Isidore, Husband and Farmer

Born of poor parents in Madrid, Isidore began working in the fields of a wealthy Madrid landowner, John de Vargas, when he was very young. He spent his whole life in those fields. Isidore’s parents instilled a great love of prayer and a revulsion of sin in him. He rose early each morning to go to Mass and, while laboring all day in the fields, communed with God and the saints. Isidore married a girl as simple as himself and they had one child, a boy who died young. His wife, Maria Torriba, is also a saint, honored under the name, Santa Maria de la Cabeza. Though poor himself, Isidore and Maria always shared what they had with those who had less. Isidore often invited the poor into his house for a meal and ended up with only the leftover scraps for himself.

Saints have been profound and learned scholars and saints have been very simple people. It matters not to God what station you have in life as long as you use the talents that he has given to you in his service -- in most cases, this means service to your neighbor.