Crossing Fingers

The custom of burying St. Joseph
to assist with the sale of a home...





(Excerpts from the booklet:
"St. Joseph The Worker...
Sell Your Home With the Help of St. Joseph the Worker!"
edited by Mark Etling)

<< The custom of burying a statue of St. Joseph
in the yard of one's home at the time of sale is now common.
Its origins, however, are somewhat obscure,
and at least two possible explanations are offered.
Some say the statue should be buried upside down
to symbolize that St. Joseph is being challenged to answer
the seller's prayer quickly so that he won't stand
with his head in the dirt for too long...
Another, more popular story has it that St. Teresa of Avila
(1515-1582)... prayed to St. Joseph for more land for Christian converts.
St Teresa encouraged her fellow Carmelite nuns
to bury St. Joseph medals in the ground as a symbol of their devotion,
consecrating the ground to St. Joseph.
Eventually this custom evolved to the point where
statues were used instead of medals.>>

A few pointers:
-Most people bury the statue upside down
in the yard of their property.
-Face the statue toward the front door of the home.
-The most common location for the statue
is the front yard, usually near the "For Sale" sign.
-Have faith, and pray for St. Joseph's intervention.

What we did:
First: One 4-inch statue, is buried upside-down
near where the "For Sale" sign is located.
Second: The statue (or what is left of it...
Long story- won't go into it now...), is facing the door.
Third: Invited "a religious person" to assist with the prayer/ceremony,
and recited:
" Let us pray. Almighty God,
through you all things are possible.
Grant us now, in your loving mercy
and through the intercession of St. Joseph,
your help in finding a family to purchase,
live in, and care for this home.
We ask this in the name of Jesus,
the Lord, Amen."

I have since repeated this prayer
several time in the first week following our move,
and about once a week since then.

Cross your fingers
St. Joseph is working...
M