Isidore The Laborer Festival

Isidore the Farm Labourer, also known as Isidore the Farmer (Spanish: San Isidro Labrador) (c.
1070 – May 15, 1130), was a Spanish farmworker known for his piety toward the poor and animals.
He is the Catholic patron saint of farmers and of Madrid, and of La Ceiba, Honduras. His feast day is
celebrated on May 15.
The Spanish word labrador means someone who works the land, not a worker in general, which in
Spanish would be obrero or trabajador. His real name was Isidro de Merlo y Quintana.
Isidore was born in Madrid, in about the year 1070, of poor but very devout parents, and was
christened Isidore from the name of their patron, St. Isidore of Seville. Isidore spent his life as a hired
hand in the service of the wealthy Madrilenian landowner Juan de Vargas on a farm in the city's
vicinity. He shared what he had, even his meals, with the poor.[10] Juan de Vargas would later make
him bailiff of his entire estate of Lower Caramanca.
It was said that he stood two meters (6.5 feet) tall.
Isidore married Maria Torribia, known as Santa María de la Cabeza in Spain; she has never been
canonized, pending confirmation by Pope Francis. Isidore and Maria had one son. On one occasion,
their son fell into a deep well and, at the prayers of his parents, the water of the well is said to have
risen miraculously to the level of the ground, bringing the child with it. In thanksgiving Isidore and
Maria then vowed sexual abstinence and lived in separate houses. Their son later died in his youth.
Isidore died on May 15, 1130, at his birthplace close to Madrid although the only official source
places his death in the year 1172.
Miracle Stories
In the morning before going to work, Isidore would usually attend Mass at one of the
churches in Madrid. One day, his fellow farm workers complained to their master that Isidore was
always late for work in the morning. Upon investigation the master found Isidore at prayer while an
angel was doing the ploughing for him.
 On another occasion, his master saw an angel ploughing on either side of him, so that
Isidore's work was equal to that of three of his fellow field workers. Isidore is also said to have
brought back to life his master's deceased daughter, and to have caused a fountain of fresh water to
burst from the dry earth to quench his master's thirst.
One snowy day, when going to the mill with wheat to be ground, he passed a flock of wood-
pigeons scratching vainly for food on the hard surface of the frosty ground. Taking pity on the poor
animals, he poured half of his sack of precious wheat upon the ground for the birds, despite the
mocking of witnesses. When he reached the mill, however, the bag was full, and the corn, when it
was ground, produced double the expected amount of flour. (In the original story it was wheat, as
corn was not introduced to Spain until the 15th century).
Isidore's wife, Maria, always kept a pot of stew on the fireplace in their humble home as
Isidore would often bring home anyone who was hungry. One day he brought home more hungry
people than usual. After she served many of them, Maria told him that there simply was no more
stew in the pot. He insisted that she check the pot again, and she was able to spoon out enough
stew to feed them all.
On April 2, 1212, after torrential rains had exhumed cadavers from cemeteries in Madrid, his
body was discovered in an apparent state of incorruptibility.
He is said to have appeared to Alfonso VIII of Castile, and to have shown him the hidden
path by which he surprised the Moors and gained the victory of Las Navas de Tolosa, in 1212. When
King Philip III of Spain was cured of a deadly disease after touching the relics of the saint, the king
replaced the old reliquary with a costly silver one and instigated the process of his beatification.
Throughout history, other members of the royal family would seek curative powers from the saint.
The number of miracles attributed to him has been counted as 438. The only original source
of hagiography on him is a fourteenth century codex called Códice de Juan Diácono which relates
five of his miracles:

1. The pigeons and the grain.

2. The angels ploughing.
3. The saving of his donkey, through prayer, from a wolf attack.
4. The account of his wife's pot of food.
5. A similar account of his feeding the brotherhood.
The codex also attests to the incorruptible state of his body, stating it was exhumed 40 years
after his death.
Veneration
Isidore was beatified in Rome on May 2, 1619, by Pope Paul V. He was canonized nearly
three years later by Pope Gregory XV, along with Saints Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa
of Ávila and Philip Neri, on March 12, 1622.
In 1696, his relics were moved to the Royal Alcazar of Madrid to intervene on behalf of the
health of Charles II of Spain. While there, the King's locksmith pulled a tooth from the body and gave
it to the monarch, who slept with it under his pillow until his death. This was not the first, nor the last
time his body was allegedly mutilated out of religious fervour. For example, it was reported one of
the ladies in the court of Isabella I of Castile bit off one of his toes.
In 1760, his body was brought to the Royal Palace of Madrid during the illness of Maria
Amalia of Saxony.
In 1769, Charles III of Spain had the remains of Saint Isidore and his wife Maria relocated to
the San Isidro Church, Madrid. The sepulcher has nine locks and only the King of Spain has the
master key. The opening of the sepulcher must be performed by the Archbishop of Madrid and
authorized by the King himself. Consequently, it has not been opened since 1985.[15]
His feast day is celebrated on May 15 in the Catholic Church, and in the Philippine
Independent Church.

Patronage[
Saint Isidore is widely venerated as the patron saint of farmers, peasants, day laborers and
agriculture in general, as well as brick layers. His hometown of Madrid, the Spanish cities
of Leon, Zaragoza, and Seville, and various locales in the former Spanish Empire honour him as
their patron saint. The US National Catholic Rural Life Conference claims him as its patron. San
Ysidro, California and San Ysidro, New Mexico were named after him.

Legacy
The story of St. Isidore is a reminder of the dignity of work, and that ordinary life can lead to
holiness.[16] Legends about angel helpers and mysterious oxen indicate that his work was not
neglected and his duties did not go unfulfilled. St. Isidore's life demonstrates that: If you have your
spiritual self in order, your earthly commitments will fall into order also."
Feast day and Celebration Festival
The date of his liturgical feast, which, though not included in the General Roman Calendar,
has been celebrated for centuries in several countries and dioceses, is May 15.[19] Many towns
venerate St Isidore and his wife Saint Maria Torribia with processions in which the fields are blessed.

Spain

One of the most celebrated holidays of Madrid is held on May 15, the Feast Day of San
Isidro who is the city's patron saint as well as the patron saint of farmers. The traditional festival and
feast are held in an open-air area known as the Pradera del Santo. In the afternoon, the image of
San Isidro and his wife, Santa Maria de la Cabeza, are paraded through the streets, from Calle del
Sacramento to the Plaza de la Villa, via Calle del Cordon.[18]
The feast in honor of San Isidro is declared of National Tourist Interest in Andalusia and is
one of the most important celebrations in province of Malaga. The fiesta is very popular in region of
Alameda because San Isidro is a patron of the town.[20]
Celebrations honoring both saints are also held elsewhere on the islands. For years, the
Alicantine locality of Castalla has been celebrating the Fair of San Isidro, where numerous
companies display their products in a playful and festive atmosphere. A medieval swap meet and
mechanical attractions are especially popular.
A large celebration is held in Estepona, (near Marbella) in Andalucia, where locals celebrate
the day by drinking a mix of brandy and a popular energy drink which is named in his honour. This
has led to St. Isidore often being termed as the patron saint of krunk (because of the name of this
combination drink in the US).
The Romería festival in Almogia, a pueblo blanco in the campo north of Malaga (about
halfway between Malaga and Antequera) in Andalucia, celebrates San Isidro, its patron saint, on the
middle weekend of May with a fiesta carnival. Floats from the surrounding farming communities,
accompanied by traditionally dressed ladies in flamenco dresses and caballeros on dancing horses,
sing and dance from Almogia to the Romería ground a few kilometres north of the village and the
festival includes music, traditional horse races, a bar for horses as well as their riders, and much
parading of costume and finery. The best-dressed float is awarded a prize.

Philippines
Several festivals are held in honour of Saint Isidore on around May 15 throughout mostly
agricultural and predominantly Catholic Philippines.

 The "Apit" Festival of the town of Allacapan, Cagayan, a praising and thanksgiving event in the
harvest their gathered throughout the year. The Apit Festival is celebrated on dates May 10–15.
 The Sabugan ng Biyaya Festival (also known as simply Sabugan Festival) of the town
of Agdangan, Quezon, is a thanksgiving event for the blessings that the town has received.
 The colourful Pahiyás Festival is held in honour of St. Isidore and María de la Cabeza in Lucban,
Quezon, in thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.
 The Kangga Festival is held on his feast day in Mogpog, Marinduque (the island province best
known for its Moriones Festival every Holy Week). The festivities highlight Filipino farming
traditions, as well as in thanksgiving for a good harvest and the town's continuing prosperity.
 The Bariw Festival is celebrated in Nabas, Aklan, every May 12–15 as St. Isidore is the town's
patron saint. The feast also showcases the town's bariw products such as hats and mats as well
as the town's unique attractions.
 Carabaos are made to kneel before the Church of San Isidro Labrador during the town fiesta
of Pulilan, Bulacan.
 St Isidore is fested in the towns of San Isidro and Talavera, Nueva Ecija. The province is often
referred to as the "Rice Granary of the Philippines", and its principal crops aside from rice are
corn and onions. Celebrations begin a week before the feast itself, including daily novenas,
Masses, processions, entertainment and a funfair (perya).
 The Barangay San Isidro of Lupao, Nueva Ecija also celebrated the feast day of St. Isidore, their
patron saint.
 St. Isidore's feast is also celebrated in the town of Lezo, Aklan every May 14–15.
 Barangay Teguis in Poro, Cebu celebrates St. Isidore's feast on May 15, as well as the day
after.
 Towns of Tubigon and San Isidro in Bohol celebrate St. Isidore's feast day on May 15.
 Sitio Canipa-an in Barangay Banquerohan, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental also celebrates the
feast annually in the midst of May. Their patron saint is San Isidro Labrador. The first honour for
the saint was held on 1918.
 In Pampanga, the Feast of San Isidro is celebrated every May 15 in different barangays. City of
San Fernando, Bacolor, Macabebe and other towns do have barangays named after San Isidro.
 Barangay Calag-itan (St. Isidore the Farmer Chapel) and Barangay Catublian (Parish of St.
Isidore the Farmer) both IFI churches and other Barangays of the town Hinunangan (rice
granary of Southern Leyte) and Silago (IFI Mercedes, Silago) Southern Leyte also celebrate the
feast of St. Isidore.
 Barangay Calag-itan (St. Isidore the Farmer Chapel) and Barangay Catublian (Parish of St.
Isidore the Farmer) both IFI churches and other Barangays of the town Hinunangan (rice
granary of Southern Leyte) and Silago (IFI Mercedes, Silago) Southern Leyte also celebrate the
feast of St. Isidore.
 In Barangay Salawag in the Dasmariñas City, the Feast of San Isidro is celebrated along with
the Feast of the arrival of the Virgen de Salawag. San Isidro Labrador is the Patron of the said
Barangay and the Secondary Patron of the Parish Community since 1987.
 Project In Engl 323
(Philippine Literature)

Submitted By:
Vianzon, Jeremy S.
Avendaño, Royd Dualdo A.
(BIT ET 3C – G2)

Submitted to:
Mr. Rodolfo R. Gaspar