Throughout the ages, the church has declared certain women and men to be saints, holy ones whose lives proclaim the love of God. They follow Jesus and show, through their actions, that God is good. By canonizing these holy people, the Church hopes to give us heroes and heroines whom we can emulate. The holiness of these saints is God's holiness made manifest in our lives.

Each saint lives God's love in a special way. Maria de la Cabeza and Isidore were wife and husband. Isidore worked on the farm of John de Vergas, a wealthy landowner who lived in Madrid. Before attaching the ox to the plow each day, Isidore went to church to pray. As he walked behind the plow, he continued his prayer. Maria offered her work in their home as prayer. Each day after Maria and Isidore finished their work, they cared for the poor. Isidore died in 1130. His wife, Maria de la Cabeza died many years later, around 1175.

Isidore is the patron of farmers and rural communities. He loved animals and was greatly concerned about their treatment. Isidore's feast day is May 15. Maria de le Cabeza, also known as Maria Torribia, shares this feast day and has her own on September 9.

Family Activity

	Select a saint after whom a family member is named. Look at websites such as, http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints, or check your local library for information about this saint. Identify virtues and talents of the family member with the saint. Note how the patron saint can serve as a role model.

See the Liturgical Calendar on this site for additional information.
See also Catechist—Lent or Teacher—Lent for Liturgy.