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St. Joseph Day Remarks ( Joe Tambè’)
Thank you all for being here.
You honor me and my family with your presence at this special manifestation
of devotion to God and St. Joseph.
You are here because you are “family”…both related and as
special friends.
Unlike the “public” Tables, offered by Clubs and Church groups,
where the Table manifestation is open to the public and all are invited to attend….when
in a private
home, only a select group of family and special friends are invited.
Earlier today, my long time friend, Fr. Paul Caporale, was here to Bless our
Table.
This is the prayer he read: ************
O, glorious St. Joseph, we stand before this Altar with joyful and grateful hearts. We lovingly present to you the labor of our hands and the dedication of our hearts that have fashioned this Altar in your honor. We again place ourselves under your powerful protection. Help us follow your example of complete trust and faith in Divine Providence. Open our minds and hearts to love and serve the poor, the suffering and those rejected or ignored by society. As a family, teach us to love and honor each member of our families with the love and reverence you had for Jesus and Mary. As a nation, inspire in us the will and the way to live in peace with all nations of the world that in our day we can experience the fulfillment of the prayer of Jesus --"Peace be to you."
Remember, O most pure spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our sweet protector,
St. Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to your protection or implored your
aid without obtaining relief.
Lord Jesus, bless this Altar, all this food, the candles, those who prepared
it
and all those who visit it.
We ask this in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen. *******************************
[Remarks, continued]
This is not a “Joe Tambè” Table…rather it is presented by
my entire family….
…especially my sister Florence, my other sister Ida, Cousin Louise, Cousin
Florence,
my son, my three daughters, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc.
Most of you know the origins of this tradition….during the middle ages,
there was a severe drought in Sicilia……no rainfall for an extended
period of time…
…no crops would grow…many people died of famine.
The peasants then prayed to God for rain….and also prayed to St. Joseph
to
intercede by also praying to God to grant the favor.
They promised that if God caused it to rain, they would put on a special feast
honoring God and St. Joseph.
The rain came, crops were planted and harvested.
With the harvest they prepared a feast of foods from their crops.
This has become known as the Tavola di San Giuseppe….as a result of people
through the centuries who have prayed for a favor and the favor was granted.
The “favor” requested must not be for personal gain or benefit….more
common
requests are the safe return of a loved one from a war (very common request
during World War II)…or that a loved one will be cured and survive from
a serious,
life threatening illness or accident.
In this instance, I personally prayed to God and St. Joseph for a special favor.
The favor was granted…. so with the wonderful participation and support
of
my family, this Table is presented.
It is also our tradition that we do not divulge the nature of the favor requested.
The Table manifestation takes many forms…depending on the town or village
of origin.
In this case, the style is from the town in Sicilia of Valguarnera Caropepe…
…in the Province of Enna…in the center of the island of Sicilia.
This is the town my parents were born in.
Many of you here also have origins in Caropepe…(known as “Carrippipanni”.)
Even the nature of the “promise” varies.
In my case I promised to present a Table only one time.
Some people promise to present a Table each year for the rest of their lives.
(this was a common promise during WW II when mothers prayed for the safe
return of their sons from the war)
I chose to personally sponsor the presentation.
Others have promised to beg, door to door, for any amount of money that would
then be used to buy the ingredients and foodstuffs for display and later tasting.
(my dear, late, Aunt Catherine, only did a Table with the promise of begging)
(Aunt Catherine was the mother of the person portraying St. Joseph today,
my cousin Anthony Tambè who came here from Rochester, NY for this occasion)
The style of this Table is patterned after the Table presented by my grandmother,
mother, and aunts in 1942.
A photograph of that Table is displayed here today.
The focal piece of the Table is a statue of St. Joseph, holding the baby Jesus, complimented by lighted votive candles and stick candles.
On the Table are only foods grown by the peasants or found growing wild in
the fields:
…pasta cca muddica (honey and breadcrumbs), cicoria greens, stuffed artichokes,
stuffed eggplant, fresh fennel stalks, batter-fried cardune, cauliflower and
broccoli, spinach/egg fritatta’s, fresh oranges, apples, grapes, etc.
Also displayed in vases are shafts of wheat and spaghetti.
(as a special memory to my mother..her favorite Roseville vases were used)
People have asked me why there is no “meat” on the Table…because
even if the poor peasants could afford meat, it is the Lenten Season….so,
no meat is used.
Also, in the tradition of other towns which were closer to the sea, fish was
readily available and fish dishes were used on their Tables.
Our town is in the center of Sicily, no fresh fish was available, so none is
used here.
“Sweets” offered are: piccidatti, cassateddi, pignalatti, sfinge, scocchi, cannoli and cookies….all in the style of our town.
The special bread of San Giuseppe was prepared by a Baker friend
(and sponsored by my friend Mary Jo)
The many floral arrangements were provided by Mary Jo and my cousin Sandy.
The special floral arrangement in the center of the “Saints” Table
was brought by
Mary Jo as a tribute to her father who passed away several years ago.
Mary Jo’s mother, Angela, prepared 2 “fritatta’s” for
the Table.
Also displayed, for sentimental reasons, are a woodworking object built by
my father
many years ago…along with a “pannara” (woven basket) made
by my father over 50 years ago.
At the low table, in front of the “stepped” Table, are seated the
persons who we refer to as the “Saints”…my cousin Anthony
as St. Joseph, my 12 year old grandson Zach as Jesus, and my 17 year old granddaughter
Rebecca as Mary.
In our tradition, one of the eldest men in the extended family is selected as
St. Joseph.
The Saints table is set with fine china, silver and crystal provided by my
sister Florence.
The lace “tablecloth” is actually a bed sheet…hand worked
by my grandmother as part
of her “trousseau” in the late 1800’s.
After the short ritual, the Saints will be served from the foods displayed.
St. Joseph will ask Jesus what he wants to eat…a Hostess gives that plate
to St. Joseph, who takes a portion and serves Jesus)
Then, everyone is invited to have a “taste” of the foods displayed
on the Table.
The Saints will be served by my daughters Toni, Pamela and Stephanie.
Hostesses are my grand nieces, Jeannine, Jennifer and Alexis.
When I sponsored a Table for the first time in 1981, I said that I could feel
the
presence in the room of my deceased mother and grandmother.
Today, I feel their presence again, along with my father, brothers Angelo and
Chris,
Aunt Catherine and others.
At this time, I invite you to join with me in remembering our loved ones who
are
no longer with us and who we miss very much. Through them we experienced
this and other traditions…which we hope future generations will perpetuate.
Now, the ritual, in Sicilian:
St. Joseph holds up two fingers of Jesus’ right hand..
St. Joseph says and Jesus repeats (3 times):
“Benedette la Cena
Benedette Maddalena
Benedette tutte quando.
Patri, Figli, e Spiritu Santu
Quando, Quando, Che Angele Sante.
Patri, Figli, Spiritu Santu”
*** Bless this meal,
Bless Maddalena
Bless everyone,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
When, When, what Sainted Angels.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
