March 22 + Saint Isidore the Farmer

Born in 1079 in Madrid, Spain, Isidore was barely old enough to wield a hoe when he entered the service of John de Vergas, a wealthy landowner, and worked faithfully on his estate outside the city of Madrid for the rest of his life. He married a young woman as simple and upright as himself who also became a saint — Saint Maria de la Cabeza. They had one son, who died as a child.

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 sometimes became a problem for his fellow workers as they complained that he showed up late because of lingering in church too long.

Many marvelous happenings accompanied his lifelong work in the fields and continued long after his holy death. He was favored with celestial visions and, it is said, the angels sometimes helped him in his work in the fields.

He was known for his love of the poor and there are accounts of Isidore’s supplying them miraculously with food. He had a great concern for the proper treatment of animals.

Isidore died in 1130 and 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.” He has become the Patron Saint of farmers and rural communities. In particular, he is the patron of Madrid, Spain and of the United States National Rural Life Conference.