The feast of St. Isidore the Farmer

May 18, 2025

This weekend we are celebrating the feast day of the patron saint of our parish in Laingsburg. While the feast falls during the week, the Church allows the transfer of the patron saint of a parish to a Sunday, in order that it may be celebrated by more of the people of the parish. The feast of the Holy Family always falls on a Sunday so that is why we never have to transfer it. Every Catholic Church in the world has a patron. Very often it has something to do with Christ – Resurrection, Holy Redeemer or Blessed Sacrament. Often, they are named after the Blessed Virgin – St. Mary, Immaculate Heart, the Miraculous Medal, Our Lady of Lourdes and so on. The rest are named after different saints. Such as St. Isidore, St. Joseph, St. Anthony and so on.

The day celebrating the patron of the parish is called the titular feast day or patronal feast day. The names for churches are never just given arbitrarily. The idea always was that the particular patron or title was meant to evoke the importance of that aspect of Christ or that saint that would be beneficial for the people of that area to grow in devotion to and in particular ask the assistance of in the case of a saint. So, I suppose the question for us is: as we look at the patrons of our two parishes, St. Isidore and the Holy Family, how much do we actually invoke their intercession in our lives and labors? When a particular saint, for instance, is chosen as the patron of a parish that saint “adopts” that area and those parishioners. They devote special intercession for them and join their prayers to those who worship God in that church that was placed under their patronage and protection. One of the effects of the watering down of the faith that has occurred over the years that we are trying to counteract now is the loss of a relationship with the saints. The fact of the matter is many people never use the intercession of the saints and in consequence have very little devotion to the saints that were chosen as the special protectors of the parish church they worship in. There has been this adoption of the bad protestant theology that my own prayers in my own name to God are more than sufficient. While there is no doubt that God still hears my prayers, the failure to make use of the intercession of the saints stunts not only the growth of our prayer life, but also our spiritual life and our theological understanding.

To put it into an understandable example; Let’s say that we have been tasked with preparing a report or a presentation on something in high school. While we might possess significant knowledge on the subject we are preparing, we also know that we are far from the level of a known expert. The majority of us would look for resources to assist us in our preparations. Books, articles, encyclopedias and so on, that deal with the subject we are presenting. Keeping in mind that all of those resources were created by others who possess more knowledge than us on that subject, we use their knowledge and the info it gives us to prepare well for that report or presentation. As we compile all the information, we begin to feel more assured that we can get through this and make a good showing. However, we also are always still a bit nervous about getting asked a question or for clarification about some points that we still do not completely understand. We wish that we could have brought an expert with us to assist us in the presentation and to help supplement our lack of knowledge and give us the confidence to approach our task with surety. That is what the saints are and do. They assist us in knowing and understanding God and this life better. They have the experience and knowledge of how to get through the difficult situations and get to heaven when all is said and done. Not only do they want to help us by their knowledge and example, but they are also more than willing to go with us and stand beside us and add their words and experience to ours to make ours that much more sure, focused and clear. Wouldn’t I want my prayers to be accompanied and strengthened by those who have fought the good fight and run the race to the finish? By those who have achieved the crown of glory in eternity? Shouldn’t I try and gather as much help as I can to navigate the stormy waters of life as safely as possible? Making use of the intercession of the saints does not only assist me, it also gives glory to God by making use of those brothers and sisters of ours that cooperated with His grace and followed Him completely.

St. Isidore the farmer, pray for us!

Fr. Anthony