Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 312.  Mon  6-08-92 17:25  (NO KILL)  (MAILED)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Greg Dubois
 Subject: Irreverence to Holy Things

GD|I have been told by several people that burying a statue of St. Joseph upside

  |down in one's yard will result in a quick sale of the house. My wife and I
  |feel that this is a superstition and therefore uncatholic.  What is the
  |Church's official position on this practice?

GD|--- T.A.G. 2.6 Standard
  | * Origin: Checkpoint Online - Garden City, MI - (313)427-6673 (1:120/277)

GD|  Route: 1/77w0 1/60w3 22/5w22 44/7
  |.ORIGIN: 001/077 - SSMC 713-568-8483 2400 bps 1:106/960@fidonet.org


Dear Greg,

The purpose of pictures and statues of Our Lord and the Saints is to
offer honor to those whom God has been pleased to honor and to awaken
in the hearts of the beholders reverence and love for Our Savior and
our Brothers and Sister in Heaven.  The practice you describe is
silly, irreverent, and damaging to the cause of true religion.

People often ask this net, "What is the official position of the
church on this or that?"  Many times I have to answer, "The Church
has no official position here."  But in this matter of irreverence  to holy
things, Our Lord Himself tells us not to throw pearls before swine,
and not to throw holy things to dogs.

If one wishes St. Joseph's help in selling a house, ask him.  Back up
this prayer with some penance and self-denial.  Promise God, in St.
Joseph's honor, to give ten percent of the proceeds of the sale to
the poor or to the foreign missions.

                                        Sincerely in Christ,
                                             Father Mateo