Expert: George A. Card,sfo, M.I - 6/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: I've long known about the custom of burying a St. Joseph statue in one's yard in order to facilitate the sale of one's house, but I always wrote it off as a mainly Italian superstition. Now I see little St. Joseph "sell-your-house" kits on sale at very orthodox, traditional Catholic shrines and stores. What is your opinion? Superstition or not?

ANSWER: Peace


dear Johann--
    Its a very old custom or practice. It can become superstitious if one starts to think by doing the act it self helps to sell the house.

   The form I am most familiar with includes a prayer that asks St Joseph to join the seller in prayer to the Sacred Heart of Christ, for the selling of the house and blessings on the new owners.  After the house is sold, the statue is dug up and given to new owners to remind them that the old owners prayers for them. If the new owners to want the statue, the old owner keep it as a reminder to pray for the new owners of the house. I cant recall why the statue is bury to begin with.

         your servant in the Risen Christ,
         George

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Actually, it started in the 1980s http://www.snopes.com/luck/stjoseph.asp and it is a horrible superstition you should be discouraging!

ANSWER: Peace


dear Johann

     How is asking a saint to join you in prayer superstitious? As for how old the practice is, I know of two people doing before 1980's.

   Snoops is good for the most part, but I have found errors in their logic or understanding of Catholic things at times.


         your servant in the Risen Christ
         George




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Because this is more than just praying. Needing to bury it in the ground of the property needing to be sold in order for the mojo to work is superstitious. This is Catholic voodoo.

Answer
Peace


dear Johann
    Its not Catholic voodoo, or does it make use of ideas related mojo.
  Catholics who turn such practices in "voodoo" or believe the false precepts related to mojo are in serious risk of Hell.

    To do something beyond prayer is not always superstition. For example Sacrament of the Anointing Sick requires the priest to anoint the person and to pray for the sick person. Christ even said some demons could only be exorist if there was fasting before the prayer. Elsewhere in the Acts, we read how people use cloths touched by st Paul, bring about healing.

         your servant in the Risen Christ
         George