May 15: Saint Isidore, Farmer
Work and Prayer: the Path to Holiness
He was a humble farmer, very poor, who spared no effort and sacrifice to bring a piece of bread home. However, he had discovered Christ and everything else seemed nothing compared to his friendship with Him. His name was Isidore. He was born around 1080 in Madrid, which at the time was not yet the capital of Spain but a city like any other.
His parents were very poor farmers who could not afford to send him to school but who passed on to him the only wealth they had: Faith. They taught him to pray, to attend Mass, to give charity to the neediest.
He was orphaned at the age of 10 and was already working in the fields. Due to the Arab invasions in the Iberian Peninsula, Isidore left Madrid and took refuge in Torrelaguna, a town almost 60 kilometers to the northeast. There, he met Maria Toribia, also known as Maria de la Cabeza, whom he married and they soon had a son named Illán. The little boy once fell into a cistern and was miraculously saved thanks to his father’s fervent prayers. The couple lived a devotedly Christian life and despite their poverty managed to help those who were even poorer. Maria de la Cabeza was declared Blessed by Innocent XII in 1697.
Isidore worked as a laborer on the large farm lands of Don Juan de Vargas. His life was spent between attending Mass, praying and working in the fields. It is said that one day, his fellow laborers accused him in front of the owner of dedicating himself to prayer and not to work. Then, the master began to observe him and saw that, before going to the fields, he visited various churches. Also, many times, he interrupted his work to pray, but incredibly the tasks entrusted to him did not fall behind. It is said that the angels plowed in his place. Isidore returned to Madrid and, feeling that his hour was approaching, made confession and recommended everyone to love God and to practice charity. He died on May 15, 1130. His body was found incorrupt after 40 years, even though it was in a place that had previously been flooded. The king of Spain, Philip III, while he was seriously ill, wanted Isidore's body to be brought to his bedside. As soon as Isidore's mortal remains reached him, the king recovered. Thanks to this and other miracles attributed to his intercession, Pope Gregory XV, on March 12, 1622, canonized him together with Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Saint Francis Xavier and Saint Philip Neri. His mortal remains are preserved in the Madrid church of Saint Andrew. He is the Patron Saint of farmers, farm workers and the city of Madrid.