Say the St Joseph Prayer to Sell a House if you’re having trouble selling your home or property.
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 wish to sell this 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 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 honour in my home.
Amen.
After burying the statue, also consider saying a novena to St Joseph. A novena is said consecutively for nine days, and can be an effective means to gaining a favorable intercession on your behalf.
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Claim: Burying a statuette of St. Joseph on the property will help speed the sale of a home.
| LEGEND |
Example:
Many realtors have their “Believe It or Not” stories.
Such was the case of a woman who moved from Maryland to Arizona.
After eight months of paying the mortgage on her unsold home in Baltimore, she sent her agent a statue and burial instructions.
Within two weeks, the house sold.
Another case involved a couple moving because of a new job. But their house, which was in a very active neighborhood, wasn’t doing anything, even with St. Joseph in the ground. But St. Joseph’s presumed inattention turned out to be for the better. The husband got a better job offer, and that’s when the house sold.
In 1995, Betsy Moyer was determined to sell her house on Lake Avenue in Baltimore at a premium. She listed it for $15,000 more than other sellers in the same neighborhood. After seven quiet months a friend recommended that Moyer plant St. Joseph.
The next week a group of nuns arrived to look at the house. Three months later, the house was sold at the highest price ever in that area, according to her agent.
Origins: Those trying to sell a home often feel in need of a miracle when a quick sale fails to materialize. Folklore purports to have the remedy: Bury a plastic statue of St. Joseph in the yard, and a successful closing won’t be long in the offing. Realtors across the nation swear by this.
The reputed origins of the practice vary. Some say an order of European nuns in the Middle Ages buried a medal of St. Joseph while asking
the saint to intercede in its quest for a convent. Others claim it may be connected to a practice of German carpenters who buried the statues in the foundations of houses they built and said a prayer to St. Joseph. Yet others trace the connection to a chapel building effort in Montreal in the late 1800s. Brother Andre Bessette wanted to buy some land on Mount Royal in Montreal to construct a small chapel called an oratory. When the landowners refused to sell, Bessette began planting medals of St. Joseph on the property. In 1896 the owners suddenly relented and sold, and Bessette was able to build his oratory.
But these theories may well be instances of retrofitting lore to a custom because mentions older than contemporary times have failed to materialize in standard folklore references. That the custom now has an interesting backstory does not mean its backstory is valid or even that old.
The practice of burying a plastic St. Joseph to help speed the sale of a home dates at least to 1979 in the U.S.A. In 1990 it seemingly became all the rage, with realtors buying plastic saints’ statues by the gross. The standard practice calls for the statue to be dug up once the property has sold and placed on the grateful seller’s mantel or in another place of honor. Some, however, who have trouble remembering where they interred their statues prefer to leave the buried saints where they’ve been placed to help protect the properties for the new owners. (Which may not work all that well — some believe leaving the statue underground will cause the land to continue changing hands.)
But why Joseph, you ask? Why not another saint — say, St. Jude, patron saint of lost causes?
Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, is the patron saint of home and family in the Roman Catholic religion. According to one of the hottest new customs, the statues are buried upside down and facing the road in front of a house for sale.1
Actually, different realtors quote different placements of the statue:
- Upside down, near the ‘For Sale’ sign in the front yard. (An upside down St. Joseph is said to work extra hard to get out of the ground and onto someone’s mantel.)
- Right side up.
- In the rear yard, possibly in a flower bed.
- Lying on its back and pointing towards the house “like an arrow.”
- Three feet from the rear of the house.
- Facing the house.
- Facing away from the house. (One who tried this reported the house across the street sold, and it hadn’t even been up for sale.)
- Exactly 12 inches deep.
The custom of burying St. Joseph has become so widespread that some retailers even offer a Home Sale Kit, which includes a plastic statue, a prayer card, and an introduction to the St. Joseph home sale practice.
Prudent realtors also recommend the following advice in addition to burying Joe: “For this practice to be fully effective, the seller must, of course, first do such
practical yet all important chores as completing all necessary fix-ups, properly staging the home and finally, adjusting the price so as to exactly reflect market value.”
Many who have experienced difficulty selling their homes have reported seemingly miraculous sales shortly after burying a statue of St. Joseph on their property. Stephen Binz’s 2003 book, Saint Joseph, My Real Estate Agent, is replete with many such examples. However, one tale included in the book (which might well be apocryphal) indicates that everything doesn’t always go as planned. One impatient man moved his statue from the front yard to the backyard to the side of the house and finally threw it in the trash. A few days later the frustrated seller opened the newspaper and saw the headline “Local Dump Has Been Sold.”
Barbara “joe work” Mikkelson
Last updated: 11 June 2011
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Table of contents Sources: |
Atlas, Terry. “Housing Dilemma: Can’t Buy or Sell.” The Chicago Tribune. 28 October 1979 (p. 1). 1. Beard, Betty. “Answer to Special Prayers.”
The Arizona Republic. 16 May 1998 (p. EV1). Binz, Stephen. Saint Joseph, My Real Estate Agent.
Ann Arbor, MI: Servant Publications, 2003. ISBN
1-569-55361-0. Brunvand, Jan Harold. The Baby Train.
New York: W. W. Norton, 1993. ISBN 0-393-31208-9 (p. 181-184). Brunvand, Jan Harold. Too Good To Be True.
New York: W. W. Norton, 1999. ISBN 0-393-04734-2 (pp. 246-247). Cohen, Charles. “And He Does It All Upside Down.”
The Sun. 30 March 1997 (p. M1). Galletta, Jan. “Believing that Faith Not Only Moves Mountains . . .”
Chattanooga Times. 8 April 2000 (p. E1). Ivey, James. “Gregory With Statue of St. Joseph.”
Omaha World-Herald. 9 December 1984. Shea, Jim. “Home Sellers Tap a Saint as Dealmaker.”
The Washington Post. 16 August 1997 (p. E5). Vigue, Doreen Iudica. “St. Joseph Sells.”
The Boston Globe. 7 December 2003. Chicago Sun-Times. “A New Compass Aims to Please.”
14 January 1986 (p. 71). Los Angeles Times. “Desperate Sellers Dig That Saint.”
25 November 1990 (p. K1). Omaha World-Herald. “Priest Doesn’t Buy Story . . .”
21 November 1985 (p. K1). The Big Book of Urban Legends.
New York: Paradox Press, 1994. ISBN 1-56389-165-4 (p. 193).
www.snopes.com
It isn’t hard to realize that the housing market has rebounded, but it can still be difficult to sell a home. Some people become so desperate that they rely upon supernatural methods of garnering interest for their home. This may seem far fetched but there are dozens of people who claim they have improved their good fortunes by reciting the St. Joseph prayer. This is an ancient catholic prayer that has to improve a number of different situations, and it’s even believed to assist in the selling of a home.
St Joseph’s 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 wish 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.
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What is the St. Joseph Prayer
In the four gospels, (Mark, Matthew, Luke and John) Joseph is described as a silent man yet he’s also an individual of great faith. He’s one of the better known saints, and he’s rumored to have died in the arms of Jesus and Mary. This is the same man who was charged with raising the son of God as the husband of Mary. Many lesser men would have left their virgin brides, but Joseph had unwavering faith. Since Joseph was so upstanding, Pope Leo XIII issued as series of letters in 1889, naming Jesus’s stepfather as a patron Saint of the church. However, the prayer dedicated to this devout man of god has been around for more than 1900 years. Earliest accounts suggest that this short prayer was actually written in the year 50 A.D. However, the first well known accounts of people actually using it date back about 500 years. There’s no scientific explanation for how the prayer works, but it seems to do with having friends in high places. Joseph raised Jesus, and it seems like praying to him is an express way of getting miracles through to those in charge.
How Does the Ritual Prayer Work
According to the Ballen Group of Las Vegas, the prayer of Saint Joseph can be used to ward off communism, find a job and of course, sell a house. However, there are different ways of performing the prayer in order to achieve the desired results. It’s not just enough to say the prayer when you’re looking to sell your house fast. You also need a statue of the patron saint. The statue isn’t deified or placed upon an altar. Instead, it’s buried, to mimic the success of the first real estate prayers dedicated to St. Joseph.
The Burying of the Statue
In the 1500’s, a group of nuns in Europe were seeking more land for their crops and livestock. They apparently said the prayer of Saint Joseph and buried their medals which were imprinted with his image. The prayers of the nuns were answered as they received ample land to sustain their cloister. This is the origin the ritual of burying something that represents the saint. It was more than 500 years ago when these nuns revealed the power of the prayer regarding real estate, and thousands of others have garnered similar success. It’s believed that the ancient religious ritual of sacrificing something is enough to appease higher powers. The web is bursting with stories of people who utilized the prayer after burying the statue, and they were nowhere near as devout as the nuns.
Where Can I Find a Statue of St. Joseph
The term ‘statue’ should be used loosely, because most of them are actually decorative figurines. The average statue is a mere 3.5″ tall, and they retail for less than $2 most of the time.
There are actually entire St. Joseph house selling kits and one seems to be as effective as the others. It’s important to note that this prayer and the statues have worked so well in the past that there are multiple companies dedicated to making these kits. A more expensive statue is viewed more favorably, because it requires a greater sacrifice.
The best place to begin looking for a statue of Saint Joseph is online; the Catholic Company sells a kit for $7.95 which includes detailed instructions as well as background information on the ritual. The Catholic Supply website has the largest selection of St Joe statues we could find. You should also be able to find the individual statue on Amazon or eBay. You should also be able to find the statue at a local Christian library or book store. The catholic friendly stores are more likely to carry the statues than are the protestant stores, so you may want to call around.
After Burying the Statue
The house selling kits may be better than the individually sold statues, because the kits include instructions. However, there isn’t really an exact protocol, so long as the prayer is said everyday. The words should be repeated exactly, and burying the statue lets St. Joseph know that someone needs assistance in the real estate market. It’s also important to have faith that the ritual is going to be successful.
There are also other prayers that are said to help sell a house, and they can be used to supplement the St Joseph’s prayer.
Psalms to Evoke the Higher Powers
The book of Psalms was written by King David, a man well known for his real estate prosperity. There are different prayers to be said on different days of the month, and the proper psalm for a day can be found online. Fortunately, there are also psalms specifically dedicated to becoming prosperous. Chapter 18 is the Psalm that results in miracles being worked on the reader’s behalf. The sixth verse mentions the lord hearing the prayers and moving heaven and earth to answer the prayers. Chapter 81 is also good for those needing help selling a house.
Have Faith
The AME church has a saying “If you’re going to pray don’t worry and if you’re going to worry don’t pray.” This means you need to have faith that the prayer is going to work before you bury the statue. In the book of Mark, Peter walked on the water with Jesus until he doubted, so have faith that your prayers will be answered and miracles can happen. Perhaps this is how the ritual aids people in selling their homes, because the additional faith provides a boost in confidence. It’s also important to remain proactive in your house selling efforts. Praying won’t do much without action and faith without work is dead. Saying the prayer and filling out the form below demonstrates both faith and the initiative, and we buy houses from people needing a miracle.
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www.needtosellmyhousefast.com
Who is St Joseph?
St Joseph is the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. He was a carpenter, a working man, but at the same time, he descended from David, the greatest King of Israel. In the Bible he first time mentioned in gospels of Luke and Matthew when both speaks about the genealogy of Jesus showing his origin from King David. In Matthew, Joseph conforms the direction of angel Gabriel to marry Mary. Also, he is following the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and stays there with the family. Later Joseph had a dream, which told him to go with the family to Egypt to escape the slaughter of the children of Bethlehem which was planned by Herod. After Herod’s death, an angel told Joseph to return with all his family to Nazareth. So Joseph played important role in the early life of Jesus as guardian of the Redeemer. Joseph protected his family and kept it safe. Say St Joseph prayer for your and Church protection in difficult situations.
When can you ask St Joseph for intercession?
Let us remember what the Church as a community of believers is. It consists not only of the believers who live in the earth and travel to the Kingdom of God. To Church also belong those, who are already dead in God’s Grace and now are in the Kingdom of God.
As the Bible states, Joseph’s family had many difficulties. They were persecuted and lived many years in emigration. Taking into account these events, which are described in the Bible, St. Joseph is known as a patron of the Church, unborn children, fathers, travelers, immigrants, house sellers and buyers, working people in general and a happy death.
So there are many reasons when we can ask St Joseph for intercession. Pray to God and ask St Joseph’s intercession in all above-mentioned occasions and situations, but never forget to thank God for Joseph’s dedication to his Holy Family. Say this St Joseph prayer, which is one of the earliest prayers to this Saint.
St Joseph prayer
Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God. I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.
Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls – Pray for me.
How to Pray to St Joseph asking for intercession?
There are two Joseph feast days – March 19th for Joseph the Husband of Mary and May 1 for Joseph the Worker. Say a prayer to God and ask St Joseph for intercession when you are in difficult times or need help in the situations St Joseph is the patron. As with any other prayer, you should pray with deep and sincere faith and pray for the cause in your mind constantly and really mean the words you say. Words prayed from the heart reach our God and with the intercession of St Joseph can make differences in your life or situation.
Also read: ST ANTHONY PRAYER- asking for help in finding lost things
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