a year of prayer: 365 Rosaries

Today, May 15, marks the feast day of a saint remembered for his hard work, humility, and visions, Saint Isidore the Farmer (also known as Isidore the Laborer, 1060-1120). Saint Isidore, along with his wife, Saint Maria de la Cabeza (due to the custom of carrying her head in procession to bring down rain in times of drought-- who is sometimes venerated with her husband on May 15, but is commemorated on her own feast day in September), are the patron saints of farmers, good harvest, and humble work in the fields of the Lord.

Saint Isidore was born in Madrid, Spain, where he worked the majority of his life in the fields. At a very young age—when Isidore was just old enough to carry a hoe—he entered the service of a wealthy Spanish landowner, John de Vergas, and proceeded to work humbly and diligently in the fields for the remainder of his life (60 years!). He married his wife, Maria Torribio, also humble and holy, and together they had one son, who died as a child. Following his death, both Isidore and Maria vowed to live lives of perfect continence.

Isidore lifted all that he did to the Lord, praying each day behind the plow. He rose early each morning, attending Mass, and spent the majority of his days off from work praying in the churches of Madrid. His master was accepting (but suspicious) of his devotion, even when Isidore would arrive late to work as time escaped him in prayer! When his master questioned him, Isidore replied: "Sir, it may be true that I am later at my work than some of the other laborers, but I do my utmost to make up for the few minutes snatched for prayer; I pray you compare my work with theirs, and if you find I have defrauded you in the least, gladly will I make amends by paying you out of my private store." His master, still suspicious, followed Isidore to church one morning, and then back to the fields. Holy legend recounts that upon this occasion (and others), angels came down from Heaven, dressed in white and working the plow behind teams of snow-white oxen in his absence. The angels were three times as productive as a man, so how could an employer complain! Running to Isidore, Senor Vergas questioned him as to who they were. Isidore replied, “Sir, I work alone and know of none save God to whom I look for strength." He continued, "I know, sir, that I am your servant but I have another Master as well, to Whom I owe service and obedience." Recognizing his sanctity, generosity, and humility, and having witnessed these miraculous events, Senor Vergas treated Isidore with the utmost respect throughout his life, looking to him for spiritual guidance and advice.

Isidore and Maria were both known for their love of the poor, and the miraculous food they could produce for those who were starving. Saint Isidore is further remembered for his great kindness to the animals of the farm, concerned with their proper treatment, and treating them as creatures of the Lord. In times of drought an famine, Isidore was known to miraculously produce food for not only people, but for large flocks of birds and other animals. Additional miracles attributed to the intercession of Saint Isidore include bringing back to life the daughter of his master following an accident, the appearance of a miraculous well of fresh water during drought, and many others.

Isidore died at the age of sixty and his body was interred in a local cemetery. Forty years after his death, his body—found to be incorrupt-- was transferred from the cemetery to the church of St. Andrew. King Philip III of Spain was cured of a deadly disease by touching the relics of the saint, and subsequently, he replaced the old reliquary with a costly silver one. Numerous additional miracles of healing have been reported at his tomb.

The lives of Saints Isidore and Maria remind us that humble work and charity are sanctified by God. The simple faith of these two saints, and their concern and love for all of God’s creatures around them, allowed the working of miracles. God’s own angels descended from Heaven to assist in their daily chores, chores that they lifted to the Lord in prayer, humility, and obedience. We are reminded that the work we undertake in our everyday lives—however menial it may seem to us—is important in the eyes of the Lord. Our everyday toils are opportunities for us to life our gaze to Heaven, offering the work of our hands as joyful praise to God as His obedient, humble servants.



O God, Who didst give Thy people blessed Isidore as a minister of eternal salvation, we beseech Thee; grant that we may deserve to have him as an intercessor in heaven, whom we had as a teacher of life on earth.


O God, who taught Adam the simple art of tilling the soil, and who through Jesus Christ, the true vine, revealed yourself the husbandman of our souls, deign, we pray, through the merits of blessed Isidore, to instill into our hearts a horror of sin and a love of prayer, so that, working the soil in the sweat of our brow, we may enjoy eternal happiness in heaven, through the same Christ our Lord.


O God, through the intercession of St. Isidore, the holy Farmer, grant that we may overcome all feelings of pride. May we always serve You with that humility which pleases You, through his merits and example.


O holy Isidore and Maria, continue to intercede for those who work the fields and grow our daily food. Ask our Merciful God to continue to bless their efforts to produce abundant food and fiber.


We ask your prayerful aid in the cultivation of the fields of our hearts. Help us through God’s grace to grow in holiness and accept the grace-filled opportunities God gives to us in our work, our marriages and our everyday lives.


O holy Isidore, intercede with our Lord to send angels to aid us in opening our hearts so that one day, enlightened by God’s wisdom and having grown in God's likeness, we may join you and all the Saints in Heaven.


O Most Holy Trinity, you have created us out of your love. We pray that we will always recognize your presence in all that we are, all that we do, and all that we will become.


Help us realize that your Message of Salvation is found in all of Creation -- the fields, the plants, living water, fresh air, all creatures, love for one another.


We await in joy and hope for the day, O Merciful God, when we will be united with You in your Heavenly Kingdom. Amen.