Now, don't be shocked. It isn't what you think, but certainly, it wasn't what I woke up expecting to do.
Today, in admittedly, a very Catholic spiritual faithful sort of way, I buried a statue of St. Joseph near a For Sale sign in front of a home that I have been trying to help sell for a co-agent.
For four weeks, this beautiful, well-kept 4 bedroom, 2 bath home has been on the market in South Escondido. Every week, I have hosted an Open House no less than three times ... each week. At least one to two times at lunchtime on weekdays and every weekend. The price is right, not necessarily competitive, but it is below the home's appraisal and still it hasn't sold. The home is on all the major sites, Zillow, Trulia, the MLS, Realtor.com and the like. It is well-staged and everyone who walks in has nothing but glowing, positive things to say about this home. Yet, not even one single offer has been made.
Apparently, the petition to Jesus' earthly carpenter father is supposed to bring a sale when you bury him in the property's yard and of course, say a prayer. I even might throw in a novena to St. Joseph, just in case that might speed the offers along.
There were a variety of suggestions concerning how to bury St. Joseph, where to bury the little statuette and even what prayers to say, but I chose the most commonly known traditions.
For his burial site, I picked the front yard near the For Sale sign. I buried him about six inches from the surface and placed him upside down. I said two prayers. The first I said before the burial got underway. It was of my own wording in which I requested his divine intercession. After I was done well ... begging, we started the digging. I found a trowel and went to work in their front flower bed near the For Sale sign. He went in headfirst. It felt, honestly, quite disrespectful to this very revered man who helped make Jesus well, priestly, but I was going on faith. Like George Michael and my priest say, "You got to have faith."
Afterward, we read the standard prayer to St. Joseph. I'll put it below just in case any realtors or home sellers want to give a St. Joseph burial a shot.
I went inside and washed my hands and got the dirt out from under my fingers. Less than five minutes later, a couple walked in and although they didn't leave saying their offer would be in tonight, it gave me hope.
Maybe, just maybe, St. Joseph heard my prayers and he would bring this home's next family to the doorstep.
God willing, my next post will be an update to this one declaring St. Joseph burials to be the sure way to get a home sold.
