Isidore the Laborer

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"San Isidro Labrador" redirects here. For the city in El Salvador, see San Isidro Labrador, Chalatenango.
Saint Isidore

Isidore the Farmer
Born 1070, Madrid
Died May 15, 1130
Beatified May 2, 1619 by Paul V
Canonized March 12, 1622 by Gregory XV
Feast May 15
Patronage farmers,Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico,Digos, Philippines, Madrid
Saints Portal

Saint Isidore the Laborer or the Labourer, also known as Isidore the Farmer, or San Isidro Labrador in Spanish, (c1070 - May 15, 1130), was a Spanish day laborer known for his goodness toward the poor and animals. He is the Catholic patron saint of farmers and Madrid.

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[edit] Biography

Isidore was born to very poor parents near Madrid, about the year 1070. He was in the service of the wealthy Madrid landowner Juan de Vargas on a farm in the vicinity of Madrid. Juan de Vargas would later make him bailiff of his entire estate of Lower Caramanca.

Every morning before going to work, Isidore was accustomed to hearing a Mass at one of the churches in Madrid. One day his fellow-laborers complained to their master that Isidore was always late for work in the morning. Upon investigation, so runs the legend, the master found Isidore at prayer while an angel was doing the ploughing for him.

On another occasion, his master saw an angel ploughing on either side of him, so that Isidore's work was equal to that of three of his fellow-labourers. Isidore is also said to have brought back to life his master's deceased daughter, and to have caused a fountain of fresh water to burst from the dry earth in order to quench his master's thirst.

He married Maria Torribia, a canonized saint, who is known as Santa María de la Cabeza in Spain because her head (cabeza in Spanish) is often carried in procession, especially during droughts. Isidore and Maria had one son, who died in his youth. On one occasion their son fell into a deep well and, at the prayers of his parents, the water of the well is said to have risen miraculously to the level of the ground, bringing the child with it, alive and well. Isidore and Maria then vowed continence and lived in separate houses.

Another of the many miracles attributed to the saint is the famous one of the Angels, popularly narrated because the angels plowed the field whereas San Isidro said (although according to acts of the canonization, Iván de Vargas saw how two Angels helped to Isidor to plow to more and faster after being delayed since San Isidro stopped previously to say in all the parishes through which he passed through to pray). He died on 15 May 1130, at his birthplace near Madrid.

[edit] Veneration

Procession of San Isidro in Madrid.
Procession of San Isidro in Madrid.

[edit] Legacy

Forty years after Isidore's death, his body was transferred from the cemetery to the Church of St. Andrew.

Isidore is said to have appeared to King Alfonso VIII of Castile, and shown him the hidden path by which he surprised the Moors and gained victory in the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, on 16 July 1212.

When Philip III of Spain was cured of a deadly disease by touching the relics of the saint, the king replaced the old reliquary with a costly silver one.

He was canonized by Pope Gregory XV, along with Saints Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa, and Philip Neri, on 12 March, 1622.

San Ysidro, California and San Ysidro, New Mexico were named after him.

His liturgical feast is celebrated on 15 May.

His master Iván de Vargas's house in Madrid is now a museum with temporary exhibitions on Madrilenian subjects, as well as on the life of the saint.

Isidore is widely venerated as the patron saint of peasants and day laborers, as he had been one. In 1947, at the request of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, he was officially named patron of farmers, with a feast day on March 22 in all dioceses of the US, with a proper Mass and Office.

Isidore is also the patron of numerous cities and villages, including:

[edit] Celebrations and festivals

Many towns venerate Isidore and his wife Maria Torribia with processions in which the fields are blessed.

[edit] Spain

In Orotava, the greatest celebrations honor Isidore and Maria. The "Dance of Magos" (mago being Spanish for "magician", but also used for "farmer" in Guanche), the "Blessing of the cattle", and finally the Romería, or pilgrimage, are all celebrated to honor both patrons of this important city of the Canaries.

Celebrations honoring both saints are also held elsewhere on the islands. For years, the Alicantine locality of Castalla has been celebrating the Fair of San Isidro, where numerous companies display their products in a playful and festive atmosphere. A medieval swap meet and mechanical attractions are especially popular.

[edit] Chile

May 15th is San Isidro Day in Cuz-Cuz, about 5 kilometers from the city of Illapel, Choapa province, in the Coquimbo region of Chile. If the day falls on a Monday, the following Sunday is celebrated. Celebrations begin at noon with a Mass, followed by a procession and Chinese dances.

[edit] Peru

First Group of Shippers of San Isidro Labrador in Lima, Peru.
First Group of Shippers of San Isidro Labrador in Lima, Peru.

The residents of San Isidro de Carampá of Ayacucho in the city of Lima celebrate a San Isidro festival. The First Society of San Isidro de Carampá organizes the festival, along with the Butler and the Adornante festivals. In the evening, after the celebration of the Mass, a procession moves to the house of the Adornante. On the next day, Central Day, another Mass is said, this time celebrated by the Butler. Another procession is held, followed by a festival.

[edit] Sources and external links

This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.
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