Hello　Friend。　Farms don’t only produce vegetables.
They also produce saints and Isidore is one of them.

Isidore (1070 – 1130) has become the patron of
farmers and rural communities. In particular, he is
the patron of Madrid, Spain, and of the United States
National Rural Life Conference.

When he was barely old enough to wield a hoe,
Isidore entered the service of John de Vergas,
a wealthy landowner from Madrid, and worked
faithfully on his estate outside the city for the
rest of his life.

He married a young woman as simple and upright
as himself who also became a 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 a holiday
devoutly visiting the churches of Madrid and
surrounding areas. All day long, as he walked behind
the plow, he communed with God. His devotion, one might say,
became a problem, for his fellow workers sometimes
complained that he often showed up late because
of lingering in church too long.

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.

He died May 15, 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.”
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Many implications can be found in a simple laborer
achieving sainthood: Physical labor has dignity;
sainthood does not stem from status; contemplation does not
depend on learning; the simple life is conducive to holiness
and happiness.

If you have your spiritual self in order, your earthly
commitments will fall into order also. “Seek first the kingdom
of God and his righteousness,”said the carpenter (Jesus) from Nazareth,
“and all these things will be given you besides” (Matthew 6:33).

Oh Lord, Jesus, if only we could realize the beauty, joy and holiness
of valuing the simple things in life and apprecite how blessed we are.
Lord, grant us that grace.

God love you.
Father Peter