SAN ISIDRO DE LABRADOR: “A WORKER’S LIFE ANCHORED IN CHRIST.”

May 15. Today is the fiesta of St. Isidore the Labourer. I have observed that no other saint in this country who is widely adopted as patron saint of the parishes than Saint Isidore the Labourer. That is why, fiesta goers are at a loss where to go this day considering the number of parishes that are celebrating the fiesta in honor of St. Isidore the Labourer. Fiesta invitations are coming left and right. Most of all, I have observed that it is on this day that most of mountain barangays are celebrating their fiesta. And for that, I can call St. Isidore’s fiesta as the “people’s fiesta” or the “poor man’s fiesta.”

Saint Isidore the Labourer was a Spanish tenant. He is usually depicted carrying shovel, sometimes with a cow.   He was canonized by Pope Gregory XV on March 12, 1622. It was an interesting date for canonization as the day mark the canonization of some “heavyweights (bigatin)” of the Catholic Church such as Jesuits St. Ignatius Loyola and Saint Francis Xavier, St. Philip Neri and St Therese of Lisieux. Can you just imagine that? All of those are either founders of big congregations or Doctors of the Church. Canonized along with them is this humble farmer from Madrid, Spain, St. Isidore the Labourer.

People might ask, why he became a saint? He is just a tenant, farmer, and labourer. According to stories about his life, St. Isidore never fails to visit the church before going and after working from the fields for prayer. Simple. But that simple thing makes it significant. There is spirituality even in work.

San Isidro Labrador Parish Church, Madrid, Surigao del Sur

St. Isidore’s work is not easy. His is a manual job, plowing the fields, and tending it. At that time,  there were no tractors, and no modern harvesting and post harvesting facilities. He didn’t even own the land he is working because he is just a peasant. Yet in his difficult and manual job, he still finds time to pray to God. How many of us, working in airconditioned offices, provided with the best amenities and facilities the modern world can offer, can still find a time to pray before and after work? How many of us who claims to be very busy in our lives still finds time to pray and thank the Lord.

It is said that when his master verified reports that he is late on his job, he wnt to the fields to catch St. Isidore. But lo and behold!, he instead saw St. Isidore either assisted by the Angels or the Angels working the fields in his stead while St. Isidore is still in the Church praying. With him getting help from angels, St. Isidore’s work equalled to 3 workers. His working time spent in prayer is compensated several folds because the angels helped him accomplish his work for the day. Pray and God will do the rest.

St. Isidore became a Saint because in his simple life of a worker, his life was constantly anchored to God. A simple work done with great love and devotion is a prayer and an act of Holiness in itself. In the end, St. Isidore became a saint for being a model of worker in prayer and in constant communication with God.

Since most of our country, particularly in Mindanao is agricultural, it is not surprising that many parishes are patronizing St. Isidore. Here farming communities appropriately chose St. Isidore as their model by making him their patron saint. One diocese even make him its titular, the Diocese of Malaybalay, Bukidnon which is presently administered by Bishop Honesto Pacana.

Diocese and Parishes where St. Isidore is the patron saint and which is celebrating its fiesta today.

Diocese of Malaybalay, Bukidnon

San Isidro Parish Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City

San Isidro Parish (Medina, Misamis Oriental

San Isidro Labrador Parish Naawan, Misamis Oriental

San Isidro Labrador Parish Rizal, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte

St. Isidore the Farmer Parish RTR, Agusan del Norte

San Isidro Labrador Parish Salvacion, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur

St. Isidore The Farmer Parish Loreto, Agusan del Sur

San Isidro Labrador Parish Binucayan, Loreto, Agusan del Sur

San Isidro Labarador Parish, Madrid, Surigao del Sur

San Isidro Labrador Parish Malimono, Surigao del Norte

San Isidro Labrador Parish Alegria, Surigao del Norte

San Isidro Labrador Parish Loreto, 8415 Surigao del Norte

 

And countless chapels around the country.

 

To all of the faithful celebrating the day of St. Isidore the Labourer, Maayong Pyesta kaninyong tanan.

P.S. Reminders to all fiestagoers. Please before going to any house to eat, visit first the Church. Pamistahi una ang patron. If you failed to attend mass, at least, you can light a candle. Its the patron’s day, a homage to him or her is just appropriate. Thanks. Happy eating.