The St. Joseph Altar is an old tradition from Sicily. There are three tiers to the altar, representing the Trinity and the three members of the Holy Family; Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Usually a statue or picture of St. Joseph is placed on the top tier. You can visit The Virtual St. Joseph Altar to learn more about its history.
The breads and pastries found on the St. Joseph altar are usually shaped as all sorts of symbols. The Lily, Ladder, Hammer, Nail, Saw, Sandals, Cane or Staff, are all symbols for St. Joseph. Other symbols include the cross, palm, grapes, wreaths, and twists for Our Lord. Defrost a bag of frozen dinner rolls and your children will have so much fun shaping symbols with the dough! Bake the finished creations and place on your own St. Joseph Altar!
We made our very first (paper) St. Joseph Altar back in 2009, in 2010 we made our first Symbolic Shapes out of bread dough on the feast of St. Joseph and put together our very first (real food) St. Joseph Altar at home. You can scroll through others from over the years here!
Our four youngest have been sick this past week with a stomach bug but finally felt up to eating a little bit today and the rolls, a little fruit, fish, and (just one pound with leftovers of) pasta were perfect. The treats were barely touched but I’m sure they will enjoy them on Sunday! It was such an enjoyable afternoon.
Traditional Breads in Symbolic Shapes
The breads found on the St. Joseph altar are usually shaped as all sorts of symbols. The Lily, Ladder, Hammer, Nail, Saw, Sandals, Cane or Staff, are all symbols for St. Joseph. Other symbols include the cross, palm, grapes, wreaths, and twists for Our Lord.
This year our oldest daughter made some dough from scratch (rather than our usual frozen rolls) and it turned out amazing. She used this recipe for Soft Dinner Rolls from Sally’s Baking.
Inspiration from both Joseph, Keeper of the King and Giovanni and the Fava Beans: The Story of the St. Joseph Altar! Highly recommend both of these great picture books.
Mudica (Breadcrumbs) with Pasta and Fish
Breadcrumbs represent St. Joseph the Carpenter’s sawdust and are served over pasta.
The twelve fish represent the twelve apostles or the miracle of loaves and fishes.
Traditional Italian Treats & Drinks
Cream Puffs and Cannoli
Symbolic Fig Pastry Cookies – Usually these shaped Pastries are inedible and symbolize the monstrance, chalice, cross, dove, lambs, fish, bible, hearts, etc.
Wine and Fruit – This is a reminder of the vineyards and orchards of Sicily.
New Picture Books for St. Joseph’s Feast Days
Brand new release! The latest from Scott Hahn and Emily Stimpson Chapman… Highly recommend this excellent new picture book about St. Joseph! In addition to Amazon, you can also purchase it directly from St.Paul Center here.
Giovanni and the Fava Beans: The Story of the St. Joseph Altar
This was a new addition to our book collection in 2024. Also available directly from Word on Fire. Love it!
*Affiliate links to Amazon and Word on Fire. Thank you!
A Parent’s Prayer to St. Joseph
O glorious St. Joseph, to you God committed the care of His only begotten Son amid the many dangers of this world. We come to you and ask you to take under your special protection the children God has given us. Through holy baptism they became children of God and members of His holy Church. We consecrate them to you today, that through this consecration they may become your foster children. Guard them, guide their steps in life, form their hearts after the hearts of Jesus and Mary.
St. Joseph, who felt the tribulation and worry of a parent when the child Jesus was lost, protect our dear children for time and eternity. May you be their father and counsellor. Let them, like Jesus, grow in age as well as in wisdom and grace before God and men. Preserve them from the corruption of his world, and give us the grace one day to be united with them in Heaven forever. Amen.
“Though thou hast recourse to many saints as thine intercessors, go specially to St. Joseph, for he has great power with God.”
– St. Teresa of Avila
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