Memorial of Saint Isidore
In 1622, five individuals were canonized: Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus; Francis Xavier, the great missionary to the East; Theresa of Avila, mystic and reformer of the Carmelites; Saint Philip Neri, the founder of the Oratorians; and Isidore, a farm laborer.
The first four did great things whose influences are still felt today. But Isidore was a farm worker employed by the same landowner for his whole life. He and his wife Maria had one son who died in childbirth. So what was it in Isidore that he was canonized? A saint is someone who manifests in an extraordinary way a virtuous life. This simple farmer was known for his generosity. Although a poor man himself, he was generous with the little he had with those who were more needy. His closeness to Jesus nurtured in his daily Mass attendance, drew him close to the Lord. His nearness to Jesus compelled him to love his neighbor in self-sacrificing generosity.
In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus’ prayer to his Father for his disciples, ”They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.” Isidore began each day with the nourishment of the Eucharist and then spent the rest of the day in the rugged toil of the soil of another man’s land. He knew the truth. For him, it was trust in God and generosity to those who were even poorer than himself.
Isidore is a great model for those of us who find our vocations and our holiness in the ordinariness of every day as mothers, fathers, students, priests, consecrated religious, lawyers, secretaries, teachers, healthcare workers, machinists, social workers, member of the armed services and farmers. That is where we find Jesus and where Jesus consecrates us in truth.
Let Us Pray:
Creator God, you sent your son into our world to convince us of your love for us and show us how we respond to this great love. Like your servant Isidore, you call us to seek you in our brothers and sisters, especially those needing love, affirmation, food, housing, and safety. In our time and place, we are called to return your love by our love of others. Amen.
