joseph which was composed by me, in fulfillment of a Vow made to Him, for deliverance from evil. I wish to share it with many as possible, that God Almighty be glorified through the prayers of St. Joseph. I believe, it brings great joy to the hearts of Jesus and Mary when we love and honour St. Joseph, as they did . Please pass this prayer on to those whom you feel need the powerful protection, and intervention of St. Joseph in their life situations, and families, jobs and whatever their need may be, especially during this Novena week in preparation for the feast of St. Joseph.

May God bless you.
PRIYANTHI
(SRI- LANKA) 18th MARCH 2011

Prayer To St. Joseph
For Deliverance from Bondages, Addiction and Generation Curse
(To be said before Holy Mass or Before the BLESSED SACRAMENT)

Great St. Joseph, Foster father of Jesus and true Spouse of the Holy Mother of God, I come before you with so much confidence and faith, because God the Father who chose you, had confidence in you, to entrust His most priceless possessions of Jesus and Mary into your Holy hands, and you didn’t let them down. Great was the trust and confidence Jesus and Mary had in you, that they humbly subjected themselves to your authority, knowing that God the Father, revealed His plan and guided them both through you. St. Joseph your great humility was so pleasing to God, and you were privileged to witness the Saviour of the World come forth in to this sinful world to set mankind free from the powers of satan. At that holy moment You were so Blessed to be the first human being to hold the Saviour in your arms and place Him in the arms of Mother Mary. The silent sufferings you endured before His birth were amply rewarded by God, who chose you to be His Father.

Dear St. Joseph, I feel unworthy to approach a Holy soul like you, but I know you will never reject anyone who seeks your help. Together with Mother Mary ,You welcomed the visits of the Magi and Shepherds into your humble abode. I too come before you now trusting and confident that you have the power to help me, in this my urgent need, for which there is no human solution. I place in your Holy Hands, (name of person) …………………who is held in bondage from a generation curse of (cancer/heart disease/ kidney- trouble/blindness/) and is also addicted to alcohol/drugs/rejection of God/smoking/immorality/sexual sins/ violent temper/ cheating/dishonesty/lying/ avarice/greed/ gluttony/financial mismanagement/ immodesty/foul language/adultery)

Dear St. Joseph as I surrender this person to your hands, I plead with you, To take Authority over (his/her) weakness and desires which are deep rooted and controlled by satan and the powers of darkness. Hold Him/her in your holy and powerful hands and anoint (him/her) with the sinless blood of Mary which covered the little body of the new born Saviour, at the moment of His holy Birth, when He came out of Her Sinless womb, to break all chains, and set free those who were captives of sin. St.Joseph,- Jesus and Mary humbly obeyed you. I plead with you, take authority over the power of satan and the evil spirit that is holding on and controlling(…………) and destroying (his/her) life with this addiction and generation curse. May these powers of darkness be shattered and crumble at your holy command, and may (he/she) be delivered forever from the bondages of hell. May your Holy Spouse Mary stand together and beside you in holy and powerful intercession, with the divine light and radiance of God, as you deliver this soul from darkness to light, in the same way you delivered Jesus and Mary from the hands of Herod.

May the Angels of heaven sing “Glory to God” as the powers of hell are broken, shattered and defeated (…….. ) by the powerful authority God has given you over satan. Thank You St. Joseph for interceding for me and my family. Be our guide and helper together with Mary, deliver us from all evil and fill our homes, and protect us with your holy presence. AMEN. Praise the Lord!

( Prayer - Composed by Priyanthi VanDort -31st December 2010)

Novena to Saint Joseph - Day 8

2011-03-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

2011 New Orleans St. Joseph Altars

2011-03-17T19:56:00.001-05:00

The Archdiocese of New Orleans has posted a listing of parishes and groups hosting St. Joseph's Altars.

WWLTV.com also has a thorough list of local Altars, including some held in private homes.

Free coloring book tells story of St. Joseph

2011-03-17T13:18:00.000-05:00

Just in time for the March 19 Feast of St. Joseph, Holy Heroes is offering a free 17-page coloring book download that tells the story of St. Joseph. The art was created by former Disney animators, so think Little Mermaid! Visit Holy Heroes and click on "free stuff" on the right-hand side of the page.

Novena to Saint Joseph - Day 7

2011-03-17T09:09:00.000-05:00

"Live from Jasper's" this Saturday!

2011-03-16T12:57:00.000-05:00

For those in the Kansas City area: I'll be talking about St. Joseph Altars on "Live from Jasper's Kitchen" with Jasper Mirabile, Saturday, 11 to noon on KCMO Talk Radio 710.

For details on how to listen live online, visit KCMO.

3 more days!

2011-03-16T08:57:00.001-05:00

I'm getting ready to rearrange the dining room, and I'm making my St. Joseph Day Altar grocery list. How about you?

If you are still looking for recipes, the Virtual St. Joseph Altar has a handful of standards. If you are looking for more recipes, keep in mind that those who donate $25 or more to the Virtual St. Joseph Altar will receive a digital copy of Viva San Giuseppe, A guide for Saint Joseph Altars. With over 40 pages of recipes, stories of faith, Altar background, and history, this little out-of-print booklet is a handy reference for anyone setting up a St. Joseph Altar. Immediate delivery to your inbox -- all you need to do is print.

Novena to Saint Joseph - Day 6

2011-03-16T08:54:00.000-05:00

Novena to Saint Joseph - Day 5

2011-03-15T21:29:00.000-05:00

Glorious Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, to you we raise our hearts and hands to implore your powerful intercession to obtain, from the benign heart of Jesus, all the helps and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly for the grace of a happy death and this special favour we now request . . . O guardian of the Word Incarnate, we feel animated with confidence that your prayers on our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. O Glorious Saint Joseph, through the love you bear to Jesus Christ and for the glory of His name, hear our prayers and obtain our petitions. Amen.

Day 5: O holy Saint Joseph, what a lesson your life is for us, ever so eager to appear so anxious to display before the eyes of men the graces that we owe entirely to the liberality of God. In addition to the special favour….; for which we plead in this novena, grant that we may attribute to God the glory of all things, that we may love the humble and hidden life, that we may not desire any other position than the one given us by Providence and that we may always be a docile instrument in the hands of God. Amen Saint Joseph, pray for us!

Mini altars and feast day celebrations

2011-03-15T19:52:00.001-05:00

I got this lovely email today:

Dear Evann,
Thank you for this wonderful site! I have been trying to celebrate Saint Feast Days more often in our home. We hosted a St. Joseph’s and St. Patrick’s day celebration today. We had fun preparing our own home altar and had our two younger children make their own. My daughter, J, made the one on the bottom - - I asked her why she put St. Joseph on the bottom rather than the top where he should be, and she told me that St. Joseph was humble and wouldn’t want to be on top - - go figure! We also used your recipe to make Spada dough - - though we had to adjust it as my mixer will not handle five pounds of flour. I also used one of your coloring pages to cut out a plaque for my St. Joseph. I don’t have a large St. Joseph, so I traced it onto MDF and cut it out with a jigsaw and painted it. Now I have a St. Joseph for our home altar as well as our future St. Joseph’s Altars. Thanks, again!!! We really had a good time with our friends.
In Christ,
JF

Thanks, JF, for sharing your mini altars! Visit Homespun Love, JF's home on the web, for more feast day planning and Altar pics.

Blog Fest reminder!

2011-03-14T11:24:00.000-05:00

St. Joseph's Day is fast approaching. Are you ready?

Don't forget! The 2nd annual St. Joseph Altar Blog Fest will begin linking on March 19 and continue through the entire month. March is the Month of St. Joseph and the ultimate way to give honor to St. Joseph is with your very own St. Joseph Altar.

Here are all the details. For lots of great ideas, check out last year's Blog Fest.

I can't wait to see all of your Altars! Viva San Giuseppe!

When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano

2011-03-14T10:20:00.000-05:00

A very interesting thing that happens each year on the Feast of St. Joseph is the return of the swallows to the Mission of San Juan Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano, California. The Mission has it own unique way of celebrating St. Joseph's Day.

The following song commemorating this annual event was recorded by the Ink Spots, Glenn Miller, Pat Boone, and Elvis Presley.

When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano
Words and Music by Rene Leon, Copyright © 1940/1969

When the swallows come back to Capistrano
That's the day you promised to come back to me.
When you whispered farewell in Capistrano
'Twas the day the swallows flew out to the sea.

All the mission bells will ring
The chapel choir will sing
The happiness you'll bring
Will live in my memory.

When the swallows come back to Capistrano
That's the day I pray that you'll come back to me.

While the altar candles burn
My heart is burning too
If you should not return
I'll still be waiting for you.

When the swallows come back to Capistrano
That's the day I pray that you'll come back to me,
That's the day I pray that you'll come back to me.

Novena to Saint Joseph - Day 4

2011-03-14T09:42:00.000-05:00

Novena to Saint Joseph - Day 3

2011-03-13T01:00:00.000-06:00

Novena to Saint Joseph - Day 2

2011-03-12T13:20:00.000-06:00

Glorious Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, to you we raise our hearts and hands to implore your powerful intercession to obtain, from the benign heart of Jesus, all the helps and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly for the grace of a happy deGlorious Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, to you we raise our hearts and hands to implore your powerful intercession to obtain, from the benign heart of Jesus, all the helps and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly for the grace of a happy death and this special favour we now request . . . O guardian of the Word Incarnate, we feel animated with confidence that your prayers on our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. O Glorious Saint Joseph, through the love you bear to Jesus Christ and for the glory of His name, hear our prayers and obtain our petitions. Amen.

Day 2: O Blessed Saint Joseph, tender-hearted father, faithful guardian of Jesus, chaste spouse of the Mother of God, we pray and beseech you to offer to God the Father, His divine son, bathed in blood on the Cross for sinners, and through the thrice holy name of Jesus obtain for us of the eternal Father the favour for which we implore your intercession . . . Amid the splendours of eternity, forget not the sorrows of those who pray, those who weep; stay the almighty arm which smites us, that by your prayers and those of your most holy spouse, the Heart of Jesus may be moved to pity and to pardon. Amen. Saint Joseph, pray for us.

A bit about favas

2011-03-12T09:32:00.001-06:00

The fava bean, often referred to as an "Old World" bean, is one of the oldest domesticated food legumes. It is thought that the beanstalk in "Jack and the Beanstalk" was probably a fava plant. I recently received a question about green verses brown fava beans. Vicia faba come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. You'll find them in brown, light tan, green, and even purple. The favas that are usually used on St. Joseph Altars are dark brown or beige. This is the natural color of the dried fava.

The University of California Small Farm Program has a very information page on favas. And, here's info on the fava and its place on the St. Joseph Altar.

Here are some images of different colored favas.

Begin your novena to St. Joseph today

2011-03-11T14:08:00.001-06:00

Begin today for 2011 Feast of St. Joseph.

Glorious Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, to you we raise our hearts and hands to implore your powerful intercession to obtain, from the benign heart of Jesus, all the helps and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly for the grace of a happy death and this special favour we now request . . . O guardian of the Word Incarnate, we feel animated with confidence that your prayers on our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. O Glorious Saint Joseph, through the love you bear to Jesus Christ and for the glory of His name, hear our prayers and obtain our petitions. Amen.

Day 1: O great St. Joseph, with feelings of unlimited confidence, we beg you to bless this novena that we begin in your honour. "You are never invoked in vain" says the seraphic St. Theresa of Jesus. Be you then to me what you have been to that spouse of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and graciously hear me as you did her. Amen. Saint Joseph, pray for us!

And, the e-book winner is . . .

2011-03-08T12:51:00.000-06:00

Gardenia!

Congratulations and enjoy!

Gardenia has a very lovely blog. Please visit her at My Little Flower.

Happy Mardi Gras to all, and have a Blessed Lent!

Terror of Demons

2011-03-04T15:38:00.000-06:00

Allen, at Is Anybody There? gives some excellent reasons why we should develop a deep devotion to San Giuseppe: Why St. Joseph is the Terror of Demons.

E-book giveaway!

2011-03-01T15:09:00.001-06:00

Viva San Giuseppe: A Guide For St. Joseph Altars published by St. Joseph Guild, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1985

With over 40 pages of recipes, stories of faith, Altar background, and history, this little out-of-print booklet is a handy reference for anyone setting up a St. Joseph Altar.

Enter by leaving a comment below. Be sure to leave your email! This is a downloadable pdf of my own much loved copy of this publication.

Contest ends next Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at noon.

Winner will be notified by email. I will also announce the winner here sometime before 5 p.m.

If you can't wait, or aren't the lucky winner, the ebook is also my gift to those who make donations of $25 or more to the Virtual St. Joseph Altar.

Viva San Giuseppe!

Offering update

2011-02-26T12:56:00.000-06:00

The Virtual St. Joseph Altar has been open for one week. So far, there have been 43 virtual offerings placed on the Altar; 17 posts on Prayers for the Dead; and 27 General Prayer Requests. There have been about 500 visitors to the Altar during this first week.

Visits pick up dramatically during the last week before the March 19 feast day. Last year there were over 7,000 visitors during the month prior to the feast day, and 900 visitors on St. Joseph's Day alone!

Spread the word & Viva San Giuseppe!

Why no meat?

2011-02-24T08:49:00.001-06:00

Why is there never any meat on a St. Joseph Altar?

There are two reasons for the meatless Altar. The first, and probably the more relevant reason, is that meat was a rarity for Sicilian peasants. The second reason is that St. Joseph's Feast Day falls in the season of Lent. So, in the Sicilian St. Joseph Altar tradition, no meat is prepared for the Altar. But, who needs meat when you've got boiled shrimp, baked red snapper, and boiled crawfish!

Read more on the history of the St. Joseph Altar.

Catholic Cuisine for the month of March

2011-02-23T19:49:00.000-06:00

Catholic Cuisine is a wonderful blog that offers recipes and ideas for celebrating the feasts and seasons of the liturgical year. Today's post is of particular interest: Recipes for March ~ Month Dedicated to St. Joseph. But you won't just find recipes for St. Joseph's Day. They've included ALL the March feasts: St. David, St. Casimir, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Gregory the Great, St. Patrick, St. Gabriel, and the Annunciation of the Lord.

Head over to Catholic Cuisine for recipes, beautiful photos, and more!

Spread the word!

2011-02-23T10:57:00.001-06:00

Do you have a blog or website? Tell everyone about the Virtual St. Joseph Altar with one of these badges. Grab one, load it up to your site, and link the image back to http://thankevann.com/stjoseph

Thank you, for helping to spread devotion to St. Joseph!

Patron of many

2011-02-22T11:43:00.000-06:00

St. Joseph is the patron saint of a wide variety of things & people:

against doubt and hesitation
bursars
cabinetmakers
carpenters
confectioners
craftsmen
dying people
emigrants
engineers
expectant mothers
families
fathers
happy death
holy death
house hunters
immigrants
interior souls
laborers
married people
people who fight Communism
pioneers
pregnant women
protection of the Church
social justice
travelers
unborn children
Universal Church
wheelwrights
workers
working people

He is also the patron of many places:

Americas; Austria; diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Belgium; diocese of Biloxi, Mississippi; Bohemia; diocese of Buffalo, New York; Canada; Carinthia; diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming; China; Croatian people (in 1687 by decree of the Croatian parliament) ; Florence, Italy; Korea; diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin; archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky; diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire; Mexico; diocese of Nashville, Tennessee; New France; New World; Peru; diocese of San Jose, California; Sicily; diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Styria, Austria; Turin Italy; Tyrol, Austria; Vatican II; Viet Nam; diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia; and on December 8, 1870, Pope Pius IX proclaimed him the patron of the Universal Church

A spiritual bouquet for Pope Benedict

2011-02-21T09:13:00.000-06:00

What Does The Prayer Really Say? is hosting a Spiritual Bouquet for Pope Benedict for St. Joseph’s Day, March 19. Pope Benedict certainly needs our prayers and March 19 is his baptismal name day. There are several options for participation, including:

Mass and/or Holy Communion
Chaplet of the Rosary (5 mysteries)
Work of mercy
Decade of the Rosary
Spiritual reading
Prayers during the day (including hour of the Office)
Visit to the Blessed Sacrament
Day of fasting from food or another thing
Entire Rosary (all the mysteries)

Participation in the spiritual bouquet will end on March 19. Head over to What Does The Prayer Really Say? for all the details.

St. Joseph Altars of New Orleans, 2010

2011-02-20T18:24:00.002-06:00

Join John and his wife on their 2010 pilgrimage to seven different St. Joseph Altars in New Orleans. Thanks, John, for sharing your video with us!

Enjoy and Viva San Giuseppe!

Capturing the heart of the tradition

2011-02-20T10:07:00.001-06:00

Allen, of Is Anybody There?, is a long time visitor and promoter of the Virtual St. Joseph Altar. In a recent blog post, St. Joseph Altars 2011, he explains the devotion of the annual St. Joseph Altar. Not only does Allen give a wonderful outline of the history behind the tradition, he also had something very special to say about the Virtual St. Joseph Altar:

"If you get the chance to see a real one, please do. But this does capture the heart of the devotion to San Giuseppe."

That has always been my goal with the Virtual Altar. To "capture the heart" of the St. Joseph Altar tradition. Thanks, Allen! You made my day!

Kind words from Altar visitors

2011-02-20T09:51:00.002-06:00

Opening day was a busy one. As well as virtual offerings and prayer requests, I received many lovely emails from visitors to the Virtual St. Joseph Altar. Some are from newcomers to the Altar, others are from long-time visitors. Here are a few snippets:

Spring can never be far away when you open your St Joseph's altar!

Thanks again for bringing St Joseph to us every year.

We have a new pastor, and he does not want an altar this year??????? , so we have yours!

Terrific! What a great way to pray.

Many thanks, Evann, for the fantastic booklet! Viva San Giuseppe!

Thank you all!

2011 Virtual St. Joseph Altar is now open!

2011-02-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

The Virtual St. Joseph Altar is my online version of the traditional Sicilian St. Joseph Altars of New Orleans. The first Virtual St. Joseph Altar went online in February of 1999.

The Virtual St, Joseph Altar is open now through the March 19 Feast of St. Joseph.

Visit the Altar and make your virtual offerings, Request prayers for prayers for deceased loved ones. Or make general prayer requests.

There's lot of other things to keep you busy: prayers, history, recipes, photos, links, and more. Don't miss the mini 3d Virtual St. Joseph's Altar craft.

Because of the continued prayers & support of so many, the Virtual St. Joseph Altar gets bigger and better each year!

I welcome the many faithful visitors who have been coming to the Virtual St. Joseph Altar since its very beginning, and a warm welcome to those who are new to the Altar.

Thank you all for helping to spread devotion to St. Joseph. Viva San Guiseppe!

Evann Duplantier
Virtual St. Joseph Altar

General Prayer Requests 2011

2011-02-18T17:07:00.001-06:00

This is a place for general prayer requests.

Simply submit your prayer request in the comment box below.

For prayers for deceased loved ones, please visit Prayers for the Dead 2011.

Holy St. Joseph, Spouse of Mary,
be mindful of me, pray for me, watch over me.
Guardian of the paradise of the new Adam,
provide for my temporal wants.
Faithful guardian of the most precious of all treasures,
I beseech thee to bring this matter to a happy end,
if it be for the glory of God,
and the good of my soul.
Amen

Commenting is now closed -- please pray for the prayer requests listed here and I'll see you for the 2012 Feast of st. Joseph!

Prayers for the Dead 2011

2011-02-18T17:02:00.002-06:00

This is a place to request prayers for deceased loved ones.

Simply list your deceased family and friends in the comment box below. Please separate names with a comma.

For other general prayer requests, please visit Prayer Requests 2011.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord;
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.
Amen.

Commenting is now closed -- please pray for those listed here and I'll see you for the 2012 Feast of st. Joseph!

30-day novena reminder

2011-02-18T07:15:00.000-06:00

A Catholic Mom in Hawaii, reminds us that today is the day to start a 30-day novena to St. Joseph that will end on his March 19 feast. You could have started yesterday to end on the eve of his feast, but since yesterday has passed I am going to concentrate on today!

Thanks, Esther, for the timely reminder.

St. Joseph's Day is right around the corner

2011-02-17T08:52:00.000-06:00

Well, not really, but it is just a month away and that means it will be here before you know it! I've been busy getting the Virtual St. Joseph Altar ready for its February 19th opening. That gives you all month to visit and make your virtual offerings to the Altar for the 2011 Feast of St. Joseph.

The Virtual St. Joseph Altar is my online version of the traditional Sicilian St. Joseph Altars of New Orleans which I began in February of 1999. Visitors submit virtual offerings to be placed on the Altar. From the prayer request page, you can add the names of deceased loved ones to the prayer list, and post general prayer requests as well. You will also find crafts, recipes, prayers, history, images of St. Joseph, photos of Altars, links, and more.

There will also be a 2nd Annual St. Joseph Altar Blog Fest! Stay tuned for more info on that.

The Virtual St. Joseph Altar will officially open on February 19.

The 2011 Altar marks 13 years for the Virtual St. Joseph Altar. Spread the word & Viva San Guiseppe!

To bury, or not to bury?

2011-02-15T12:55:00.000-06:00

Aggie Catholics has an interesting post on the popular practice of Burying St. Joseph Upside Down To Sell a House. In addition to this story about Blessed Andre Bessett, there is a story about Carmelite nuns and their search for a convent:

The tradition of burying St. Joseph in the earth began hundreds of years ago during the time when St.Teresa of Avila was opening Carmelite Convents throughout Europe. Taking only the bare necessities and their statue of St. Joseph, her nuns would set out in search of land or buildings suitable for a new convent. St. Teresa of Avila always encouraged her nuns to pray to St. Joseph.

It is believed that, on one particular search, the nuns found a piece of property perfect for their needs. Having no money, the nuns immediately started to petition St. Joseph for the funds needed to buy the property. In the meantime, having no place to stay, the nuns decided to bury their statue of St. Joseph on the property so he would not get stolen or broken.

After the nuns prayed to St. Joseph, someone purchased the land and built them a convent. When it was finished, the sisters dug up the statue and built a beautiful shrine inside in honor of St. Joseph.

Read more on this at the Virtual St. Joseph Altar.

Like us on Facebook

2011-02-03T09:22:00.001-06:00

Are you on Facebook?

If you are, be sure to "like" The Virtual St. Joseph Altar!

Listen to this

2011-02-02T18:27:00.000-06:00

If you haven't visited The Catholic Foodie, now is the time. It's where food meets faith! You'll find blog posts, podcasts, recipes, cookbooks, coffee, and more. While you are there, be sure to subscribe to The Catholic Foodie newsletter and email updates.

As we gear up for the 2011 Feast of St. Joseph, I'm very excited to have been asked to be on the show for Jeff's St. Joseph episode. Stay tuned for the exact date and time!

But, this week, in podcast CF105, Jeff addresses food blogging and various food blogs. He even mentions me and thankevann.com. Thanks, Jeff!

Jeff loves his faith and he loves his food and it's reflected in everything The Catholic Foodie has to offer.

John Paul II's prayer for families

2011-01-15T12:10:00.000-06:00

This week, the May 1, 2011 beatification of John Paul II was announced. Here is an excerpt of John Paul II's November 22, 1981 Familiaris Consortio, Apostolic Exhortation on the Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World:

I wish to invoke the protection of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Through God's mysterious design, it was in that family that the Son of God spent long years of a hidden life.

It is therefore the prototype and example for all Christian families.

It was unique in the world.

Its life was passed in anonymity and silence in a little town in Palestine.

It underwent trials of poverty, persecution and exile.

It glorified God in an incomparably exalted and pure way.

And it will not fail to help Christian families -- indeed, all the families in the world --
to be faithful to their day-to-day duties,  to bear the cares and tribulations of life, to be open and generous to the needs of others, and to fulfill with joy the plan of God in their regard.

Saint Joseph was "a just man", a tireless worker, the upright guardian of those entrusted to his care. May he always guard, protect and enlighten families.

May the Virgin Mary, who is the Mother of the Church, also be the Mother of "the Church of the home".
Thanks to her mortherly aid, may each family really become a "little Church" in which the mystery of the Church of Christ is mirrored and given new life.

May she, the Handmaid of the Lord, be an example of humble and generous acceptance of the will of God.
May she, the Sorrowful Mother at the foot of the Cross, comfort the sufferings and dry the tears of those in distress because of the difficulties in their families.

May Christ the Lord, the Universal King, the King of Families, be present in every Christian home as He was at Cana, bestowing light, joy, serenity and strength.

On the solemn day dedicated to His Kingship I beg of Him that every family may generously make its own contribution to the coming of His Kingdom in the world --
"a kingdom of truth and life; a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace, towards which history is journeying."

I entrust each family to Him, to Mary, and to Joseph. To their hands and their hearts I offer this Exhortation:

May it be they who present it to you, venerable Brothers and beloved sons and daughters, and may it be they who open your hears to the light that the Gospel sheds on every family.

I assure you all of my constant prayers and I cordially impart the apostolic blessing to each and every one of you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Pope entrusts all Pastors to St Joseph

2011-01-12T10:53:00.000-06:00

In a December Angelus, Pope Benedict XVI prayed that all people might know how to read the signs of God's work in their lives just as St. Joseph did.

BENEDICT XVI
ANGELUS
St Peter's Square Fourth Sunday of Advent, 19 December 2010

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
On this Fourth Sunday of Advent the Gospel according to St Matthew recounts the birth of Jesus from St Joseph’s viewpoint. He was betrothed to Mary who, “before they came together… was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 1:18). The Son of God, fulfilling an ancient prophecy (cf. Is 7:14), became man in the womb of a virgin and this mystery at the same time expressed the love, wisdom and power of God for mankind, wounded by sin. St Joseph is presented as “a just man” (Mt 1:19), faithful to God’s law and ready to do his will. For this reason he enters the mystery of the Incarnation after an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, announcing: “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:20-21). Having given up the idea of divorcing Mary secretly, Joseph took her to himself because he then saw God’s work in her with his own eyes.

St Ambrose comments that “Joseph had the amiability and stature of a just man, to make his capacity as a witness worthier” (Exp. Ev. sec. Lucam II, 5: CCL 14,32-33). St Ambrose continues: “He could not have contaminated the temple of the Holy Spirit, the Mother of the Lord, the womb rendered fertile by the mystery” (ibid., II, 6: CCL 14,33). Although he had felt distressed, Joseph “did as the Angel of the Lord commanded him”, certain that he was doing the right thing. And in giving the name of “Jesus” to the Child who rules the entire universe, he placed himself among the throng of humble and faithful servants, similar to the Angels and Prophets, similar to the Martyrs and to the Apostles — as the ancient Eastern hymns sing. In witnessing to Mary’s virginity, to God’s gratuitous action and in safeguarding the Messiah’s earthly life St Joseph announces the miracle of the Lord. Therefore let us venerate the legal father of Jesus (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 532), because the new man is outlined in him, who looks with trust and courage to the future. He does not follow his own plans but entrusts himself without reserve to the infinite mercy of the One who will fulfil the prophecies and open the time of salvation.

Dear friends, I would like to entrust all Pastors to St Joseph, universal Patron of the Church, while I urge them to offer “Christ’s [humble] words and actions each day to the faithful and to the whole world”, (Letter Proclaiming the Year for Priests, 16 June 2009). May our life adhere ever more closely to the Person of Jesus, precisely because “the One who is himself the Word takes on a body, he comes from God as a man, and draws the whole of man’s being to himself, bearing it into the Word of God” (Jesus of Nazareth, New York 2007, p. 334). Let us invoke with trust the Virgin Mary, full of grace, “adorned by God”, so that at Christmas, which is now at hand, our eyes may be opened and see Jesus, and our hearts rejoice in this wonderful encounter of love.

Are you ready?

2011-01-06T10:00:00.000-06:00

Just a little over 2 months till the 2011 March 19 Feast of St. Joseph! What are your plans? Ready to set up your first Altar? What about those of you with experience setting up a St. Joseph Day Altar? I'd love to hear what you all have planned!

If you're on Facebook, be sure to "like" the Virtual St. Joseph Altar!

Every Wednesday is St. Joseph's Day

2010-09-15T07:02:00.001-05:00

The Church assigns a devotion to each day of the week. Wednesday has traditionally been set aside for St. Joseph. So, let's not just think of St. Joseph on his two Feast days because every Wednesday is St. Joseph's Day!

The following prayers are taken from the "Days of the Week" section of Blessed Be God, Complete Catholic Prayerbook:

In Whatever tribulation they shall cry to me, I will hear them and be their protector always.

V. Obtain for us, O Joseph, to lead an innocent life.
R. And may it ever be safe through thy patronage.

Let Us Pray

O God, Who in Thine unspeakable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the husband of Thy most holy Mother, mercifully grant that, as we venerate him for our protector on earth, we may deserve to be aided by his intercession in heaven. Who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen

Prayer To St. Joseph For Employment

2010-08-19T17:54:00.000-05:00

Dear Saint Joseph, you were yourself once faced with the responsibility of providing the necessities of life for Jesus and Mary.

Look down with fatherly compassion upon me in my anxiety over my present inability to support my family.

Please help me to find gainful employment very soon, so that this heavy burden of concern will be lifted from my heart and that I am soon able to provide for those whom God has entrusted to my care.

Help us to guard against bitterness and discouragement, so that we may emerge from this trial spiritually enriched and with even greater blessings from God.

Amen

Prayers for Sr. Mary Joseph

2010-08-08T11:04:00.000-05:00

Since St. Joseph is her patron, I wanted to post this prayer request: I just got word that Sister Mary Joseph of the Carmelites of the Divine Heart of Jesus will be undergoing surgery next week, followed by chemotherapy. I have worked with Sr. Mary Joseph for many years. She is, to quote the Saint Louis Catholic, “a wonderful, energetic and holy woman of God.” I don’t know any more details, but please keep this incredible sister in your prayers.

In Midtown NYC

2010-07-11T17:22:00.000-05:00

This beautiful statue of St. Joseph is in St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City. It is part of one of many chapels that grace the long outer aisles. I was fortunate enough to visit St. Patrick's recently. My photo does not give justice to St. Joseph.

New fountain dedicated to St. Joseph in the Vatican Gardens

2010-07-11T10:10:00.000-05:00

The fountain “represents a symbolic reminder of the values of simplicity and humility in accomplishing God's will every day, values which characterised the silent but invaluable life of the Custodian of the Redeemer.”

From The Vatican:

INAUGURATION OF THE NEW FOUNTAIN
IN THE VATICAN GARDENS
DEDICATED TO ST. JOSEPH
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
Piazza of the Governorate
Monday, 5 July 2010

Your Eminences,
Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate and in the Priesthood,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a cause of joy to me to inaugurate this fountain in the Vatican Gardens, in a natural context of rare beauty. It is a work that increases the artistic patrimony of this enchanting green space in Vatican City, full of historical and artistic testimonies of various epochs. Indeed, not only the lawns, the flowers, plants and trees, but also the towers, pavilions, small temples, fountains, statues and other buildings make this garden into a fascinating unicum. They were for my Predecessors, and, indeed, they are for me, a vital space, a place I go to with pleasure to spend a little time in prayer and serene relaxation.

In addressing my warm greetings to each one of you, I wish to express deep gratitude for this gift which you have given me by dedicating it to St Joseph. Thank you for this delicate and courteous thought! It was a demanding enterprise which involved the collaboration of many. In the first place, I thank Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo both for the words he addressed to me and for his interesting presentation of the completed work. With him I thank Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò and Bishop Giorgio Corbellini, respectively Secretary General and Vice-Secretary General of Governorate. I express my deep appreciation to the Technical Services Department, to the designer and to the sculptor, to the consultants and to the workers, with a special thought for Mr and Mrs Hintze and for Mr Castrignano from London, who generously financed the project, and for the Sisters of the Monastery of St Joseph in Kyoto. I also thank the Province of Trent, the municipalities and firms of Trent, for their contribution.

This fountain is called after St Joseph, a beloved figure close to the heart of the People of God and to my heart. The six bronze panels that adorn it evoke as many episodes in his life. I wish to reflect briefly on them. The first panel represents the Betrothal of Joseph and Mary; it is an episode of great importance. Joseph was of the royal line of David and, by virtue of his marriage to Mary, was to confer upon the Son of the Virgin upon the Son of God the legal title of "Son of David", thus fulfilling the prophecy. The betrothal of Joseph and Mary is thus a human event but is crucial in the history of the humanity's salvation, in the fulfilment of God's promises; And so it has a supernatural connotation, which the two protagonists accept with humility and trust.

The moment of trial for St Joseph was not long in coming, a demanding trial for his faith. Before going to live with her, Mary's betrothed discovers her mysterious motherhood and was upset. The Evangelist Matthew stresses that being a just man, not wanting to repudiate her, he therefore decides to send her away secretly (cf. Mt 1:19). But in a dream as it is portrayed in the second panel the Angel makes him understand that what was taking place in Mary was the work of the Holy Spirit; and Joseph, trusting in God, consents and cooperates with the plan of Salvation. Certainly, the divine intervention in his life could not but trouble his heart. Entrusting oneself to God does not mean seeing everything clearly according to our own criteria, it does not mean doing what we have planned; entrusting oneself to God means emptying oneself of oneself, renouncing oneself, for only those who accept to lose themselves for God can be called "just", like St Joseph, that is, can conform their will to God's and so fulfil themselves.

The Gospel, as we know, has not preserved any words of Joseph, who carries out his work in silence. It is this style that characterizes his whole existence, both before finding himself facing the mystery of God's action in his spouse, and when aware of this mystery he stands beside Mary in the Nativity, represented on the third panel. On that holy night in Bethlehem, with Mary and the Child, Joseph is there, to whom the Heavenly Father entrusted the daily care of his Son on earth, that he carried out in humility and silence.

The fourth panel reproduces the dramatic scene of the Flight into Egypt to escape from the homicidal violence of Herod. Joseph is compelled to leave his land with his family in haste: it is another mysterious moment in his life; another trial, in which total fidelity to God's plan is asked of him.

Then, in the Gospels, Joseph appears in only one other episode, when he goes to Jerusalem and experiences the anguish of losing the Child Jesus. St Luke describes the exhausting search and his wonder at the Finding Him in the Temple as appears on the fifth panel, but even more his amazement at hearing the mysterious words: "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" (Lk 2: 49). It is this two-fold question of the Son of God that helps us understand the mystery of Joseph's Fatherhood. Reminding his own parents of the supremacy of the One he calls "my Father", Jesus asserts the primacy of the God's Will over every other will and reveals to Joseph the profound truth of his role. He too is called to be a disciple of Jesus, dedicating his life to the service of the Son of God and of the Virgin Mother, in obedience to the Heavenly Father.

The sixth panel shows the work of Joseph in his workshop at Nazareth. Jesus worked beside him. The Son of God is hidden from men and only Mary and Joseph jealously guard his mystery and live it every day: the Word Incarnate grows as a man in the shadow of his parents, but, at the same time, they remain, in turn, hidden in Christ, in his mystery, living out their vocation.

Dear brothers and sisters, this beautiful fountain dedicated to St Joseph is a symbolic reference to the values of simplicity and humility in doing God's Will daily, which marked the silent but precious life of the Custodian of the Redeemer. I entrust to his intercession the future of the Church and of the world. Together with the Virgin Mary, his spouse, may he always guide us on our journey, so that we may be joyful instruments of peace and salvation.

Reading St. Joseph

2010-06-23T14:38:00.000-05:00

My good friend, Jennifer, at Family in Feast and Feria has a wonderful post on books about St. Joseph that her family has enjoyed.

St. Joseph the Worker Novena

2010-04-22T15:32:00.000-05:00

Start your novena today, April 22, to end on May 1.

Prayer to St. Joseph the Worker

Composed by Pope St. Pius X

(State your petitions)

O glorious St. Joseph, model of all those who are devoted to labor,
obtain for me the grace to work conscientiously, putting the call of duty above my natural inclinations,
to work with gratitude and joy, in a spirit of penance for the remission of my sins,
considering it an honor to employ and develop by means of labor the gifts received from God,
to work with order, peace, moderation and patience, without ever shrinking from weariness and difficulties,
to work above all with purity of intention and detachment from self,
having always death before my eyes and the account that I must render of time lost,
of talents wasted, of good omitted, of vain complacency in success, so fatal to the work of God.
All for Jesus, all through Mary, all after thine example, O Patriarch, St. Joseph.
Such shall be my watchword in life and in death. Amen.

It's time to pray for the intercession of St. Joseph

2010-04-10T08:16:00.001-05:00

Please visit Is Anybody There? for these very appropriate and timely prayers asking for the intercession of St. Joseph: Prayer for the Church & the Holy Father and a Prayer for Priests.

Comu semu tutti muti?

2010-03-31T11:34:00.000-05:00

Preparation is half the fun for Feast of San Giuseppe

by Debra Samuels, The Boston Globe

GLOUCESTER — In the garage-cum-kitchen of Nina and Franco Groppo’s home here, more than 20 friends and extended family are preparing for the Feast of San Giuseppe. That means pasta making — lots of it — along with plenty of fun. Flour sifting through the air around him, Pasquale Vitale throws his head back and calls out: “Comu semu tutti muti?’’ (Let me hear your voices.) The pasta makers respond: “Viva San Giuseppe Viva!’’ . . . keep reading and don't miss the slide show!

Virtual Altar on NewOrleans.com

2010-03-22T23:53:00.000-05:00

NewOrleans.com listed the Virtual St. Joseph Altar as an alternative for those who can't make it to an actual Altar in New Orleans. How exciting!

Solemn High Mass for St. Joseph's Day

2010-03-22T19:35:00.000-05:00

On March 19, 2010 St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Richmond, Virginia. celebrated the Feast of St. Joseph with a Solemn High Mass, Extraordinary Form, Tridentine Rite approved by Diocese of Richmond Bishop DiLorenzo. They also set up a beautiful St. Joseph's Altar. Thanks, Victoria, for sharing!

Thank you all . . .

2010-03-22T10:28:00.000-05:00

. . . for a wonderful 2010 Feast of St. Joseph, with over 7,000 visitors and 160 offerings. There were over 900 visitors on March 19 alone!

This blog has gotten more attention this year. Many people have sent in stories and photos for me to share here.

The most fun for me this year has been the 1st Annual St. Joseph Altar Blog Fest. I have really enjoyed making the rounds and seeing everyone's personal and distinct Altars. It's not too late to join the fun. Linking continues through the end of March.

I want to thank all who participated in some way with this year's Virtual Altar, helping to make this a worthy honor to St. Joseph.

Moms and kids craft mini altars

2010-03-20T20:54:00.002-05:00

So nice to see these little Altars getting around. This email, and photos, came today:

Our mother and child's group had a great time building St. Joseph's altars this past Friday on the Feast of St. Joseph. All of the children are preschool age or younger and we want to share our photos with you.

The little ones were so excited and it was very sweet to see all the mama's telling stories as they colored or cut out the pictures of St. Joseph. I think the oldest child is 4 1/2, and the focus was phenomenal :)

Holly
St. Mary's Old Town Alexandria, VA
craft coordinator for Mother and Child Holy Hour

More mini 3D Altars

2010-03-19T17:53:00.000-05:00

I love to see these little Altars being built. If you made one of the mini 3D altars, please send me a pic so I can post it here.

Carrie, and her cute daughter Reagan, made this mini 3D altar:

1st Annual St. Joseph Altar Blog Fest

2010-03-19T00:05:00.005-05:00

Happy Feast of St. Joseph and welcome to the 1st Annual St. Joseph Altar Blog Fest!

The ultimate way to give honor to St. Joseph on his feast day is with your very own St. Joseph Altar. The goal of the Blog Fest is to link all those who have created a St. Joseph Altar for the 2010 Feast of St. Joseph. It will be fun to see the variety of approaches and styles. Simple or extravagant, we want to see it!

To participate, all you need to do is:
1. Erect a St. Joseph Altar. Be sure to get the whole family involved.
2. Make a post on your blog about your Altar. We want to see photos if possible!
3. Use the MckLinky form below and enter the exact link to your St. Joseph Altar post.
4. Link your post back to this post. Grab a button to make linking easier and link it to http://stjosephaltar.blogspot.com/2010/03/1st-annual-st-joseph-altar-blog-fest.html
5. If you already have a button on your blog, please change the link to http://stjosephaltar.blogspot.com/2010/03/1st-annual-st-joseph-altar-blog-fest.html
6. Be sure to make the rounds and visit all the St. Joseph Altar posts.

Here is our 2010 St. Joseph Altar.

For more pics and details, visit my Homeschool Goodies blog.

1st Annual St. Joseph Altar Blog Fest participants:

An expression of art and love

2010-03-17T13:06:00.001-05:00

Author studies St. Joseph traditions
by Debbie Glover, St. Tammany News

“I’ve been writing about food since the 1960s and teaching cooking for 40 years,” said Sandra Scalise Juneau, local food connoisseur, author and St. Joseph altar teacher.

“One of the things I love about the St. Joseph altar is that each one is totally unique. It’s an expression of art and love,” she said. . . . keep reading!

Friday feast day

2010-03-17T12:41:00.002-05:00

According to Canon law: if a feast day falls on a Friday during Lent, the obligation to abstain from meat or do penance is lifted. So, enjoy all those cakes, cookies, and forbidden treats you are planning for your Altars. But remember, traditionally there is no meat on a St. Joseph Altar.

Elizabeth's mini Altar

2010-03-16T20:40:00.001-05:00

This email made me happy. Elizabeth and her family made the 3D cut & color mini St. Joseph Altar, accompanied by food items appropriate to donate to a local shelter. Thank you, Elizabeth, for sharing your family altar with us.

As promised attached to this email is a picture of our family's St. Joseph Altar. We have placed several nonperishable items symbolic to the real food that might be placed on an altar. Our plan is to later take those items to our local Mission (homeless shelter). We've incorporated books and the memory cards Jessica shared to further celebrate this wonder saint.

Thank you for the inspiration and the help in creating this memorable altar for our family.

God bless,
Elizabeth

St. Joseph goodies

2010-03-15T11:45:00.001-05:00

Shop for one-of-a-kind St. Joseph items at thankevann.

You'll find:

t-shirts
sweat shirts
framed art
note cards
mouse pads
and more

Reminder: St. Joseph Altar Blog Fest

2010-03-15T08:33:00.001-05:00

Don't forget, the 1st Annual St. Joseph Altar Blog Fest will open this Friday. To be included, make a blog post about your Altar, including details and pics, then link it here. I will begin the linking on the March 19 Feast of St. Joseph and continue till the end of March. Simple or extravagant, we want to see it! So come back on March 19 to link your Altar post. In the meantime, head to the Virtual St. Joseph Altar for all the info you need to get started planning your Altar. Place this button on your blog, spread the word and let's honor St. Joseph.

Listing of New Orleans Altars

2010-03-14T21:11:00.002-05:00

The Clarion Herald, official newspaper of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, has published a list of parishes, schools and entities of the Archdiocese that are hosting St. Joseph Altars for the 2010 Feast Day: St. Joseph Altars Open For Viewing & part 2 (these are pdfs)

WWLTV.com has an online listing of local Altars as well.

7 Sorrows and 7 Joys of St. Joseph — #7

2010-03-14T03:00:00.001-05:00

Although this devotion can be done anytime, one of the more traditional times to start is seven Sundays before the March 19 Feast of St. Joseph.

Today is the seventh Sunday:

O glorious St. Joseph, pattern of all holiness, when thou didst lose, through no fault of thine own, the Child Jesus, thou sought Him sorrowing for the space of three days, until with great joy, thou didst find Him again in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors. By this sorrow and this joy, we supplicate thee, with our hearts upon our lips, to keep us from ever having the misfortune to lose Jesus through mortal sin; but if this supreme misfortune should befall us, grant that we may seek Him with unceasing sorrow until we find Him again, ready to show us His great mercy, especially at the hour of death; so that we may pass over to enjoy His presence in Heaven; and there in company with thee, may we sing the praises of His Divine mercy forever. (Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be)

Antiphon: And Jesus Himself was beginning about the age of thirty, being (as it was supposed) the Son of Joseph.

V: Pray for us, O holy Joseph,

R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray.

O God, Who in Thine ineffable Providence didst vouchsafe to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most holy Mother, grant we beseech Thee, that he whom we venerate as our protector on earth may be our intercessor in Heaven. Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer taken from fisheaters.com

New Jersey St. Joseph's Altar

2010-03-13T08:45:00.004-06:00

For those of you in the Bloomfield New Jersey area:

St. Joseph's Altar celebration March 14
The 22nd annual St. Joseph's Altar celebration will be held Sunday, March 14 at 1 p.m. at St. Thomas R.C. Church, 64 Byrd Ave., Bloomfield. . . . keep reading

A spring tradition

2010-03-12T10:16:00.001-06:00

St. Joseph’s Altars on display
by Debbie Glover, St. Tammany News

A unique display of Sicilian and Italian culture is on display this month at the Madisonville Museum, 201 Cedar St. in Madisonville.

South Louisiana Catholics have showed their devotion to St. Joseph for generation through the building of altars laden with edible breads, fruits, pastries and other treats. The tribute was originally built in homes as thanks for a favor granted through the year or in remembrance of a loved one.

While altars are still made in some homes, church parishes and even some businesses, such as Anne Dale in Mandeville, now have altars as part of their Lenten, or spring, tradition.

The altars are not simply built of lavish displays of foods and pastry. They are a symbol of a culture and tradition handed from one generation to another and everything included in an altar has meaning. . . . keep reading

Testimonials to St. Joseph

2010-03-12T08:01:00.000-06:00

A reader sent in the following testimonial:

Hello there, i came across your blog and i would like to give my testimony to the intercession of Saint Joseph and the works of God. I have posted this on several Catholic sites as well, for thanksgiving and homage. Please help to spread it about and pray for further improvements. Thank you.

About 2 weeks ago, my best friend texted me that her grandmother has been re-hospitalized. This is due to her organs deteoriating and/or the growth in her lungs. She was hospitalized once early last year in 2009 and she got better, thanks to the intercession of Saint Joseph and God's miraculous works too. I said the novena to Saint Joseph to intercede to God and to Jesus to let her grandmother get better. After several days, my best friend told me over the phone that her grandmother is now recovering, which is wonderful and no suprise at all, as I trusted in God and Saint Joseph. However, I'd like to ask for everyone to pray that her grandmother continues to recover and be free from her illness and also for the family to realize the awesome works of God and Christ and to open their hearts to Him and believe in Him. Everything accounted in here really happened. Thank you for taking your time to read through this testimony and to pray for them.

If you have a testimonial, or prayer request report, regarding the intercession of St. Joseph, feel free to share it with us in the comment box below.

The Symbols of St. Joseph

2010-03-10T21:00:00.000-06:00

The Symbols of St. Joseph

by Father Michael Van Sloun
for The Catholic Spirit
Tuesday, 17 March 2009

The Church has assigned two special feast days each year to honor St. Joseph, the stepfather of Jesus: March 19, the solemnity of St. Joseph, the husband of Mary; and May 1, the memorial of St. Joseph the Worker. A number of symbols are associated with this great saint.

A Carpenter’s Square. The gospel indicates that Joseph was a carpenter: “Is he [Jesus] not the carpenter’s son?” (Mt 13:55). A square is an indispensable tool of the trade for carpenters, a two-sided instrument in a 90 degree angle used to form right angles, and it is the tool most frequently used to represent St. Joseph.

Other Carpenter’s Tools. Other tools associated with St. Joseph include a hammer, a saw, an axe, a planer, and a workbench. St. Joseph is the patron saint of carpenters and workers.

A White Lily or One or Three White Flowers. The whiteness of the flower represents Joseph’s virtue, holiness, innocence, and obedience to God: “he did as the angel commanded” (Mt 1:24; see also Mt 2:14,21,22). The white flower also represents his faithfulness to Mary, as well as his chastity and sexual purity because he respected her virginity and remained celibate throughout their marriage: “he had no relations with her” (Mt 1:25a).

A Flowering Staff. There are a number of apocryphal or non-scriptural texts that describe Joseph as the one especially chosen by God to be the husband of Mary. The imagery is drawn from an incident when Aaron’s staff sprouted with almond blossoms as a sign that he was especially chosen by God (Num 17:23).

The Child Jesus. St. Joseph is frequently depicted with the young child Jesus in his arms to represent his role as the father of Jesus (Lk 3:23; 4:22; Jn 1:45; 6:42). Joseph served as Jesus’ guardian and protector, especially during their travels. He also provided for Jesus, cared for him, and instructed him.

A Star of David. Joseph was a good and faithful Jew, a “righteous man” (Mt 1:19), “son of David” (Mt 1:20), who devoutly and obediently observed the commandments and the statutes of the Mosaic Law.

A Pair of Turtle Doves. Joseph and Mary together brought Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (Lk 2:22), and according to tradition, Joseph brought the pair of turtle doves that were to be offered in sacrifice (Lk 2:24). They represent his material poverty.

The Letter “J.” “J” is the first letter of Joseph’s name, and it is sometimes used alone or with other symbols to represent him.

When to begin the novena?

2010-03-10T11:21:00.001-06:00

That's the big question. Some folks say to start today, others say to start tomorrow. If you start today, March 10, you will be finished your novena on the Eve of the Feast of St. Joseph. That, I believe, is the more traditional procedure. Start tomorrow and finish on the actual Feast Day. Really, I don't think St. Joseph minds either way!

Once you've decided when to start, jumpstart your novena at aeternus with some words from Saint Teresa of Avila and a beautiful image of St. Joseph: Devotion to St. Joseph.

Our St. Joseph lapbooks

2010-03-09T20:45:00.000-06:00

Check out our St. Joseph Lapbooks.

Mt. Carmel and the unveiling

2010-03-08T23:09:00.000-06:00

Aeternus has a beautiful reflection on St. Joseph’s Virtual Altar, Mt. Carmel and the unveiling! This post draws from The Life of St. Joseph by Edward Healy Thompson, published in 1891. As well as the lovely reflection on St. Joseph, Aeternus shares her visit to my home. I am still speechless!

7 Sorrows and 7 Joys of St. Joseph - #6

2010-03-07T03:00:00.000-06:00

Although this devotion can be done anytime, one of the more traditional times to start is seven Sundays before the March 19 Feast of St. Joseph.

Today is the sixth Sunday:

O glorious St. Joseph, an angel on earth, thou didst marvel to see the King of Heaven obedient to thy commands, but thy consolation in bringing Jesus out of the land of Egypt was troubled by the fear of Archelaus; nevertheless, being assured by the Angel, thou dwelt in gladness at Nazareth with Jesus and Mary. By this sorrow and this joy, obtain for us that our hearts may be delivered from harmful fears, so that we may rejoice in peace of conscience and may live in safety with Jesus and Mary and may, like thee, die in theri company. (Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be)

Antiphon: And Jesus Himself was beginning about the age of thirty, being (as it was supposed) the Son of Joseph.

V: Pray for us, O holy Joseph,

R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray.

O God, Who in Thine ineffable Providence didst vouchsafe to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most holy Mother, grant we beseech Thee, that he whom we venerate as our protector on earth may be our intercessor in Heaven. Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer taken from fisheaters.com

Favorite Fava

2010-03-04T16:57:00.001-06:00

The fava bean (vicia fava) is one of the more popular and interesting items found on St. Joseph Altars.

In Sicily, the fava was fodder for cattle. During a great famine the people resorted to eating them to survive. They were considered lucky to have favas to eat, hence the fava bean is also known as a "lucky bean." Some believe that the pantry that contains a fava bean will never be bare. The fava, or lucky bean, serves as a token of the Altar - a reminder of God's provisions through the intercession of St. Joseph.

Fava beans, also known as broad beans, pigeon beans, horse beans, and windsor beans, are one of the oldest cultivated food plants. They have a distinct flavor and creamy texture. This member of the pea family is popular in Mediterranean cuisine, and can be eaten year round.

Favas are now much easier to find. Even Amazon sells a 10 Lb Bag for just $16.65.

St. Joseph Lapbooks

2010-03-03T14:19:00.000-06:00

Shower of Roses has done it again! Jessica has an extensive post on creating St. Joseph Lapbooks. Lapbooks are a great way for kids to learn about one topic, and these are a great way to get to know St. Joseph.

St. Joseph Memory Match card game

2010-03-02T22:10:00.000-06:00

Jessica at Shower of Blessings has created a printable St. Joseph Memory Match card game. Head over to Shower of Roses, download the two card files, and print two of each page. Cut out your cards and you're ready to play. Great fun for your little ones as we approach the Feast of St. Joseph!

Creating the Cult of St. Joseph: Art and Gender in the Spanish Empire

2010-03-01T08:36:00.000-06:00

A reader shares the following book recommendation:

Creating the Cult of St. Joseph: Art and Gender in the Spanish Empire by Charlene Villasenor Black

It is a very interesting and informative book with numerous photos depicting Saint Joseph in various ways. It is an excellent compilation of Saint Joseph imagery and the history of reviving the cult to Saint Joseph. I learned many things from this book. I did not know that a remnant of his cloak survives and it saffron in color!

Find books and more on St. Joseph at the Virtual Altar.

Catholic Cuisine for the month of March

2010-02-28T15:12:00.000-06:00

Catholic Cuisine blog features recipes for celebrating the feasts and seasons of the liturgical year. It's a great resource all year long, but don't miss the latest post: Recipes for March ~ Month Dedicated to St. Joseph.

Announcing the 1st Annual St. Joseph Altar Blog Fest

2010-02-28T14:24:00.001-06:00

March is the Month of St. Joseph and the ultimate way to give honor to St. Joseph is with your very own St. Joseph Altar. Sounds intimidating, but it really isn't. There are certain guidelines that will help you get started, but remember, it's your Altar and it should reflect you and your family. Our first home Altar consisted of a cake, some cookies, and coloring pages by the kids! It's a family affair, so be sure to get everyone involved.

A bit of history will help you begin your planning, and here are some altar photos for inspiration.

Now that I have (hopefully) talked you into putting up your very own St. Joseph Altar, I invite you join the 1st Annual St. Joseph Altar Blog Fest. To be included, make a blog post about your Altar, including details and pics, then link it here. I will begin the linking on the March 19 Feast of St. Joseph and continue till the end of March. Simple or extravagant, we want to see it! So come back on March 19 to link your Altar post. In the meantime, head to the Virtual St. Joseph Altar for all the info you need to get started planning your Altar.

Feel free to grab this button for your blog. Spread the word and let's get lots of others involved -- just link it back to this post.

7 Sorrows and 7 Joys of St. Joseph - #5

2010-02-28T02:30:00.000-06:00

Although this devotion can be done anytime, one of the more traditional times to start is seven Sundays before the March 19 Feast of St. Joseph.

Today is the fifth Sunday:

O most watchful Guardian of the Incarnate Son of God, glorious St. Joseph, what toil was thine in supporting and waiting upon the Son of the most high God, especially in the flight into Egypt! Yet at the same time, how thou didst rejoice to have always near you God Himself, and to see the idols of the Egyptians fall prostrate to the ground before Him. By this sorrow and this joy, obtain for us the grace of keeping ourselves in safety from the infernal tyrant, especially by flight from dangerous occasions; may every idol of earthly affection fall from our hearts; may we be wholly employed in serving Jesus and Mary, and for them alone may we live and happily die. (Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be)

Antiphon: And Jesus Himself was beginning about the age of thirty, being (as it was supposed) the Son of Joseph.

V: Pray for us, O holy Joseph,

R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray.

O God, Who in Thine ineffable Providence didst vouchsafe to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most holy Mother, grant we beseech Thee, that he whom we venerate as our protector on earth may be our intercessor in Heaven. Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer taken from fisheaters.com

Chocolate Crown of Thorns

2010-02-24T10:27:00.000-06:00

There are many traditional items that are placed on St. Joseph Altars. But, as with any tradition, our own St. Joseph Altar has evolved and gathered life from each member of our family. Certain children have certain cookies or cakes they prepare each year. One item that we always prepare for our home Altar is the chocolate Crown of Thorns.

Simply melt the chocolate of your choice, throw in a handful of pretzel sticks, and mix. Remove the chocolate covered sticks one at a time, before they start to harden, and start building your crown on a piece of wax paper. You’ll end up with a solid and sturdy crown. Warning: this project rates very high in the mess department!

After St. Joseph's Day, we save our crown for placement on top of our Easter cake. Fill it with colorful candy eggs on Easter Sunday and you’ll transform your crown of thorns into a lovely bird’s nest. This project is fun for all ages.

44 and counting!

2010-02-22T19:49:00.000-06:00

Four days into the 2010 Virtual St. Joseph Altar and there are already 44 offerings up on the Altar. Some folks are probably wondering how the "offerings" work. On the make offering page, you will be presented with a choice of 12 items to place on the Altar. These items include: red wine, white wine, bread, cake, pastry, biscotti, shrimp, fish, crawfish, votive candle, flowers, and citrus. Selcet one, all, or any combination that you like, and hit the submit button. If you have entered your email address, I will notify you as soon as your items have been placed on the Altar - usually within 24 hours. You'll even get a number so you can locate your personal offerings on the Altar page.

So, if you haven't already placed your offerings on the Altar, head on over. The Virtual St. Joseph Altar will accept offering through March 19, 2010 for this year's feast day.

7 Sorrows and 7 Joys of St. Joseph - #4

2010-02-21T00:26:00.000-06:00

Although this devotion can be done anytime, one of the more traditional times to start is seven Sundays before the March 19 Feast of St. Joseph.

Today is the fourth Sunday:

O most faithful Saint who shared the mysteries of our Redemption, glorious St. Joseph, the prophecy of Simeon regarding the sufferings of Jesus and Mary caused thee to shudder with mortal dread, but at the same time filled thee with a blessed joy for the salvation and glorious which, he foretold, would be attained by countless souls. By this sorrow and this joy, obtain for us that we may be among the number of those, who through merits of Jesus and the intercession of Mary the Virgin Mother, are predestined to a glorious resurrection. (Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be)

Antiphon: And Jesus Himself was beginning about the age of thirty, being (as it was supposed) the Son of Joseph.

V: Pray for us, O holy Joseph,

R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray.

O God, Who in Thine ineffable Providence didst vouchsafe to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most holy Mother, grant we beseech Thee, that he whom we venerate as our protector on earth may be our intercessor in Heaven. Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer taken from fisheaters.com

An ordinary sort of man

2010-02-20T10:42:00.000-06:00

St. Joseph was an ordinary sort of man on whom God relied to do great things. He did exactly what the Lord wanted him to do, in each and every event that went to make up his life.

-- Blessed Josemaria Escriva

Royal lineage from the House of David

2010-02-20T09:01:00.000-06:00

As promised, Rufi has sent me another beautiful image of St. Joseph:

This beautiful image is from early 1800's and it is a processional image of a family in central Luzon in the Philippines. This is a depiction of a more youthful Saint Joseph and the family has provided him with a ducal crown to symbolize his royal lineage from the House of David. His staff is made of sterling lilies in gold vermeil and his robes are embroidered in gold metal threads. There are still many towns in the Philippines that celebrate feast days of saints with images of the town patron saints processed around villages in ornate carriages decorated with tropical flowers and candles. I have provided you with a full image photo so that you won't mistake it for an image of the Christ the King. In the full image photo the image clearly holds his staff that bloomed into lilies as a heavenly sign that he is the chosen spouse to Our Lady (remember the legend of the "blooming dead branch"?). Additionally, its robes are in the usual yellow mantle and green tunic.

May our Saint Joseph watch over you and your family.

Sincerely,
Rufi

photos by Jay Alcala

2010 Virtual St. Joseph Altar is now open!

2010-02-19T06:50:00.000-06:00

In the tradition of the Sicilian St. Joseph Altars of New Orleans, the Virtual St. Joseph Altar made its online debut in February of 1999.

The Virtual St, Joseph Altar is open now through the March 19 Feast of St. Joseph.

Visit the Altar and make your virtual offerings, add deceased loved ones to the prayer list, there is even a place for special prayer requests. There's lot more to keep you busy: prayers, history, recipes, photos, special links, and more. Don't miss the mini 3d Virtual St. Joseph's Altar craft.

Because of the continued prayers & support of so many, the Altar gets bigger and better each year!

Thank you for helping to spread devotion to St. Joseph & Viva San Guiseppe!

Evann Duplantier
Virtual St. Joseph Altar