Today, May 15, is the Feast of St. Isidore. Of the four saints that are patrons of our families in the Disciples Unleashed Family of Parishes, St. Isidore the Farmer is probably the least well known.
St. Isidore was born in 1070 to a peasant family near Madrid, Spain. From the time he could wield a sickle he became a day laborer, working on the farm of the wealthy John De Vergas just outside Madrid. He married a poor girl, Maria, who was also canonized a saint. Their only child was a son who died in infancy.
Here are three interesting legends concerning Isidore that you may not have known:
Isidore would often stop by churches on his way to work, which often made him late. He would also pray during his work. When some of his colleagues complained to the owner, de Vegas went to check on him. He saw two angels plowing the fields. He decided that, as long as the work was being done, he would not intervene.
Isidore had a great love for the poor. He would often invite the poor and hungry he met on his walk home from work to join him and Maria for dinner. Maria would keep a pot of stew on the hearth to feed their guests. One day Isidore brought home many more people than usual. Half way through serving them Maria came to Isidore and told him that the pot was empty. Isidore told her to check it again, and there was plenty for everyone. God provides!
He also had a love for animals. One winter day he was walking to the mill with a sack of wheat to be ground. He came across a flock of birds pecking at the frozen ground for food. He emptied half the sack of wheat to feed them. A passerby warned him that his owner would be upset. When he arrived at the mill, the sack was full. When grounded, it produces three times the usual amount. God provides.
Isidore was canonized a saint on March 22, 1622, along with Ignatius Loyola, Francis Xavier, Thresa of Avila, and Phiip Neri, all of whom were people of wealth, education, and influence. Isidore was a simple illiterate laborer.
Some things we can learn from St. Isidore the Farmer:
- the dignity of work
- prayer energizes our work
- love and service to the poor and hungry
- love for animals and God’s creation
- God provides
- Simple laborers, ( us simple people), can be canonized saints.