The Workers Symbols on the Altar

and the Work Three-tiered altar: Blessed Trinity

The individuals who work on Saint Joseph Chalice: consecration of the bread and wine Saint Joseph altars are fulfilling their own promises to Saint Cross: crucifixion of Christ Joseph: to share their blessings with those in Lamb: Jesus, the Lamb of God need. The workers contribute to the altar, Altar not for their own purposes, but for Saint Bunny: new life through the promise of the March 18: 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Joseph or for a family member or friend. Resurrection of Jesus March 19: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. One tradition entails begging for the Large fish: Jesus supplies to build the altar. The altar must not Small fish: eleven Apostles (without Judas incur any expense nor any personal financial who turned Jesus in for money) gain. As an act of devotion to Saint Joseph, supplicants traditionally promised to build an Coins: Judas “sold out” Jesus for 30 pieces of altar should their sons return home from war silver safely. Part of the personal sacrifice involved Hearts: Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate was the act of begging for food. Heart of Mary Although there are perishable foods on Pretzel wreath: crown of thorns the altars, a large portion of the breads, Artichokes: one of the main food crops of the cookies, and cakes are wrapped so that they Holy Land and Sicily may be given to charities after the altar is dismantled. All of the items on the altar— Book: Holy Bible food, candles, medals, holy cards, and fava Butterfly: new life beans—are blessed by a priest in a special Saw and Hammer: tools of a carpenter ceremony on the afternoon before the altar is Sandals: shoes of Saint Joseph and Jesus dismantled. Rooster: crowed three times when Saint Thank you Peter denied knowing Jesus for participating in our Stone: the empty tomb with the stone door Our Lady of Lourdes Saint Joseph Day Celebration rolled away Roman Catholic Church at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Star: Star of Bethlehem Father Bill J. Melancon in Erath, Louisiana. Bread crumbs: sawdust Pastor

Staff: the staff of Saint Joseph May you be blessed 700 South Broadway and all of your prayers answered. Wine: miracle of the Wedding in Cana Erath, Louisiana 70533 Ladder: a tool used by a carpenter; the ladder 337-937-6888 As they say in Italian, used to remove Jesus from the cross www.ololcatholic.com “Buona festa di San Giuseppe” Pineapple: hospitality (Happy Feast of Saint Joseph) Key: keys to the Kingdom of Heaven The History of the The Altar The breadcrumbs represent the sawdust of the carpenter. There are breads baked into Saint Joseph Altar The ultimate purpose of the altar is a variety of shapes: wreaths, a crown of generosity. thorns, palm branches, wheat, the sacred It all started in Sicily. Agriculture was The traditional Saint Joseph Altar is heart, crosses, Saint Joseph’s staff, and the important to the island and there had been no constructed in the shape of the cross with Monstrance. The whole baked fish represents rain to nourish the crops. The dried out three levels honoring the Holy Trinity. This the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and wheat stalks cracked beneath the feet of the format has fish. A bottle of wine represents the miracle poor farmers as they walked through their varied of water turned into wine at the wedding barren fields. Only a sea of dust and withered greatly over feast at Cana. vines remained from what had once been row the years. A upon row of brightly colored fruits and statue or vegetables. The only thing that thrived was Fava Bean picture of the fava bean, which is why it is now Saint The fava bean, which was the only crop commonly called “the lucky bean.” Joseph, that survived the drought and saved many The situation was critical and so the often seen from starvation, is called “the lucky bean.” people prayed. They pleaded with Saint holding the The legend explains that if you carry a fava Joseph, their patron saint, for relief from the baby Jesus, bean (or “lucky bean”) in your pocket or terrible famine that gripped the island. stands at purse, you will never be without money, and Finally, the skies opened, sending down the the center the pantry with a fava bean in it will never be life-giving water. The people rejoiced. Later, of the bare. to show their gratitude, they prepared a table highest tier A palm branch outside the building or with a special assortment of foods they had with flowers house hosting an altar is an invitation harvested. After paying honor to Saint surrounding indicating that visitors are welcome. Joseph, they distributed the food to the less Saint Joseph Altar 2013 Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Erath him. Most fortunate. often the The first Saint Joseph Altar, therefore, was The Goodie Bag colors of red, white, and green (the colors of set up on the Island of Sicily. It was a small the Italian flag) are displayed. Most altars Small bags are given as keepsakes to all who one, but as time went on and the tradition have a basket where visitors can place written visit the altar. Each bag may contain a blessed took hold, the flamboyant nature and creative prayer petitions. medal, holy card, fava bean, cookie, or small spirit of the Italians caused the altars to grow The main attraction on the altar is food of piece of bread, and blessed salt. larger and more ornate. Today, the artistic every kind, which flavors the celebration of Blessed salt is an instrument of Grace to quality of breads, cookies, and pastries are the saint, with the exception of meat, because preserve one from the corruption of evil baked in shapes (chalices, staffs, sandals, it was forbidden in the observance of Lent. occurring as sin, sickness, demonic influence, ladders, saws, hammers and nails) which rival Each food on the altar has some traditional etc. Modest amounts of blessed salt may be the exquisite flavor of these food offerings. significance. Breads are baked in the shapes sprinkled in one’s bedroom or across thresholds to prevent burglary, in cars for safety, etc. As Through Sicilian immigrants, the custom of traditional carpentry tools (ladders, saws, with the use of Sacraments, much depends on of the Saint Joseph Altar was introduced to and hammers), among other shapes. Hard- the faith and devotion of the person using salt America. boiled eggs are embedded in baked bread to or any sacramental. This faith must be Jesus- symbolize the rebirth of spring and the centered, as was the faith of the blind man in coming of Easter. John 9.