(C.D. Stampley Enterprises, Charlotte, NC 2001). Used with permission.

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For farmers

St. Isidore the Farmer (c.1080-1130)

Feast day: May 15

St. Isidore, the patron saint of farmers, used his long solitary hours in the fields to deepen his prayer life.

It is common for {ln:Pope} s to canonize more than one saint in a single ceremony, but St. Isidore the Farmer shared his canonization day with especially distinguished company: St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, St. Teresa of Avila, and St. Philip Neri.

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The earliest biography of Isidore was written about 150 years after he died, so no doubt it is a mixed bag of fact and legend. He was born into a peasant family in or near Madrid (in the 11th century Madrid was a small town and centuries away from becoming the capital of Spain.) Isidore married a peasant woman, Maria de la Cabeza, who is also honored as a saint. They had one child, a boy, who died young. After their son’s death Isidore and Maria are said to have lived like brother and sister rather than husband and wife.

The couple had no land of their own. Isidore worked on the estate of Torrelaguna outside Madrid. Each morning on his way to the fields he stopped at a church for Mass. During the long hours of plowing and harvesting he prayed. It is said that angels were seen plowing with him so he accomplished three times as much work in a single day as any of the other tenant farmers.

Another story tells how he arrived at a confraternity dinner accompanied by a large crowd of beggars. The host complained that he did not have enough food for so many people, but Isidore urged him to serve the meal and see what happened. In the kitchen the portions miraculously multiplied so there was enough for everyone and plenty left over besides.

Isidore died in 1130, several years before his wife. He was buried in the cemetery of St. Andrew’s Church until 1170 when his grave was opened and his body found to be incorrupt. Once the relics were transferred to a shrine inside the church devotion to St. Isidore began to spread.

He is said to have appeared to King Alfonso of Castile in 1211 to show him how to defeat the Moors in battle. In 1615 when physicians believed King Philip III of Spain was dying the relics of St. Isidore were carried to his room. The king recovered completely and in thanksgiving petitioned the {ln:Pope} to grant Isidore a formal canonization ceremony.

St. Isidore’s popularity remains strong in Spain, but devotion to him among farmers is has spread around the globe. In the United States he is the patron of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference which every year presents the Isidore and Maria Award to a married couple who exemplify a strong family life, sound stewardship of the gifts God has given them, personal integrity, and deep religious faith.

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Prayer to the saints is a powerful thing.

Now, with Saints for Every Occasion, readers can quickly find help for any challenge they face – no matter how large or small. Author Thomas J. Craughwell profiles 101 patron saints from various continents, cultures and times – from saints who were contemporaries of Christ, to modern patrons like Padre Pio and Faustina Kowalska. Each saint lived heroically in difficult times and circumstances, providing powerful examples of how to turn almost any obstacle into a source of grace. Along with old favorites such as St. Anthony and St. Jude, Craughwell offers patrons for specifically modern concerns, including, for example, saints to watch over astronauts, internet users and environmental activists. Beautifully illustrated and entertainingly told, Saints for Every Occasion features 101 patron saints readers will seek out time and again.

“An excellent resource for home and classroom use.” – Publisher’s Weekly {/tabs}