How to Bury St. Joseph (+ The Prayer to St. Joseph)

Trying to sell your home and need a little help? Bury a statue of St. Joseph in your yard! While it sounds unconventional, many people swear by this practice, and we're here to explain exactly what to do. Keep reading for everything you need to know, including the St. Joseph prayer to recite when you bury the statue and what to do with the statue after your home sells.

Burying St. Joseph to Help Sell a House

Wrap a small statue of St. Joseph in protective material, like a cloth. Bury him upside-down, 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm) deep in your yard or garden. Then, recite the St. Joseph prayer to invoke his help to sell your home. When your home sells, dig up the statue, give thanks, and keep the statue in a place of honor in your new home.

Section 1 of 5:

Burying a St. Joseph Statue

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Buy a statue of Saint Joseph . St. Joseph is the Catholic patron saint of families, as well as fathers, unborn babies, immigrants, and workers.Choose a small statue that’s 3–4 inches (7.6–10.2 cm) tall. ^{[1]
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- Nowadays, you can even buy a St. Joseph “home selling kit” that includes a small statue of St. Joseph, a prayer card, and instructions on the practice.
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Wrap the statue in protective cloth . Take a soft, clean washcloth or similar material and wrap it around the statue several times, covering all sides, including the top and bottom. Consider placing the wrapped statue in a resealable plastic bag, as well.
- Wrapping the statue is a matter of practicality, but more importantly, it is also a sign of respect. Even though you are burying his statue, St. Joseph is still a saint, so you should demonstrate a certain degree of respect for his likeness.
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Bury the statue upside down in your home’s yard or garden. Dig a hole on your property that is deep enough to fit the entire statue. Place the wrapped statue inside so it’s upside down, then fill the rest of the hole in with dirt.
- The most common tradition holds that you should bury the statue near the "For Sale" sign or near the road. Place the statue inside the hole upside-down and facing your house.
- Others insist that the statue should face the road to symbolize the act of leaving the home.
- Some traditions also suggest placing the statue right side up or lying on its back, pointing toward the house like an arrow. ^{[2]
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- You could also consider placing the statue 3 feet (1 m) away from the rear of the house or in your rear garden or flower bed.
- Consider burying the statue in a large flower pot if you live in an apartment or don’t have a yard where you can bury it. You can still wrap the statue in protective cloth and treat it with the same degree of reverence. Place the flower pot on a windowsill, if possible.
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Keep the statue in your home as an alternative. If you’re not comfortable burying a statue of St. Joseph, simply place the statue in your home instead. Set the statue on a windowsill or a counter in clear view of the “For Sale” sign on your property.
- Burying the statue is a matter of tradition, not doctrine. There is no Catholic doctrine stating that burying a statue of St. Joseph will help you sell your house. ^{[3]
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  Research source} Church teachings do suggest that calling for St. Joseph's intercession when selling your land or house can help, though, which is why keeping a statue of St. Joseph in your home during the sale would likely work just as well as burying the statue.
- While burying a St. Joseph statue is sometimes thought of as superstitious, it’s not generally considered sacrilegious; it’s instead seen as an act of faith and trust in St. Joseph to intercede when needed. ^{[4]
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Section 2 of 5:

Saying a St. Joseph Prayer to Sell a House

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Say a prayer to St. Joseph upon burial. As soon as you bury the statue, say a prayer to St. Joseph to ask for his intercession. Create your own prayer, or use this one:
- 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/property] 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/property] 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 ^{[5]
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While saying a single prayer at the time of burial is good, repeating a prayer for intercession each day from that point on demonstrates a greater degree of faith and earnestness. Prayer is a way of consecrating yourself to God ; you can do this by saying the same prayer each day or offering a different one.
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Try saying a nine-day novena instead of the same prayer each day. A novena is a set of Catholic prayers recited over nine days. There are different variations, but essentially, you say a different prayer each day and follow each prayer with an “Our Father.” Consider using the following novena: ^{[6]
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- Day 1: O God, guide of those who listen and helper of those who hear your voice, speak to me, as you did to St. Joseph, and help me accomplish the things you give me to do.
- Day 2: O God, you love your people and bless the ordinary lives we quietly live. As you blessed St. Joseph, bless what I do, however hidden and simple it may be, and let all I do be done with love.
- Day 3: O God, ever faithful, you remember us always and in time reveal your blessings. Help me trust in you, as St. Joseph faithfully trusted, and never let me lose faith in the wonderful gifts you promise me.
- Day 4: God of families, bless the family that's mine. Keep us safe from harm, and never let evil come between us. Let peace remain in our hearts.
- Day 5: O God, who loves children, be kind to our children today. Give them eyes of faith for seeing far, a loving heart for welcoming life, and a place always at your side.
- Day 6: God of our heavenly home, bless our home on earth. Let the spirit of Mary and Joseph rest at our table, shape our words and actions, and bring blessing to our children.
- Day 7: God, our Father, give your fatherly spirit to those who are fathers now. Like Joseph, give them hearts of devoted love for their wives and children and strength for forgiveness and patience.
- Day 8: Give shelter, O God, to those who need it, and bring together families divided. Give us enough to eat and decent work to earn our bread. Care for us, O God.
- Day 9: Bless all families, O Lord, especially those in need. Remembering the life of your Son, we pray for the poor, for those who lack a good home, for those in exile. Grant them a protector like Joseph, O God.

Section 3 of 5:

What to Do After Your Home Sells

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Dig up the St. Joseph statue when your home sells. As soon as the contract is signed and the final details are in order, remove the statue from its place in your yard. Unwrap the protective cloth and wash away any dirt that might be on the statue itself. ^{[7]
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- It’s customary to remove the statue from the ground and place it in your new home as an act of gratitude.
- Some feel that, when the statue is left buried, it loses its ability to help the current owners sell their house should they decide to at a later date. ^{[8]
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Offer a prayer of thanks. Give thanks first to God, and then to St. Joseph for his intercession. You can offer a prayer from your heart and in your own words, or you could say a generic pre-written prayer of thanks. Either way, the important thing is to pray with sincerity. An example prayer of thanks follows:
- Heavenly Father, I thank you for my life and everything you have bestowed upon me and upon all people, this day and every day. I thank you for the good and bad, the understanding of forgiveness, and your holy power, without which we would have nothing. I thank you this day for all your blessings, your gifts, and your never-ending love for us. Although we all are sinners, I ask you to forgive me every day for what I might have done wrong that I might not have noticed. Even though we all come short of the glory of God, I thank you for the sacrifice of your only son, Jesus Christ, for all our sins. You and only you know us, Father, and you know if our hearts are true. So once again, I thank you with all my heart and soul. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen.
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Display the statue in a place of honor in your new home. Part of the tradition involves placing the St. Joseph statue you buried in your new home, when possible, to show gratitude and reverence. ^{[9]
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- The display does not need to be anything complicated. Simply sitting the statue on your mantel or desk will suffice.

Section 4 of 5:

How does burying a St. Joseph statue affect the sale of your home?

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The St. Joseph statue symbolizes your intention to sell. Burying it on your property can provide a symbolic representation of how you want to sell the home. It’s said to invite divine intervention, along with blessings, to your home while you’re attempting to sell it. ^{[10]
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- It’s also believed to create a sense of urgency for those looking to buy a house, especially when they know it’s there.
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It helps you focus on your goal by connecting you emotionally to faith. Having a St. Joseph statue in your home or buried on the property can reinforce your faith and offer you and your family comfort during the often stressful process of selling a house. ^{[11]
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- Simply knowing that you have asked St. Joseph to intercede on your behalf may give you more confidence in selling your home.
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The statue creates a positive, inviting atmosphere for potential buyers. It’s thought that, even if the St. Joseph statue is buried, it can affect potential buyers psychologically. This is even more likely if you keep the statue of St. Joseph on display. They may feel more welcome in your home and be more likely to consider it for their own home with a statue of the patron saint of houses and families in view. ^{[12]
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It’s a powerful affirmation of your faith. Burying a statue of St. Joseph or displaying it in your home is a reminder to believe. Taking part in this act of faith isn’t simply about superstition or good luck. It’s a way to use your faith sincerely by praying to St. Joseph for intercession and continuing to believe that the help you’re asking for will come your way. ^{[13]
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Section 5 of 5:

Where did the tradition of burying St. Joseph to sell a home come from?

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Burying a St. Joseph statue is a Catholic folk tradition, not an official ceremony. It has no actual origin story, but is instead linked to the power St. Joseph is believed to have to intercede in various aspects of life. He is associated with family issues, protection, guidance, and practical needs involving travel, immigration, and employment. ^{[14]
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- In the 16th century, St. Teresa of Avila buried a St. Joseph medal to obtain land she wanted to use to build a convent on. Other nuns at the time followed her lead when they wanted to expand their current convent.
- Burying a St. Joseph statue may be linked to a German tradition of burying 2 statues within the foundation of a newly built home; one was said to be a St. Joseph statue.
- The practice became more popular in the 1990s, when real estate brokers began telling home sellers to bury a St. Joseph statue to help sell their property. ^{[15]
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Devotion to St. Joseph became popular in the 19th century. Some believe it’s connected to the Industrial Revolution, which caused families to shift from farming to factory work. In 1882, Pope Benedict XVI dedicated the Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) church in Spain; the church’s architect noted, “St. Joseph will finish this church.” ^{[16]
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- St. Joseph is the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus in the Bible. He is the patron saint of home sellers, workers, and families, which is why a St. Joseph statue is associated with selling homes instead of businesses.

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Does the statue need to be blessed when I'm burying it?

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I have not read anything that says the statue needs to be blessed. All instructions do recommend to say a prayer to St. Joseph at the time of burying the statue.

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Can you take it with you if you move?

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Absolutely, you should! Be sure to place him is a position of honor somewhere in the new home.

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Does the seller have to be the one to bury St. Joseph?

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Yes, traditionally, the seller should be the one to bury the statue.

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You can reuse the statue! Just be sure to wipe any dirt or dust off of it, and say a little prayer of gratitude in between burials.
Some say that this practice is superstitious, and so is a sin. If you're worried, simply pray to St. Joseph for help, instead.

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How to Bury St. Joseph (+ The Prayer to St. Joseph)

Burying St. Joseph to Help Sell a House

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Burying a St. Joseph Statue

Saying a St. Joseph Prayer to Sell a House

What to Do After Your Home Sells

How does burying a St. Joseph statue affect the sale of your home?

Where did the tradition of burying St. Joseph to sell a home come from?

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