Saint Isidore the Farmer—also known as Saint Isidore the Laborer—was an 11th-century Spanish peasant known for his sanctity, his compassion for the poor and animals, and for his dignified service as a farm laborer.
Born between 1070 and 1080 A.D. in Madrid, Spain, he was named by his poor but devout parents for Saint Isidore of Seville, a sixth- to seventh-century Spanish theologian, archbishop and scholar, and a Doctor of the Church. As he grew up, Saint Isidore found employment as a farm laborer for Juan de Vargas, a large landowner. Later, de Vargas appointed Saint Isidore as bailiff for his entire estate.
Saint Isidore was known for his personal generosity to the poor—even sharing his meals with them.
He married Maria Torribia, known in Spain as “Santa María de la Cabeza” (“Saint María of the Head”). She developed her own reputation for personal sanctity and devotion to her family, and there are stories of her performing miracles. The two had a son. According to legend, their son once fell into a deep well and they were unable to retrieve him. After his parents prayed, the water level rose miraculously so that they were able to reach him. Although she was never officially canonized, Pope Innocent XII beatified her in 1697.
There are numerous stories of miracles associated with Saint Isidore. One story recounts that his fellow workers complained to de Vargas that Saint Isidore’s daily Mass attendance was making him late. When de Vargas went to check, he found Saint Isidore in prayer and an angel carrying out his plowing tasks. On another occasion, de Vargas found an angel laboring beside him, resulting in Saint Isidore’s work output being equivalent to that of three other farm workers. There are also stories of his miraculously raising de Vargas’ daughter from the dead and of a fountain springing forth from the ground in response to his prayers to quench his master’s thirst.
Another story has Saint Isidore taking grain from a sack that he was carrying to the mill and using some of it to feed birds that were vainly scratching for food on the frozen ground. Though some onlookers mocked him for such extravagant use of the wheat, once he reached the mill, the bag was full and—once ground up—produced double the amount of flour expected. There is also a story of his bringing people to his home for dinner. Once, when he brought more guests than usual, his wife worried that there would not be enough stew for everyone. Still, the pot never emptied until after all were fed. Finally, there are reports of Saint Isidore’s body being found incorruptible 40 years after his death.
Saint Isidore died some time in the 12th century, though the exact year is undetermined. Saint Isidore was beatified by Pope Paul V in 1619 and canonized by Pope Gregory XV in 1622, with May 15 established as his feast day. Saint Isidore is patron saint of Madrid, the Philippines and a number of Philippine cities, numerous Latin American countries, San Diego, California, other U.S. cities, and agriculture, farmers and laborers. The U.S. National Catholic Rural Life Conference claims him as their patron saint.
In the Youngstown Diocese, St. Isidore Parish, a parish consisting of two Stark County communities—St. Louis in Louisville and Sacred Heart of Mary in Harrisburg—was named in his honor, reflecting the number of rural families who reside there.
