FLASHBACK All Saints' Day debate: Should sellers bury St. Joseph statues?
Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 6:41PM 
It's All Saint's Day 2011 and my thoughts have turned once again to the practice of burying St. Joseph statues upside down. Unbelievable as it may seem, an article on same subject was the most forwarded link in the Wall Street Journal four years ago today -- five rankings ahead of Google's new G-Phone!
Who would have guessed that one in four mortgages would be "underwater" four years later. Maybe that's part of the reason that some vendors are backing way from St. Joseph as a miracle cure (the metaphor the Wall Street Journal used four years ago), and repositioning the saint as someone who protects you from making bad real estate decisions:
“Some people perceive this as a good-luck charm; others see it as something much more divine,’’ said Phil Cates, founder of St. Joseph Statue LLC, which sells kits with 4-inch and 8-inch statues.
Ultimately, Cates said, “it’s about protecting people against bad real estate decisions. I think he’s more of a protector than a home-seller.’’
Others are making repeated disclaimers that burying a St. Joseph statue does not guarantee the quick sale of your home, but advocating the practice nonetheless because "It couldn't hurt."
Still others, including at least one Catholic publishing house, are offering St. Joseph as a model and source of fortitude and faith for millions of households facing foreclosure and financial difficulties. More than a decade ago, a similar impulse caused me to write an article entitled "Doing Justice to the Just Man."
If China is playing the lead roll in the bailing out business, do you think distressed home sellers would be wiser to bury Buddha statues upside down instead of St. Joseph? What about consulting witches and psychics? One in Greater Boston is reportedly performing an average of two house blessings a week -- and that was in May, not a Halloween prank.
Beyond misguided superstition is the wisdom and experience of "divine alchemy." Suffering can bring out virtues, human if not saintly, but financial difficulties can also cause one to become discouraged or embittered. If falling temperatures are causing you to give up on selling your home this year, maybe it's time to rescue St. Joseph statues before the ground freezes.
If you do, we'd be glad to exchange your statue for one of two books offered by Pauline Press -- think of it as a St. Joseph statue buyback program (limited to first 10 respondents):
If you're facing foreclosure, could participation in a prayer group -- online or off -- provide an emotional and spiritual safety net during the holidays? Advent is a season of waiting -- would connecting with others who are waiting for an opportunity to modify their loan or sell their home help you hold onto hope?
Reader Comments (20)
Excellent blog and great post
Not to discourage our superstitious homeowners or buyers, it's better to pray rather than succumb our "fate" over a statue. And there's no miracle cure for recession... It's the cycle of things. And please, let's not blame our plight or present condition over an immovable statue.
If I will be asked with this question I would definitely say 'no'. I have enough respect to statues as I have with myself. There is a reason why they are made and to me that is "holy". Sometimes people may travel too far with their minds that sanity may be left behind. And in the middle realize that they even don't know what they're doing. Think again - burying St. Joseph statues upside down.
If you are interested in this thread, please listen to this American Public Radio show on the history of the Social Gospel in the US:
http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2011/occupying-the-gospel/
It's not bad to believe in superstitions but Bella is right, prayer is still the most powerful weapon in whatever endeavor we're into. We can actually do both, dealing with superstitions and pray for the best.
Great post. I would like to share my answer on "If you're facing foreclosure, could participation in a prayer group -- online or off -- provide an emotional and spiritual safety net during the holidays?" I believe in the power of prayers and I respect the decision of those who believe in superstitions; however, foreclosure is something that could been avoided by adequate planning and righteous decision making when it comes to finances right from the start. This is something that I really worked on when I started searching for my dream home from Murfreesboro homes for sale available.
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I agree when this post mentioned "Suffering can bring out virtues, human if not saintly, but financial difficulties can also cause one to become discouraged or embittered." However,if you let difficulties to push you down ending up in losing hope, you will never see yourself in a much brighter situation - that of avoiding foreclosure! While it is normal to be discouraged sometimes, you should not allow negative reactions to govern your emotions especially when it comes to protecting your investment, say for example in my case the home I carefully chose from St. Petersburg homes for sale ! Hope this provided a ray of inspiration for other home owners out there, caught up near foreclosure issues.
On my own opinion to your question "Should sellers bury St. Joseph statues?" This is actually of personal preference and while there is nothing to lose if you cling on it; asking around some friends who are putting their homes up for sale at Sherwood homes for sale working on some home improvements and working on the best ways to advertise their home for sale in different avenues, both online and offline can make selling a lot easier and faster without compromising much on the price that they want. Hope this helps!
Interesting post! Hmmmm...intriguing too! I am wondering if sellers of Lake Oswego homes for sale are doing this? Every house I choose seem to be "taken"by somebody else. Wish me luck this time!
Hah! I cant believe superstition is even attached to real estate. These things can sometimes cause you to jeopardize your business. A down market happens because of certain market mechanisms that couldn't be helped. However there are what we call blessings in disguise. I believe in that. In this case having a down market doesn't only give negative effects but also cause good things to happen. It makes prices of Belmar homes for sale go down. So think, in everything there are reasons for their occurrence. It's how we look at it that defines their effect.
I do not know any sellers of Destin homes for sale practicing this superstition but for me, there is nothing wrong in believing this kind of acts. As long as you do not solely depend on it. More than anything, have to work hard and be persevering if you want to sell a house.
Isn't this interesting? If this is really true perhaps, a lot of people/agent selling Franklin homes for sale would suggest this to the home owners. There is nothing to lose anyway!
It's the 21st century and I cant believe there are still people who believe in superstition. However, I do respect people's beliefs 'cause I would want the same thing too. Also, I believe prayers go a long way.
I think buying statues could also be good for your home. This can be a striking design plus the superstition part. Just like my Irvine homes for sale, I added angle statues and decorations.
I know what you mean and I will follow your tips. Also, hope to see improvements in this area in 2012. I have a Mallorca property for sale.
Prayers can change the fate but only believing on prayers won't be good. I belief that opportunities can be created by hard working.
This really is a lot more helpful when compared with anything different I’ve researched.
I believe in that. In this case having a down market doesn't only give negative effects but also cause good things to happen.
Prayers can help a little bit, they can open a space for opportunity but that opportunity can be created in a heavy profit if hard work is done on that opportunity.
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