St. Joseph, Real Estate Agent

Temporal Renegade · 9th April 2005, 04:43 AM

While reading my local newspaper yesterday, I scanned through the real estate section, and came across an article about house-selling. It talked about how some sellers bury a staute of St. Joseph in their yard to help sell the place. And, they claim, it really works! Here's a link to the story:

http://www.freep.com/realestate/rene...e_20050408.htm

And, here's a couple of online ads for the lil' feller:

http://www.stjosephshomesaleskit.com/

http://www.kewpro.com/stjosephtradition/?g

By the way, aren't Saints a Catholic thing? Do Fundies even have such a thing? And, if you're a Muslim or a Jew, will the staute work for you then?

Just curious.....

wahrheit · 9th April 2005, 05:14 AM

Whenever one thinks you've seen them all, a new daft claim pops up.

Quote:

Originally posted by Temporal Renegade
By the way, aren't Saints a Catholic thing? Do Fundies even have such a thing? And, if you're a Muslim or a Jew, will the staute work for you then?

Just curious.....

Saints are (were) Christians. Some orthodox churches include people from the Old Testament, whereas Catholic church prefers they died after the birth of Jesus. To my knowledge, there's no Saints for a Jew, but Islam does have something similar to Saints, but not widely agreed.

I guess they are strongest in the Roman Catholic church. Some "new" churches use the word "Saint" in a different meaning sometimes, more like all beliefers are kind of Saints, since God sanctified them.

maddog · 11th April 2005, 10:16 AM

Of COURSE it works!!! But only if you are Catholic, bury old St. Joe the right way (upside down, facing east, in the back yard, and not near the septic system), and ... your house is a desirable purchase, at a fair price, in a good location, etc.

uruk · 11th April 2005, 10:27 AM

Think about it. You purchase a house you felt compelled to buy. You think it's your dream house. Then you begin to notice all the little things that need repairing. Your wondering why you didn't notice the bad things before. Then while your digging up your lawn to fix a broken water line you unearth a St. Joseph statue. Then you scream "DAMN YOU CATHOLICS!!!!" You got suckered in by the oldest trick in the book. Divine intervention.

phildonnia · 11th April 2005, 10:35 AM

I'm not trying to parody maddog's directions about the proper orientation of St Joe; this is actually serious.. (snork!). Serious!

The statue is buried upside down.

St Joseph is the patron saint of buyers, not sellers. The upside-down Joseph is sort of an anti-Joseph, attracting buyers in the same way that negative charges attract positive charges.

I suppose the purpose of the burial is so you don't scare the buyers off by looking like a freak with an upside-down statue on your lawn.

I'll_buy_that · 11th April 2005, 11:13 AM

Yes it does work...... All homes eventually sell.

Ausmerican · 11th April 2005, 07:28 PM

I have two questions about this. The first is concerning the quote in the linked article that says "God does work miracles through his saints." Is this nutjob really trying to say that a real estate deal is a miracle? Damn the standards for miracles is slipping these days.
My second question is, if you find one of these things buried in your yard after you buy a house can you sue the seller for coercing you through supernatural means to pay the amount you paid and maybe get some money back from the purchase?

Charlie in Dayton · 11th April 2005, 09:29 PM

Ooooooookay...all them families that interred the late family small pet in the back yard...all those buried hamsters/goldfish/birds/bunnies/turtles/frogs/etc etc etc...just exactly what do they attract come sale time?

Bikewer · 12th April 2005, 07:38 AM

Very common practice here in the Midwest. Oddly, even among non-Christians!

Of course, Christianity and sympathetic magic have always had a strong relationship.

Temporal Renegade · 14th April 2005, 05:36 PM

Isn't it just plain wrong to use a religious icon for personal gain?

I mean, sure, a LOT of people do it, but that doesn't make it right, does it?

I mean, what's next? True Cross brand toothpicks? Or Shroud of Turin beach towels? Where's the line, people?!

(Although, that towel would be pretty cool...)

zakur · 15th April 2005, 07:53 AM

Yeah, that St. Joe superstition is a doozy - with many variations. Most say he's got to be buried upside down, but there are some differences of opinion as to which way he should be facing (toward the house, toward the street, facing East,....). Some also say that after the house sells you must exhume him and then bury him in the yard of your new house.

My uber-Catholic family is just chock full of saintly superstitions. My least favorite is the St. Anthony (patron saint of lost causes) chant my Mom does: "Tony, Tony, look around. Something's lost and can't be found."

That rolleyes smiley is just not sufficient for this nonsense. Is there one where the eyes roll right out of the head and across the screen?

9th April 2005, 04:43 AM	#1
Temporal Renegade Last of the Time Lords Join Date: May 2003 Location: University of Southern North Dakota at Hoople Posts: 1,893	St. Joseph, Real Estate Agent While reading my local newspaper yesterday, I scanned through the real estate section, and came across an article about house-selling. It talked about how some sellers bury a staute of St. Joseph in their yard to help sell the place. And, they claim, it really works! Here's a link to the story: http://www.freep.com/realestate/rene...e_20050408.htm And, here's a couple of online ads for the lil' feller: http://www.stjosephshomesaleskit.com/ http://www.kewpro.com/stjosephtradition/?g By the way, aren't Saints a Catholic thing? Do Fundies even have such a thing? And, if you're a Muslim or a Jew, will the staute work for you then? Just curious.....
	__________________ "Attention please..... a child has been lost in the Tunnel of Goats......" .......FATHER TED

9th April 2005, 05:14 AM	#2
wahrheit Pac-Man Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,591	Whenever one thinks you've seen them all, a new daft claim pops up. Quote: Originally posted by Temporal Renegade By the way, aren't Saints a Catholic thing? Do Fundies even have such a thing? And, if you're a Muslim or a Jew, will the staute work for you then? Just curious..... Saints are (were) Christians. Some orthodox churches include people from the Old Testament, whereas Catholic church prefers they died after the birth of Jesus. To my knowledge, there's no Saints for a Jew, but Islam does have something similar to Saints, but not widely agreed. I guess they are strongest in the Roman Catholic church. Some "new" churches use the word "Saint" in a different meaning sometimes, more like all beliefers are kind of Saints, since God sanctified them.
wahrheit Pac-Man Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,591

11th April 2005, 10:16 AM	#3
maddog Intimidating Terrapin Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: The People's Republic of Maryland Posts: 11,820	Of COURSE it works!!! But only if you are Catholic, bury old St. Joe the right way (upside down, facing east, in the back yard, and not near the septic system), and ... your house is a desirable purchase, at a fair price, in a good location, etc.
	__________________ 90% of what I say is meant to be funny, and the other half doesn't mean anything at all. When I grow up, I want to be just like me.

11th April 2005, 11:13 AM	#6
I'll_buy_that Critical Thinker Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 384	Yes it does work...... All homes eventually sell.
	__________________ "Religion has convinced the world that there's an invisible man in the sky who watches everything you do. And there's 10 things he doesn't want you to do or else you'll to to a burning place with a lake of fire until the end of eternity. But he loves you! ...he loves you and he needs money! He's all powerful, all knowing, and all capable but he just can't handle money!" -George Carlin

11th April 2005, 07:28 PM	#7
Ausmerican Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,381	I have two questions about this. The first is concerning the quote in the linked article that says "God does work miracles through his saints." Is this nutjob really trying to say that a real estate deal is a miracle? Damn the standards for miracles is slipping these days. My second question is, if you find one of these things buried in your yard after you buy a house can you sue the seller for coercing you through supernatural means to pay the amount you paid and maybe get some money back from the purchase?
Ausmerican Illuminator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,381

11th April 2005, 10:27 AM	#4
uruk Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: In the land of the Shatner stealing Mexico touchers Posts: 5,313	Think about it. You purchase a house you felt compelled to buy. You think it's your dream house. Then you begin to notice all the little things that need repairing. Your wondering why you didn't notice the bad things before. Then while your digging up your lawn to fix a broken water line you unearth a St. Joseph statue. Then you scream "DAMN YOU CATHOLICS!!!!" You got suckered in by the oldest trick in the book. Divine intervention.

11th April 2005, 10:35 AM	#5
phildonnia Master Poster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Sac'to CA Posts: 2,339	I'm not trying to parody maddog's directions about the proper orientation of St Joe; this is actually serious.. (snork!). Serious! The statue is buried upside down. St Joseph is the patron saint of buyers, not sellers. The upside-down Joseph is sort of an anti-Joseph, attracting buyers in the same way that negative charges attract positive charges. I suppose the purpose of the burial is so you don't scare the buyers off by looking like a freak with an upside-down statue on your lawn.

11th April 2005, 09:29 PM	#8
Charlie in Dayton Rabid radioactive stargazer and JREF kid Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,087	Ooooooookay...all them families that interred the late family small pet in the back yard...all those buried hamsters/goldfish/birds/bunnies/turtles/frogs/etc etc etc...just exactly what do they attract come sale time?
	__________________ "If a tree is cut down in the rainforest, and is used to make paper to print a book, and the book is really bad, and there's nobody that will read it, do you still hear a sucking sound?" Charlie in Dayton

12th April 2005, 07:38 AM	#9
Bikewer Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St. Louis, Mo. Posts: 9,532	Very common practice here in the Midwest. Oddly, even among non-Christians! Of course, Christianity and sympathetic magic have always had a strong relationship.

14th April 2005, 05:36 PM	#10
Temporal Renegade Last of the Time Lords Join Date: May 2003 Location: University of Southern North Dakota at Hoople Posts: 1,893	Isn't it just plain wrong to use a religious icon for personal gain? I mean, sure, a LOT of people do it, but that doesn't make it right, does it? I mean, what's next? True Cross brand toothpicks? Or Shroud of Turin beach towels? Where's the line, people?! (Although, that towel would be pretty cool...)
	__________________ "Attention please..... a child has been lost in the Tunnel of Goats......" .......FATHER TED

15th April 2005, 07:53 AM	#11
zakur Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 3,265	Yeah, that St. Joe superstition is a doozy - with many variations. Most say he's got to be buried upside down, but there are some differences of opinion as to which way he should be facing (toward the house, toward the street, facing East,....). Some also say that after the house sells you must exhume him and then bury him in the yard of your new house. My uber-Catholic family is just chock full of saintly superstitions. My least favorite is the St. Anthony (patron saint of lost causes) chant my Mom does: "Tony, Tony, look around. Something's lost and can't be found." That rolleyes smiley is just not sufficient for this nonsense. Is there one where the eyes roll right out of the head and across the screen?
	__________________ "I do not believe in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." -Thomas Carlyle "That's the problem these days: nobody thinks of the tumors." -steinhenge