Looking for Gift Ideas? Give a Statue of St. Joseph

Even with the Christmas season coming to a close,  the  reasons  for giving continue.   This 2011,  I suggest to anyone who is  looking  for a gift item  for  family members,  friends and for  anyone Catholic --specially to those whom we think already have   practically everything-- to  consider giving a  statue of St. Joseph.

I myself gave my father a statue of St. Joseph for his 80th birthday last December, and-- it goes without saying--  he was very happy to have received  it.   

For one, St. Joseph -- aside from being the de facto Patron Saint of Real Estate Brokers-- is .the Patron Saint of Fathers and Workers.    Another reason  is that when  one buys  the statue from San Jose Seminary--  situated beside Loyola School  of Theology inside Ateneo de Manila-- part of the proceeds goes to  the formation of seminarians.

We all know that the number of local priests is dwindling.  Giving an item as simple but meaningful as a statue of St. Joseph can somehow help address this concern.

San Jose Seminary can be reached  through telephone number:   426 60 02 loc. 4861.   Each  statue costs Ps 1,200 and comes in a corrugated box.  And with it also comes   the sincere appreciation of  the  San Jose community of priests and seminarians.

ST. JOSEPH: Patron Saint of Real Estate Brokers

Out of plain curiosity, I searched  the net for the patron saint of real estate brokers.  To my pleasant surprise, I was led to numerous sites  pointing to St. Joseph-- the head of the Holy Family and  the Guardian of  the Redeemer.

St. Joseph was a carpenter.  He  built a home for   Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Although he is not officially named by the Catholic Church as the patron  saint of real estate, a number of brokers consider him as their de facto patron saint.

I came upon a number of sites promoting prayers to St. Joseph for help in selling houses.  In fact, there is a practice among home sellers and brokers in the United States that involved the burying upside down of a wrapped  statue of St. Joseph in  the  garden or yard of a house marked for sale.

Being raised Catholic, I do not agree with the burying of the image of St. Joseph to facilitate a house sale. However, I am all for saying a prayer or a novena to  implore the aid of St. Joseph, and for displaying his statue in a place of honor, whether or not a  house is for sale.

Below is an example of a prayer  to St. Joseph (source:http://www.stjosephsite.com/SJS_Prayer_To%20sell%20a%20home.htm ).

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.  

Come to my aid, O God. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Almighty God, Father of mercies and giver of all good gifts, I come before you to honor you in your saints and ask their help in my many needs.

You promised those who ask, would receive, those who seek, would find, those who knock, would have doors opened to them. Hear the prayers of your church, grant my requests, and pardon my sins. Amen.

St. Joseph, just and true, with a father's care you raised the child Jesus, and with a husband's love, you shared your life with Mary, His mother.

I entrust myself to your care and place in your hands this request of mine (say request)….

In quiet Nazareth, long ago, the Holy Spirit spoke to your heart and you followed God's will with wonderful faith.

In the quiet of my days, and in the hard choices I must make, help me follow the Spirit's guidance and believe when I cannot see.

Here are  other links to prayers to  St. Joseph:

• http://www.bulin.com/stjoe/sjprayer.html
• http://www.st-josephstatue.com/prayers.htm
• https://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/Favorite-Prayers-to-St-Joseph