Saint Isidore, The Farmer

SAINT OF THE DAY

ST. ISIDORE THE "FARMER "

(SAN ISIDRO LABRADOR)

(Feast Day: May 15,)

Saint Isidore the Farmer’s Story

Saint Isidore was born in Madrid, in about the year 1070, of poor but very devout parents, and was christened Isidore from the name of their patron, St. Isidore of Seville.When he was barely old enough to wield a hoe, Isidore entered the service of John de Vargas, a wealthy landowner from Madrid, and spent his life as a hired hand and worked faithfully on his estate outside the city for the rest of his life. He shared what he had, even his meals, with the poor. Juan de Vargas would later make him bailiff of his entire estate of Lower Caramanca.

He married a young woman as simple and upright as himself. Isidore married Maria Torribia, known as Santa María de la Cabeza in Spain; she has never been canonized, pending confirmation by Pope Francis. Isidore and Maria had one son. On one occasion, their son fell into a deep well and, at the prayers of his parents, the water of the well is said to have risen miraculously to the level of the ground, bringing the child with it. In thanksgiving Isidore and Maria then vowed sexual abstinence and lived in separate houses. Their son later died in his youth.

Isidore had deep religious instincts. He rose early in the morning to go to church and spent many holidays devoutly visiting the churches of Madrid and surrounding areas. All day long, as he walked behind the plow, he communed with God. His devotion, one might say, became a problem, for his fellow workers sometimes complained that he often showed up late because of lingering in church too long.

While he walked the fields, plowing, planting, and harvesting, he also prayed. As a hardworking man, Isidore had three great loves: God, his family, and the soil. He and his wife Maria, proved to all their neighbors that poverty, hard work, and sorrow cannot destroy human happiness if we accept them with faith and in union with Christ. Isidore understood clearly that, without soil, the human race cannot exist too long. The insight may explain why he always had such a reverent attitude toward his work as a farmer.

Isidore and Maria were known for their love of the poor. Often they brought food to poor, hungry persons and prayed with them. During his lifetime, Isidore had the gift of miracles. If he was late for work because he went to Mass, an angel was seen plowing for him. He was known for his love of the poor, and there are accounts of Isidore’s supplying them miraculously with food. More than once he fed hungry people with food that seemed to multiply miraculously.

He had a great concern for the proper treatment of animals.

Isidore died on May 15, 1130, at his birthplace close to Madrid, although the only official source places his death in the year 1172.

He died after a peaceful life of hard labor and charity.

He was declared a saint in 1622, with Saints Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Avila, and Philip Neri. Together, the group is known in Spain as “the five saints.”

In the Philippines , Saint Isidore, just like Saint Vincent Ferrer and the devotion to the Holy Cross, is celebrated in many towns, villages and barrios in the month of May. He is the Patron of many towns, foremost of which are the towns of Tubigon, Bilar, Trinidad and San Isidro. (Wikipedia)

Isidore has become the patron of farmers and rural communities. In particular, he is the patron of Madrid, Spain, and of the United States National Rural Life Conference.

Reflection

Many implications can be found in a simple laborer achieving sainthood: Physical labor has dignity; sainthood does not stem from status; contemplation does not depend on learning; the simple life is conducive to holiness and happiness. Legends about angel helpers and mysterious oxen indicate that his work was not neglected and his duties did not go unfulfilled. Perhaps the truth which emerges is this: If you have your spiritual self in order, your earthly commitments will fall into order also. “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” said the carpenter from Nazareth, “and all these things will be given you (Matthew 6:33).

Let us pray

Lord God, to whom belongs all creation,

and who call us to serve you

by caring for the gifts that surround us,

inspire us by the example of Saint Isidore

to share our food with the hungry

and to work for the salvation of all people.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

Happy Feast Day, Saint Isidore the Farmer! 🌾

We thank you, Saint Isidore, Catholic Patron Saint of Farmers, for all your blessings. May you bless all of us, especially the farmers, and may they have an abundant harvest in every season with your help.

San Isidro Labrador, pray for us!