Even with the best marketing plan, professional photos, and an experienced agent to sell your Henderson home, sometimes you may want a little divine intervention. Many sellers call on St. Joseph for their real estate miracle. Legend has it that burying a statue of St. Joseph and praying for him to intercede on your behalf will attract a buyer to your property.
The tradition goes back nearly 500 years when a Spanish nun buried a medal of St. Joseph and prayed to him for assistance in acquiring a parcel of land for a convent. Some German carpenters buried St.Joseph near the foundations of homes they built to increase the prospects of a quick sale. The practice gained popularity in the United States in the 1990’s.
While the church has no official position on St. Joseph and real estate, there is something to be said for the power of prayer by those who have strong faith. However, some dislike the ultimatum of “until this house is sold” in the prayer. For home sellers who wish to follow the tradition of burying the statue, the guidelines are varied on where and how to bury it:
- Bury him close to your For Sale sign at a depth of 12 inches
- Bury him near the road, looking away from the house to signify you will be leaving
- Bury him facing the home to attract and guide potential buyers
- Bury him upside-down to encourage him to free himself quickly with a closed sale
- For apartments and condos, bury him in a flowerpot
- Instead of burying St. Joseph, position him in your home with a clear view of the For Sale sign
Regardless of your burial spot, practitioners agree on two factors for success – daily prayer and placing the statue in a place of honor in your new house.
The St Joseph Prayer to Sell A House
O, Saint Joseph, you who taught our Lord the carpenter’s trade, and saw to it that he was always properly housed, hear my earnest plea. I want you to help me now as you helped your foster-child Jesus, and as you have helped many others in the matter of housing. I want to sell this house quickly, easily, and profitably and I implore you to grant my wish by bringing me a good buyer, one who is eager, compliant, and honest, and by letting nothing impede the rapid conclusion of the sale.
Dear Saint Joseph, I know you would do this for me out of the goodness of your heart and in your own good time, but my need is very great now and so I must make you hurry on my behalf.
Saint Joseph, I am going to place you in a difficult position with your head in darkness and you will suffer as our Lord suffered, until this house is sold. Then, Saint Joseph, I swear before the cross and God Almighty, that I will redeem you and you will receive my gratitude and a place of honor in my home.
Amen.
The St Joseph Novena
A novena is a sequence of prayers said over nine days. Say the first three paragraphs every day, followed by the appropriate daily content.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Come to my aid, O God. O Lord, make haste to help me. Almighty God, Father of mercies and giver of all good gifts, I come before you to honor you and your saints and ask their help in my many needs. You promised those who ask, would receive, those who seek, would find, those who knock, would have doors opened to them. Hear the prayers of your church, grant my requests and pardon my sins. Amen.
Saint Joseph, just and true, with a father’s care you raised the child Jesus, and with a husband’s love, you shared your life with Mary, his mother. I entrust myself to your care and place in your hands this request of mine. In quiet Nazareth, long ago, the Holy Spirit spoke to your heart and you followed God’s will with wonderful faith. In the quiet of my days, and in the hard choices I must make, help me follow the Spirit’s guidance and believe when I cannot see.
Day 1 – O God, guide of those who listen and helper of those who hear your voice, speak to me, as you did to St. Joseph, and help me accomplish the things you give me to do.
Day 2 – O God, you love your people and bless the ordinary lives we quietly live. As you blessed St. Joseph, bless what I do, however hidden and simple it may be, and let all I do be done with love.
Day 3 – O God, ever faithful, you remember us always and in time reveal your blessings. Help me trust in you, as St. Joseph faithfully trusted, and never let me lose faith in the wonderful gifts you promise me.
Day 4 – God of families, bless the family that is mine. Keep us safe from harm, and never let evil come between us. Let peace remain in our hearts.
Day 5 – O God, who loves children, be kind to our children today. Give them eyes of faith for seeing far, a loving heart for welcoming life, and a place always at your side.
Day 6 – God of our heavenly home, bless our home on earth. Let the spirit of Mary and Joseph rest at our table, shape our words and actions, and bring blessing to our children.
Day 7 – God, our Father, give your fatherly spirit to those who are fathers now. Like Joseph, give them hearts of devoted love for their wives and children and strength for forgiveness and patience.
Day 8 – Give shelter, O God, to those who need it, and bring together families divided. Give us enough to eat, and decent work to earn our bread. Care for us, O God.
Day 9 – Bless all families, O Lord, especially those in need. Remembering the life of your Son, we pray for the poor, for those who lack a good home, for those in exile. Grant them a protector like Joseph, O God.