Saint Isidore the Farmer (Optional Memorial) ~ 15 May

Isidore, a Spanish labourer, born near Madrid, somewhere around the year 1070. He worked most of his life as a ploughman for a nobleman near Madrid, Spain. He married a young maid-servant, Maria de la Cabeza, who was as simple and upright as himself. She too was also canonized as Saint Maria de la Cabeza. Isidore had deep religious instincts nad he attended mass every morning before going to work at one of the church in Madrid. He also spent many of his holidays devoutly visiting the churches of Madrid and surrounding areas. He loved the poor, and there are many accounts of him providing them miraculously with food. He also had a great concern for the just and proper treatment of animals. All day long, as he walked behind the plow, he communed with God. Based on the legend, his master once found Isidore at prayer, while an angel was doing the ploughing for him. Again in another occasion his master saw angel ploughing on either side of him, so that Isidore's work was equal to that of three of his fellow-labourers.

Isidore died on 15 May, 1130, and was declared a saint in 1622 with Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Avila and Philip Neri. Together in Spain, they are known as "the five saints." St. Isidore is the patron saint for farmers, farm workers, ranchers, rural communities, and Madrid, Spain.

Lord God, to whom belongs all creation, and who call us to serve you by caring for the gifts that surround us, inspire us by the example of Saint Isidore to share our food with the hungry and to work for the salvation of all people. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

Thursday, 15 May, 2014
Saint Isidore the Farmer (Optional Memorial)

Reading

Acts 13: 13 - 25
13	Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphyl'ia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem;
14	but they passed on from Perga and came to Antioch of Pisid'ia. And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.
15	After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, "Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it."
16	So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: "Men of Israel, and you that fear God, listen.
17	The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.
18	And for about forty years he bore with them in the wilderness.
19	And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years.
20	And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.
21	Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
22	And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; of whom he testified and said, `I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'
23	Of this man's posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.
24	Before his coming John had preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25	And as John was finishing his course, he said, `What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'

Psalm

Psalms 89: 2 - 3, 21 - 22, 25, 27
2	For thy steadfast love was established for ever, thy faithfulness is firm as the heavens.
3	Thou hast said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant:
21	so that my hand shall ever abide with him, my arm also shall strengthen him.
22	The enemy shall not outwit him, the wicked shall not humble him.
25	I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.
27	And I will make him the first-born, the highest of the kings of the earth.

Gospel

John 13: 16 - 20
16	Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
17	If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
18	I am not speaking of you all; I know whom I have chosen; it is that the scripture may be fulfilled, `He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.'
19	I tell you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.
20	Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives any one whom I send receives me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me."