Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Lucky Beans!


Since I missed yesterday's post, this shot is a catch up from yesterday.  CJ and Carolyn have a donation pot on their St. Joseph's Altar for anyone who would like to make a donation.  The funds raised are sent to the charities depicted on the table.  After reflecting on the altar's complexity, beauty, significance, etc., visitors are invited to take a lucky bean home.  These fava beans from CJ and Carolyn's house have been creatively painted.  Green, red and white are the colors of Sicily (from which the St. Joseph Altars are supposed to have originated), and the gold ones are likely to honor the New Orleans Saints football team.  The plain ones in the middle are what fava beans look like.  They have been blessed by a Catholic priest.  You add it to your coin purse or piggy bank and it is supposed to ensure that you always have wealth in those locations.  This particular altar also has religious items (that have been blessed) that you can take home with you if you want to.  What you don't see here are the cookies -- you leave a St. Joseph Altar with a lucky bean and cookies or a piece of bread so that you never go hungry through the year.  Wealth and food, and the blessings from God for having prayed at a St. Joseph Altar are the treasures you take away with you.  Don't forget to share the love!

No comments:

Post a Comment