At breakfast the first conversation was about rock picking and fence fixing between my husband and son... these are the two jobs that go on and on around here with so many acres to pick the rocks off of and so many huge pastures to walk and fix the fences so that we can put the cows and calves in them to frolic and eat grass all summer! They looked at me with surprise as I joyfully exclaimed that this was the perfect introduction to the patron saint of the day as he is the patron saint of Farmers! St Isidore... I explained to John that he has a great uncle by the name of Isidore too! Great Grandfather Hector Louwagie had a brother by that name... I read to them from the Magnificat this morning (see www.magnificat.com)about how Isidore had angels that helped him farm and went to the saint book that we had shared with the kids growing up... I remembered that he was in there complete with a picture and what a picture it was! It shows the angels not only helping him plow... but the angel is doing the plowing so that Isidore can pray! So special in Isidore given the time and vocation to pray along with his day to day work! I scanned it so that you can see the amazing picture and all it means to us as we work and pray in our lives and how we can incorporate the two together!
The Magnificat describes St Isidore as a "pious layman who would pray for long periods of time while guiding his plow. He often spent holidays going on pilgrimages to local shrines. There are legends about angels assisting him in his farm labors. He was caring towards animals and generous with the poor. He is patron of Madrid, farmers and rural communities." In the saint book there is a story of ST Isidore that is quite beautiful! "Isidore was a farmer for a wealthy nobleman... He never missed daily Mass. The neighbors accused him, to his employer, of neglecting his work in order to hear Mass, but Isidore replied, "I know that I am your servant, but I have another Master, as well, to whom I owe service and obedience."' The story continues with some coming to check on him and find him in the field with two men on either side of him with teams of white oxen... They realize later that they were angels! Isidore's responce to their questions about who they were; "I have not seen any person, I ask no help from anyone but God each morning at Mass." I think that you can see why the kids loved to hear about the saints as we gathered as a family. For young children they are even more fascinating than sharing the Bible... although there are some pretty great stories in the Bible too!
A few things shared this morning that made me laugh... John was praying that he wouldn't fall more than once this morning out fixing fence with his brother in law, Paul...( the pastures we have are very rough and usually you are standing on a pretty steep hillside... also there are windy creeks that thread through them. The reason they are pastures and not farmed is evident when you are out there. They couldn't be farmed so use them for cows...all land is important to be put to use you know that farmers are stewards of the land!) Maybe some of you remember that on caring bridge last fall I had shared how John had come to the house after going out to the back pasture sharing that he had been "humbled" after trying to jump over the creek and falling into it... Well, he has come a long ways from then, but we did see first hand when the doctors were checking him a few days ago that he still does have some problems with "core balance" due to the ataxia! My comeback to John..."Well, Jesus fell three times..." Then we were talking about the picture of Our Lady of Fatima that came in the mail yesterday...and the amazing experience of how the doctor walked into the room at the exact moment of our finishing the Fatima prayer... John's comment; "She pops up so unexpectedly everywhere!" We laughed for the shere joy of it all! How we love to have her pop up in our lives and mostly we love the way she is with us as a mother that nurtures and loves and protects us and carries us to her wonderful Son - who is God and Heaven!
Filled with the message of St Isidore - one of humility and single minded love for His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ in the face of all adversity! Even in the face of all the demands of his time with his work...He steadfastly received our Lord in the Eucharist and the Word every day! Wow! What an amazing example to follow and hold deep within! Today in the Gospel of John16:23-28 Jesus speaks to us once again so powerfully... "Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name He will give you....ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete."
Yes, Lord our joy is complete these days after you answered the heartfelt prayers of so many that are with us on this journey called cancer/healing! We know that each of us has many needs and we lay them at your nail scarred feet knowing that you will answer them in the way most powerful for us as we walk with you! We are gladdened to have St Isidore and an entire army of saints with us along with your amazing Mother... Her appearance at both Lourdes and Fatima has been huge for us! Blessed Mother how we love you and know you are carrying us to our Lord, your Son, God and Heaven! Jesus we trust in You! Amen and Halleluia! Bless-bless, BArb
The openning hymn today is so expressing of JOY! Enjoy! As in a week the feast of Pentecost is here! Come Holy Spirit into our lives to fill us with wonder, truth, joy and LOVE one for the other!
"Holy Spirit, Love divine,
Glow within this heart of mine;
Kindle every high desire,
Perish self in thy pure fire!
Holy Spirit, Peace divine,
Still this restless heart of mine;
Speak to calm this tossing sea,
Stayed in thy tranquillity.
Holy Spirit, Joy divine,
Gladden thou this heart of mine;
In the desert ways I sing,
"Spring, O Well, for ever spring!'"
( can be sung to the tune of Forty days and forty nights) Belt it out in Joy!
The lilacs have lasted a month with the cold weather - they must like it! Enjoy. I also received this picture of Nancy and Bill moments after he proposed!
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