Today is the Feast Day of St. Joseph. Not only do we have a day to honor this saint, but Pope Francis has proclaimed this as the "Year of St. Joseph."
This feast day is not only celebrated in southern Italy (specifically Sicily where he is the island's patron saint), but also in many churches, parish halls, and Italian-American clubs across the United States. Sometimes our family celebrates quietly, sometimes we go all out. Our last big celebration (in 2019, one year before the pandemic) included family, friends, neighbors, and our parish priests ... there were almost 40 people sitting around the table in our backyard. Click on the links at the end of the post to see past celebrations.
I have always had a special place in my heart for St. Joseph, and here is why ...
1- One of my earliest memories was kneeling next to my Nonna in church. She was praying for the intercession of Mary, but I looked at the statue of Joseph. Not wanting him to feel left out I prayed to him. I continued to do this through the years, especially after our three sons were born.
2- Years later when I was writing my book, I found a letter from my Nonna saying how happy she was that I had been baptized on the Feast Day of St. Joseph. I never knew this, but it explained many things.
3- Not only was I baptized on this feast day, but in that same letter I also discovered that my father had been baptized on this feast day when he entered the church shortly before marrying my mother.
4- In 2010 a woman in my Bible study encouraged each of us to pull a saint's name out of a basket and allow that saint to work in our life for one year. The underlying concept was this: although you physically drew the saint's name, the saint actually chose you. There were fifty of us there that day who took turn drawing a saint ... and St. Joseph chose me.
5- I married a Joseph. St. Joseph's Feast day is also Father's Day in Italy, so Happy Father's Day to my Joseph!
6- My article, I Never Knew, was published in Shalom Tidings (a Catholic magazine). It was about my affinity to St. Joseph and his role in our lives.
7- I dedicated an entire chapter to St. Joseph in my book, An Ocean, an Airplaine, and Two Countries Full of Kisses.
How will we celebrate this year? Our last big celebration was in 2019, then the pandemic hit and the next two feast days were celebrated quietly. But I have plans for 2022!
For more information on St. Joseph and how we celebrate this feast day, visit any of the links below ...
Speak to Me Sunday: Blessings in Empty Wine Glasses
Celebrating in (Italian) Style
The Feast of St. Joseph: Celebrating Quietly
