 St. Isidore of Madrid
Name: St. Isidore of Madrid
Date: 10 May
Saint Isidore the Farmer, a perennially popular Saint in Spain, was born near Madrid ofvery poor but very Christian parents, who early inspired in him love for God and horrorof sin. His education was accomplished entirely by the Holy Spirit who taught him,without books, the science of salvation. He married a wife rich in virtue, Maria Torribia, and God blessed them with a son whomthey brought up in the sentiments of their own piety. The child fell into a well, which isstill shown in Madrid, and drowned; but when his parents prayed he might be returned tothem, the water rose to ground level and brought up the child full of life and health. Theypromised then to separate, apparently out of gratitude to God, and to live in perpetualcontinence. Saint Isidore’s wife became a hermit like himself; Maria, too, performed miracles andmerited after her death the name of Santa Maria de la Cabeza, meaning Head, becauseher head, conserved in a reliquary and carried in procession, has often brought down rainfrom heaven for the afflicted countryside. Her remains are honored by all of Spain bypilgrimages and processions at Torrelaguna, where they were transferred in 1615. Saint Isidore himself was a day-laborer on a farm near Madrid, but every day found himat Mass in one of the churches of the city before he set out for his daily task. Hisemployer desired to verify whether he was wasting time during his work, and one daysaw two mysterious personages helping the holy worker to guide his plow; Isidorehimself told him they were Angels. Afterwards the wealthy owner became still moreconvinced that piety was useful in all occupations. For not only did his worker bringback to life one of his horses, which he very much needed; when his daughter, too, died,she was resurrected by the Saint. A fountain of water which the Saint caused to surge upby striking the ground still exists. Saint Isidore, though poor, shared all he had with the poor; and one day, when noprovisions were left, his cupboard was found well furnished when still another beggararrived. Saint Isidore died some time after his wife; and forty years later his remains, which hadbeen in extremely wet ground, were found incorrupt. They were taken into the Church ofSaint Andrew and re-interred there; miracles have been countless, and celestial music hasoften been heard at his tomb. He has protected the city of Seville, making himself visibleoccasionally; and the kings of Spain themselves urged his canonization, which wascarried out in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV. |
