Born in Spain late in the 11th century, Isidore worked on the farm of a wealthy landowner, Juan de Vargas, from the time he was a boy through his entire life. 

He married a young woman, Maria, who was Beatified in 1697, and they had one child, a son. 

Once, his son fell into a deep well and when he, Maria, and several friends prayed, the water rose suddenly, lifting the boy safely to the surface. 

Isidore’s day would always start with mass which made him late sometimes. His fellow workers once complained to the landowner but when he went to check on Isidore he saw Isidore plowing with two angels on either side, doing the work of three. 

In fact, there were many miracles attributed to Isidore and he and his wife were extremely generous with what little they had, often feeding the poor. 

He died in 1130 and in 1622 he was Canonized. 

Along with St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, St. Philip Neri, and St. Teresa of Avila, Isidore is one of the five Saints of Spain, he is the Patron Saint of Madrid, farmers, and rural communities. 

St. Isidore, please pray for us.