Saint Isidore Farm Club

May 19th Feast of Saint Isidore the Farmer

Rome is a beautiful city, and for this I am very thankful. I can enjoy over twenty-five hundred years of history, beautiful architecture, and all the amenities of living in a large city afford. It is beautiful and I am very grateful for the opportunity. But the fact remains – it is still a city. I am a country boy. A country boy will always be a little uncomfortable in a city. There is an allure about the open space, the nature, and just the attitude of the country that stays in a country boys heart. So alas I enjoy the city of Rome, but still long for the country. But really there is always a little bit of country in the city. The North American College even has its own “little farm” up on the hill over looking the college. Really it is just a small vegetable plot, but it serves my green thumb just fine. There is also the fraternity among country boys. Much to my surprise a few weeks ago I came into the refectory (dining hall) for pranzo (lunch) and four table where put together decorated with flowers, toy John Deere tractors -- It was Saint Isidore day. Saint Isidore is a Spanish saint, and the patron of farmers. He was so devoted to praying at the local church that his field work was getting neglected. Worried about this he prayed to God. Much to his surprise upon returning to his farm he say what was left unplowed, was now plowed; and what was left unplanted, was now planted. It was a miracle. So Saint Isidore continued his prayers each day, and each day his work was finished. Soon he began to wonder about these miracles. So leaving church early one day he snuck back to his farm to discover angles guiding the plows and picking the fruits of the vine and tree. The lesson that Medieval preachers often took from this bit of hagiography (holy writings, usually about a saint) is the same lesson that is contained in the sixth chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew: Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added onto you.This is a very important lesson in today’s world. It seems like everyone is traveling faster than a mile a minute with no time to prayer and rest – no time to rejoice in gifts given, no time to talk with Our Father in heaven who wishes to bless us in all things. I know that I need to remind myself of this lesson often in seminary – it can get very busy, so busy that I can forget to seek first his kingdom – really there is nothing more important. Papers need to get written, books need to get read, and jobs need to be completed, but perhaps spending a few extra minutes in prayer God will send a little angel to help in all these things.