Saint Joseph
U JORNU DU CUMBITU
An ancient translation
tells of a vow made
in honour of St Joseph
by people
who appealed
to Him, through illness,
problems
of various kinds.
So many are the people
who resort to the intercession
of the powerful saint
to ask for graces,
legend has it
that to fulfil the vow
one must prepare
a hot meal
and then donate it to the poor.
In the land of Calabria
an ancient tradition
has been handed down
from generation
generation after generation,
a custom considered
almost sacred by devotees,
the preparation
du cumbitu
and then offering it
to the whole village
or to the so-called wrinkle to which one belongs.
I feel like
I can smell the perfume
of pasta and chickpeas
along the streets
of my country,
while people
with containers in their hands
make their way
towards the neighbour’s house
or the nearest church
to get some
of blessed cumbitu.
It is rumoured
that many have been
prodigies of the great saint
throughout the centuries,
so many people have received the requested graces.
Who knows if this year
the good Saint Joseph
will give us the grace
of having a little
a little more peace
in this tormented world
is afflicted by pain.
Roberto Ferro