St. Joseph

This week, I buried a Saint.
Not your typical Lori-post, huh? Well, before you pick up the phones to start notifying the authorities, I'll tell you I went to a Christian Book Store this week and bought a 4" statue of St. Joseph.

According to http://www.st-josephstatue.com, "Saint Joseph was Jesus' earthly father, and raised Gods only son together with his wife, Virgin Mary. St Joseph is known to be the saint of handcraft and home protection. He is also commonly expressed as "The home Selling saint" in folklore."

Here is the history behind Saint Joseph.
The history behind the tradition to bury a statue of Saint Joseph is hundreds of years old (A.D. 1515 - 1582). It began in Europe with the nuns at a Closter needed to expand their land, and as a prayer to St. Joseph they buried medals of him in the ground.
After a short time they found out that their prayers had been heard and they got more land. This old story has lived on until today but on the tradition has changed from burying medals to burying statues.

St. Joseph was the husband to Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus of Nazareth.
We don't know a lot about Joseph, except that he was a skilled craftsman and a good father. He became a Saint for workers and it is very common to pray to him to get help his with house sales and many other things.
The reason he been made a Patron Saint is that he taught Jesus the craftsman's trade and made sure that Jesus always was well housed. That is the reason why he always help people to find a house they are looking for and in that way helping the people who need to sell their homes.


So today, people buy a small statue of Saint Joseph and actually bury him in their front yard...close to their "For Sale" sign. He is buried upside down, facing the house.
I have to admit, I felt almost sinful burying a Saint in my front yard. (I was a bit curious what the neighbors would think.)
Tom and I have been praying together every night. Perhaps our challenge in selling the house is actually intended to bring us closer together in prayer with our Lord. I know He has great things in store for us. :)

If you so desire, please join us in our prayer:
Dear St. Joseph, head of the most perfect household, foster father of Jesus and guardian of His mother Mary, I confidently place myself and all my concerns under your care and protection. I ask that, through your powerful intercession with God, you obtain for me all the help and graces that I need for my spiritual and temporal welfare and in particular, the special favor I now ask to help our house sell profitably and quickly so we may begin to build our family in a new house we can call our home. Good St. Joseph, I know with confidence that your prayers on my behalf will be heard by God, and if it is His Will, it will be done. Thank you St. Joseph, for having responded to my call. Amen.