By CAROLE BRESLIN
Saints come from all walks of life. There are scholars and illiterate, rich and poor, men and women, religious and laity, kings and peasants. There are those who are more active in their faith and those who are more contemplative.
Despite the widely varying backgrounds of the saints, they all have several things in common. First of all, they loved deeply. They loved God above all things, of course, but they also loved their fellow creatures. Secondly, they were persecuted not only by those who did not know them but also by those closest to them. Thirdly, they found joy in this suffering, knowing that it pleased God to allow it and that it gave them the opportunity to win more graces for the conversion of sinners.
Finally, they were such great channels of God’s grace that many miracles were worked through them both while they were alive and after they died. In fact, one cannot be declared a saint, unless two miracles have been accepted by the Church — a process which is very rigorous indeed.
St. Isidore of Spain is the patron saint of Madrid, Spain, whose feast day is May 15. He was born in the 11th century to poor parents who named him after the great doctor of the Church, Archbishop Isidore of Seville (560-636). Because of the family’s poverty, Isidore never attended school. At an early age he became a farm laborer for a wealthy resident of Madrid, John de Vergas. His service for John de Vergas would last until the day he died.
Such length of service would indicate a good relationship of mutual respect. However, there were times of much difficulty for Isidore.
Isidore’s parents raised their son to be a holy and faithful man of God, giving good example and instruction. As a result, while working for de Vergas, he attended daily Mass and took time out of his workday to spend time in prayer. Needless to say, the other laborers were not pleased that Isidore spent so much time in prayer and got to the fields later than they did.
After they complained to the owner, de Vergas decided to look into the matter to determine if what they said was true. He followed Isidore as he entered the church and then left some time later, arriving quite late at his post, just as Isidore’s accusers had said. However, much to his amazement, de Vergas witnessed the angels helping Isidore plow the fields. When questioned about it, Isidore just asked if his work was deficient. Despite all the time he spent in prayer, his productivity was the best on the estate.
Isidore married a holy woman, St. Maria de la Cabeza. They lived a life together with much love, but when their only child died at a young age, they discerned that God’s will for them was to live a life of continence. Therefore, he had the freedom to give away nearly all his belongings to the poor and the hungry. In fact, for one dinner in his honor, he spent so long at prayer that it was nearly midnight before he arrived. So respected was he that all the guests waited without eating when he came, followed by a train of beggars.
As his hosts were fearful that there was not enough food, he assured them that there would be enough for all. Like the loaves and fishes, there was plenty for everyone.
St. Isidore even gave to the animals. While taking grain to the mill to be ground, he took pity on the poor birds pecking the frozen ground for food. He opened his bag and poured out some grain for the birds. At this, his fellow workers ridiculed him, but when they arrived at the mill the bag was not only completely full, it also produced twice the amount of meal expected.
After his death in 1130, there were even more miracles. St. Isidore appeared to King Alphonsus of Castile in 1211, leading the Spanish forces to a pass that would enable them to defeat the Moors who were invading Spain. Nearly 400 years later, St. Isidore assisted another Spanish monarch, King Philip III, who was deathly ill. When the relics of St. Isidore were brought to his bedside, he recovered completely. King Philip then had a shrine built in St. Isidore’s honor.
The royal family sought to have his name enrolled among the saints. Eventually, he was canonized in 1622, along with three others of Spanish origin — St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, and St. Teresa of Avila — and St. Philip Neri.
A gentle and pious man, St. Isidore was strong in his faith, never fearing to do the will of God.
What great confidence we can have by his example of praying and working. Although Isidore took extra time in prayer, God blessed him so that he could work more productively and efficiently. If necessary, God will send the angels themselves to assist us and guide us.
Should we ever give out of our need rather than our excess, as St. Isidore did, surely God will provide for us as He did for St. Isidore.
Dear Jesus, grant we beseech you that we may always take the time to pray and meditate. Let us be generous in the time we give you, trusting that you will assist us by your grace throughout the day to complete the tasks assigned to us. May we, likewise, be generous in sharing the many gifts you have given us with those who are less fortunate. This we pray through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Amen.
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(Carole Breslin home-schooled her four daughters and served as treasurer of the Michigan Catholic Home Educators for eight years. For over ten years, she was national coordinator for the Marian Catechists, founded by Fr. John A. Hardon, SJ.)
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