Walking with the Saints Podcast | Feast of St. Isidore, the farmer l Patron Saint of all Farmers | May 15
There are two famous saints by the name of Isidore, one
is the Archbishop of Seville, and the other is Isidore, the farmer. We shall speak today about St. Isidore, the farmer or laborer. He is also called San Isidro de Labrador. St. Isidore, whose real name is Isidro Quintana de Merlo was born in Madrid from poor but devout Catholic parents and was baptized with the name of St. Isidore of Seville. As a young boy, he learned from his parents that devotion to God is the most important duty, followed by helping one’s neighbors. At an early age he was at once employed as a farm help in the vast estate outside the city of San Juan de
Vargas. He was humble, kind and charitable. Early every morning, he would go to church to attend Mass and he had the habit of visiting the churches around Madrid. Isidore married Maria Torribia known in Spain as Santa Maria de la Cabeza. (Her canonization is still to be confirme). The couple had one son who later died in his youth. It is related that when this son was just a small boy, he fell into a deep well, and his parents prayed hard for his safety. Miraculously, the water of the well rose to
the level of the ground bringing the child with it. The couple was greatly thankful to God, and in thanksgiving vowed sexual abstinence and lived in separate
houses. Isidore continued his farm work but he would often come late for work so the other farm helps complained about it to their master. When the master
went to the fields to investigate, he found that an angel was ploughing the field while Isidore was in deep sleep. The master therefore concluded that angels were helping Isidore that’s was why his part of the field was two times better and fruitful than those of his companions. Other miracles happened even while Isidore was still alive. Before he and his wife vowed (abstinence) continency and took separate lodgings, Maria always kept stew on their humble fireplace for the poor people Isidore would
bring home to feed. One day, he brought more people and the stew Maria prepared was not enough. Isidore told her to check the pot again, and behold there was enough stew and they were able to feed everyone. On another occasion, when Isidore was going to the mill to ground wheat for their consumption, he saw a flock of pigeons scratching vainly for food but there was none because it was snowy. Isidore poured half of the wheat in his sack and the birds enjoyed their meal. Those who saw him laughed and mocked him for such stupidity. However,
when he reached the mill, the bag was full again and when it was milled, it produced double the expected amount of flour. Other miracles happened while he was still alive and more after his death. St. Isidore died on May 15, 1130. He was beatified on May 2, 1619 by Pope Paul and was canonized on March 12, 1622. He is venerated as the patron saint of Madrid, of farmers, peasants and of the
US National Catholic Life Conference. Many churches in the Philippines are named after him.
Virtue: piety, humility, charity, generosity, continence, confidence
Prayer: “Pray for us St. Isidore that we may love God the way you did and our neighbors as ourselves.”
