May 15 - St. Isidore
Born: 1070
Died: 1130
Nationality: Spanish
Vocation: married, lay
Attributes: Often pictured with farm tools or an angel
Patronage: Farmers and rural communities
Canonization: March 12, 1622 by Pope Gregory XV
Isidore was born near Madrid in the second part of the 12th century. From a young age and for the majority of his life, Isidore worked for John de Vergas, a wealthy landowner. He married a lovely young woman, Maria de la Cabeza, who would also be canonized as a saint. They had one son who died when he was quite young.
Isidore was an extremely holy man who worked hard and prayed hard with extreme fidelity. It became a problem at times, as John de Vergas and Isidore’s co-workers would complain when he arrived late to his work in the field. However, tradition states that the angels used to do Isidore’s fieldwork whenever he was late from praying or attending daily Mass. Many miraculous happenings such as this occurred throughout his life. He and his wife loved to provide for the poor in the area, and their soup pot would often miraculously remain full.
Isidore died on May 13, 1130, and was canonized years later in 1622 along with Teresa of Avila, Francis Xavier, Ignatius of Loyola, and Philip Neri.
St. Isidore, pray for us.
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