The Ultimate Guide to Selling Your House Fast with the St. Joseph Prayer

Are you trying to sell your house and feeling overwhelmed by the process? Maybe you have already fixed it up, priced it and listed it, and it still hasn’t sold. Many homeowners in that spot turn to the St. Joseph prayer to sell a house.

This guide gives you the full St. Joseph prayer, the nine-day novena, where and how people bury the St. Joseph statue, how long it takes, what to do after the house sells, and the practical steps that help a house sell while you pray.

The History and Origins of the St. Joseph Prayer

St. Joseph, the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus, worked as a carpenter in Nazareth and provided a home for his family. That is why Catholics have long asked for his help with matters of home and family. His feast day is March 19. Pope Pius IX named him Patron of the Universal Church in 1870, and in 1955 Pope Pius XII added the feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1.

The custom of burying a small statue of St. Joseph to sell a house is newer and its origin is uncertain. One story links it to St. André Bessette, a Holy Cross brother in Montreal, who is said to have buried St. Joseph medals around 1900 while praying for land for his community. Others date the house-selling custom to the 1970s. Either way, it is a popular custom, not an official practice of the Church.

The St. Joseph Prayer to Sell a House

Here is the traditional St. Joseph prayer to sell a house:

“Dear St. Joseph, you who taught our Lord the carpenter’s trade, and saw to it that he was always properly housed, I ask your help in selling this home. You who received revelations from God, I ask you to grant me a favorable sale of this property, so that I may fulfill my plans. Dear St. Joseph, I know you would do this for me out of the goodness of your heart and in your own good time, but I do need a speedy answer to my prayer. St. Joseph, pray for us, please! Amen.”

Many people say this prayer once a day, every day, until the house sells. Others say it as part of a novena (below).

The St. Joseph Novena (9 Days)

A novena is a prayer said on nine days in a row. Many people start a St. Joseph novena on the day they list the house, or on the day they set out the statue. Here is one St. Joseph novena, a short prayer for each day:

Day 1: Oh 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.

See More at: https://www.praywithme.com/prayer-to-st-joseph.html

Where and How to Bury the St. Joseph Statue

A St. Joseph statue, typically measuring between 3 and 8 inches long, is bought and buried as part of the custom. Home-sale kits usually include the statue, a prayer card and instructions.

We found that one of the most common statues being used is actually this one from the Catholic Company, which is a home kit that goes with this prayer.

The most common version of the custom:

1. Front yard, near the sign. Many people, including some real estate agents, bury the statue within about 3 feet of the “For Sale” sign.

2. Upside down, facing the house. The most repeated instruction is to bury the statue head-down, facing the home. Some versions say to face it toward the street instead.

3. Wrap it. Many people wrap the statue in a cloth or a small bag to keep it clean, since they plan to dig it up later.

4. Say the prayer. Say the St. Joseph prayer when you bury the statue, then daily until the sale.

No yard? If you live in a condo or apartment, people often place the statue in a potted plant near the door or keep it in a respectful place inside the home.

What Priests Say About Burying the Statue

Some Catholic priests discourage burying the statue. They point out that a statue represents a person and is meant to be honored, not hidden in the dirt, and that treating it like a good-luck charm slides into superstition. What they recommend instead: pray for St. Joseph’s help with an honest heart, trust that God provides, and if you have a statue, display it in a place of honor in the house you are selling.

If you decide to bury the statue, the spirit matters most: it should be a sign of prayer and trust, not a trick to force a sale.

How Long Does the St. Joseph Prayer Take to Work?

There is no set timeline, and the tradition makes no promise. Many people pray every day until the house sells, and some pray a novena. Faith and practical steps work well together: a fair price, a clean house and good photos still matter, and a house that is priced above the market will usually sit no matter what else you do.

A Practical Checklist While You Pray

These steps help any house sell faster, whether or not you use the St. Joseph prayer:

• Price it against recent sales of similar homes nearby, not against what you need or what a neighbor asked.
• Clean, declutter and fix the small things a buyer notices first: leaks, broken fixtures, peeling paint at the front door.
• Make sure the listing has good, bright photos of every room.
• Keep the house easy to show, or ask your agent about open houses.
• If it has been on the market for weeks with few showings, talk to your agent about the price.
• Get your paperwork ready early: the deed, mortgage payoff, HOA documents and any repair receipts.
• If you are up against a deadline, get a cash offer as a backup so you know your floor.

What to Do After the House Sells

Tradition says to dig up the statue once the sale closes, clean it and take it to your new home, where it is kept in a place of honor as a thank-you. Many people also say a prayer of thanksgiving.

Other Saints and Prayers for Selling a Home

St. Joseph, the patron saint of families and workers, is the saint most closely tied to selling a home. Some families also say a simple blessing over the house as they prepare to leave it, or ask a priest to bless their new home after the move.

When You Need the House to Sell Now

Sometimes a house doesn’t sell despite your best efforts and prayers, or you simply can’t wait: a job move, a foreclosure date, an inherited house you cannot keep up, or a house that needs more repairs than you can pay for. You do not have to wait for the right buyer to appear. We connect sellers with local cash buyers who can make an offer in about a day and close on the date you choose, with no repairs and no commissions. See how to sell your house fast to compare your options, and how to check a cash buyer before you sign.

Need the house sold on a deadline? Tell us about your house and a local cash buyer will make you a fair, no-obligation offer, usually within 24 hours. Get your free cash offer or call (727) 208-1229.

FAQ

What is the St. Joseph prayer to sell a house?

It is a short prayer asking St. Joseph, who provided a home for the Holy Family, to help you sell your home. The full text is above. Many people say it daily until the house sells.

Do you bury St. Joseph upside down?

The most common custom is to bury the statue head-down, facing the house, near the “For Sale” sign. Versions vary, and the custom is not an official Church practice.

Can I use the St. Joseph prayer without burying a statue?

Yes. The prayer and the novena stand on their own. Some priests recommend displaying the statue in your home instead of burying it.

What if I live in an apartment or condo?

Place the statue in a potted plant or keep it in a respectful place inside the home, and say the prayer as usual.

What do I do with the statue after the sale?

Dig it up, clean it and give it a place of honor in your new home as a thank-you.

Does the St. Joseph statue work?

There is no proof that it does, and the tradition makes no promise. For many sellers it is an act of faith that sits alongside the practical work of pricing, preparing and marketing the house.

Final Thoughts

The St. Joseph prayer is a way to bring faith and calm to a stressful sale. Say the prayer, consider the novena, and keep doing the practical things that sell a house. And if time runs out, a fair cash offer is one more way to sell your house fast.