For Sale - Day 20 (St. Joseph the Worker, Pray for Us)

Paraphrase of the card that comes with the kit: 

For centuries people have put their hopes and trust in St. Joseph. Many home sellers have turned to the practice of burying a statue of St. Joseph to help increase their chance of selling their home...For this practice to be truly effective certain practical matters should be addressed by the seller. All necessary repairs should be made, care should be taken in presenting the home and a fair market value for the home should be reflected in the cost. With his said the power of St. Joseph to intercede in your behalf is truly remarkable. 

My family used to move nearly every 4 years when I was a kid. Even if we didn't leave whichever city we lived in, we moved houses MANY times. My parents are like home selling & moving pros. Normally, I listen to their advice in this area very closely. Since we put our house on the market, both of my parents have been asking, "Did you get your St. Joseph statue?" everyday. Many of you know that I am anti-superstition. It is very hard for me to ask for or believe in "signs" or to trust in anything (even God, though I love Him, but that's a totally different story). I'm just not a "magic mojo" kind of person. So, I have been seriously balking at getting a St. Joseph statue with only the motivation to sell my house.

I explained my reservations to both of my parents at different times, and they both said, "Get over it - we would put the statue in a closet and it always sold within a few days. Just make sure you say the prayer too. It's not the statue, it's the prayers of St. Joseph." Hmmm. That, I could live with.

There is a very funny story that goes with my friend and I trying to find a store with the statues, but it's a bit long. Suffice it to say that we went to one store - no luck - and had to drive across the city during rush hour to a place I have only been to about 3 times. My friend was also raised as a Mennonite (not the funny clothes, but the theology for sure). They tend to be extremely on the "not Catholic" end of the Christianity scales...I spent the hour long ride addressing her thinly veiled fears of bringing an idolatrous abhoration into her home. See what the stress of selling your home will do to a girl? To clarify to the readers - we (all Catholics) believe that the Saints are just praying for us TO God. The Saints have no power of their own - like the Vice President of the USA, sort of. There is always someone they have to ask. Saints like Mary and Joseph are special to us because (duh) they are the parents of Jesus. Doesn't everyone with awesome parents listen to their requests in a special way?

Eventually, we both ended up buying statues. It was funny that when we asked the teenaged clerk if she had any St. J's statues, she asked, "Are you selling your house?" and immediately handed us the kits you see in the picture. I also bought another statue that is a bit nicer to put up in the house out of respect to St. J (since I figured I'd be burying the first one).

This morning, Buck and I decided to bury the little statue in the planter in the front of our house. Here are the pics:

The actual statue. It's about 8 inches high. 

Buck with the statue in the front yard (better idea of the size). 

Buck burying digging the hole. Side note: it's 60 degrees today, we're loving the heat! 

St. Joseph in the hole. It's actually a nice looking statue.  Rock marks the spot! So we don't forget him. 

The clerk at the store was adamant that there are no strict "rules" regarding the statue...only that we say the prayer every day (and give a donation to poor after he helps sell the house). But the kit came with some bullet point suggestions. 

• Bury upside down next to the 'for sale' sign (we didn't)
• bury it 3' from the rear of the house (nope)
• simply place it anywhere on the property (the Ma and Pa Joad form). I guess we did this too. 
• Bury it next to the street facing the home (no)
• Bury it in the front yard (sort of)
• While specifics don't truly matter, what does is the belief and trust in St. Joseph to help (this, I have, I just don't presume to think that what is easiest for me is what is best or God's Will)

Since it is most important, I'm including the prayer from the kit. We'll be praying it every night until our home is sold. Probably even after if this is done as quickly as people seem to hint at :) There is also the idea that we'll keep the statue in a place of honor in our home after we sell. That, I can easily promise. 

The prayer: 

O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my desires. O St. Joseph, help me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from Jesus all spiritual blessings. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers. O St. Joseph, I never grow tired of contemplating you, and baby Jesus asleep in your arms: I dare not approach while he rests near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss his dear head for me and ask him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. Amen. 

and PS - please sell my house. ha.ha.