Saint Isidore the Labourer, also known as Saint Isidore the Farmer, was born in Madrid. He 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.
Saint Isidore married Maria Torribia, known as Santa María de la Cabeza in Spain. Saint 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. The number of miracles attributed to him has been counted as 438.
He died on died on 15 May 1130. He is the Catholic patron saint of farmers, and of Madrid, El Gobernador, Jalisco and of La Ceiba, Honduras. He is often portrayed as a peasant holding a sickle and a sheaf of corn. He might also be shown with a sickle and staff; as an angel plows for him; or with an angel and white oxen near him.
