This calendar of saints is drawn from several denominations, sects, and traditions. Although it will no longer be updated daily, the index on the right will guide visitors to a saint celebrated on any day they choose. Additional saints will be added as they present themselves to Major.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

May 15 -- Feast of Saint Isidore the Farmer


I understand shirking. Hell, I'd like to believe I've gotten pretty good at it over the years. After all, it would be nice to be good at something. But the truth is, I was probably born with this knack for shirking.

St. Isidore was not really a shirker, but his co-worker accused him of it. He was just a husband, a father, and a worker on a large farm -- a peasant serf sort of guy. The death of his son led him to believe that God wanted to live chastely with his wife and spend much of his time in religious contemplation. He began to attend Mass daily.

This was, of course, the problem. His co-workers began to grumble that he was sitting in church singing and praying while they were in the fields toiling and sweating. He ignored their complaints.

Then the Big Boss Man (the master, overseer, lord, whatever) showed up to check on these complaints. In truth, he found Isidore at Mass, but the plowing was being done by angels. (See picture, upper right). Tough to argue with that.

I doubt however that an angel graded those Cold War quizzes while I was posting this.

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